Stronger Smarter Summit to Address National Leadership
Expanding its reach, the Stronger Smarter Institute, founded by Dr. Chris Sarra, is set to influence government, sport, STEM, and policy. A national summit in Brisbane from 7th to 8th May 2026 will showcase this initiative.
Dr. Sarra began this journey at Cherbourg State School, where he impressively increased attendance rates from 62 per cent to 94 per cent. Now in its 21st year, the Institute has trained 5,710 school and community leaders nationwide and conducted 390 professional development programs.
Brisbane’s summit, titled ‘Stronger Smarter Together: Reimagining Australia’s Sovereignty’, will convene educators, policymakers, and industry leaders. Discussions will focus on how high-expectations relationships can transform leadership and opportunities.
Among the keynote speakers are Dr. Chris Sarra, Professor Peter Yu, and Dr. Terri Janke, who founded Terri Janke and Company, an Indigenous-owned law firm. They will address Indigenous leadership and rights. The Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy panel will highlight the roles of First Nations women in shaping Australia’s scientific future.
Dr. Sarra says, “Relational sovereignty is about how we choose to stand with one another as Australians. For over two decades, we’ve seen what happens when relational sovereignty and high expectations meet in the classroom.”
Panels at the summit will explore the implementation of relational sovereignty in sport and STEM, focusing on identity and collective responsibility. Comedian Kevin Kopinyeri will host a gala dinner featuring live music by Adam James, celebrating Aboriginal excellence.
Gooreng Gooreng artist Dylan Sarra will create a live artwork throughout the two-day event, interpreting the evolving conversation about relational sovereignty. The summit will also honour educators who have supported the Stronger Smarter philosophy from its inception.
Tickets and the programme for the summit are available at strongersmartersummit.com.au. Significantly, 78 per cent of partner schools participating are in the lowest half of the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA), and 63 per cent are located in regional or remote areas.
Summit keynote speakers, including Dr. Chris Sarra, Professor Peter Yu, and Dr. Terri Janke, will bring valuable insights into how relational sovereignty can influence various sectors.
