National Lutheran Principal Conference

2026 National Lutheran Principal Conference

"Anchored in Faith, Leading with Heart"

InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto

17 - 20 May, 2026

The 2026 National Lutheran Principal Conference will be held at the InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto from 17th - 20th May 2026. The conference theme ‘Anchored in Faith, Leading with Heart’ continues to guide the enrichment of the program. The Early Career Principal Program will commence from Saturday 16th May, which offers deep insights from experienced principals and networking opportunities for any principals in their first five-years of principalship. 

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2026 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Dr Marcus Collins

Dr Marcus Collins inspires leaders to understand how culture shapes belief, behaviour and action. He is a Professor of Marketing at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, and formerly served as Chief Strategy Officer at Wieden+Kennedy New York. Marcus has advised global brands and organisations on building meaning-driven strategies that inspire change, and is the bestselling author of For the Culture. A recognised thought leader, he holds a doctorate in marketing and is a trusted voice on leadership, purpose and influence in a changing world.

Professor Richard Hall

Richard has extensive experience in the design and delivery of leadership development programs for managers, professionals and senior leaders. He has published widely in the areas of management and organisation studies, including leadership, technology, organisational change, transformation and
development and the future of work. He has designed, managed and delivered MBA programs at a number of universities and has taught Executive Leadership Mindsets in the Global Executive MBA at Monash. He has deep experience working with major corporations, and organisations in the business, government, community and not-for-profit sectors.

Luke Darcy 

Luke Darcy is a respected media and sporting personality and Co-Founder of Aleda, committed to building connected and collaborative leaders across sport, business and the arts around the world. He played 226 AFL games and served as the Western Bulldogs’ captain during his 14-year career. As the host of the Empowering Leaders Podcast, Luke shares insights and conversations that inspire growth, self-awareness and purposeful leadership. A dedicated father of four and lifelong meditator, he is passionate about passing on his experience to help others lead with clarity and intention.

Taryn Brumfitt

Taryn Brumfitt is an award-winning filmmaker, bestselling author and internationally sought-after keynote speaker. She is the co-Executive Director of The Embrace Collective; founder of the Body Image Movement and director of the inspiring documentaries EMBRACE and EMBRACE KIDS. Named Australian of the Year in 2023 and awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Flinders University in 2024, she is a fiercely passionate advocate for social change and her message has reached more than 200 million people around the world. 

Conference History

The conference promotes spiritual and professional growth among principals through studies and discussion on Lutheran theology, wellbeing and education, whilst providing a forum for mutual sharing. Former conference themes have included:

• Still Waters Running Deep (Brisbane, 2024)
• Embracing the Past, Inspiring our Future (Hahndorf, 2022)
• Leadership in Challenging Times (Hobart, 2018)
• Keep the Fire Burning (Cairns, 2016)
• Spirit in the Centre (Alice Springs, 2014)

The Reuther Oration

The Reuther Oration acknowledges the outstanding service of the Rev TT Reuther to Lutheran education in Australia from 1955, when he began duties as a chaplain at St Paul’s College, Walla Walla, NSW, to 1993 when he retired from the position of National Director for Lutheran Schools.

Pastor Reuther’s life within Lutheran schools commenced when he was a student first at Light Pass Lutheran Day school and later at Immanuel College. After completing theological study at Immanuel Seminary he took the opportunity to undertake post graduate studies from 1950-1954 at Concordia Seminary, St Louis. Whilst on board ship (returning from the USA) he received a call to become chaplain at St Paul’s College, Walla Walla, where he served to 1962.

After serving two parishes (Appila and Coonalpyn) from 1963-1968, he was called to be Headmaster of Concordia College Adelaide, where he joyfully served for fourteen years plus one term until 1983 where he accepted the invitation to become the inaugural national Director for Lutheran Schools.

During his outstanding service to Lutheran schools in Australia, he also completed Master Studies in Educational Administration. He was an active member of the former Headmasters’ Conference, member of the Australian Council of Education Administration, and honoured for his services to education by being made a Fellow of the Australian College of Education.

His ministry to Lutheran schools was highlighted by a professional approach based on a clear theological thinking. In the inaugural Reuther Oration, Pastor Reuther spoke of faithfulness, which was a characteristic that those associated with schools admired in him. He modelled faithfulness.

The Reuther Oration is designed to provoke and promote thinking about an aspect of Lutheran education and is delivered as part of the National Lutheran Principal Conference Welcome Ceremony.

Former Reuther Orators

• Malcolm Bartsch, 1997: Where is wisdom to be found? Finding meaning in the web of information.
• Robin Kleinschmidt, 2000: Janus at the Century’s Gate: Looking Backwards and Forwards at Lutheran Education
• Dr Loyd Fyffe, 2003: WINDOWS - Views, perspectives and reflections on contemporary education, framed with particular focus on the Lutheran School.
• Dr Norm Habel, 2005: Social Justice in a Lutheran School Context
• Ruth Butler, 2007: From the Outside Looking In…and from the Inside Looking Out - A View to the Third Way
• Dr Neville Highett, 2011: Reflections on, Thoughts and Challenges for Lutheran Education
• Dr Bronwyn Dolling, 2014: At the Edge of the Precipice: Fighting or Flying?
• Richard Hauser, 2016
• Neville Grieger (deceased), 2018
• Dr Roger Hunter, 2022
• Robert Hoff AM, 2024

Please contact executiveofficer@lpa.edu.au for further information.