2026 is the 10-year anniversary of the establishment of DEA.
Our theme for this special year is:
Faithful to the Mission, Bold for the Future
In 2026, our 10 Year anniversary Symposium is being held at McLaren Vale South Australia. 
This special Symposium seeks to celebrate our history with the founding congregations of DEA and look to the future being bold with participation from students from our Ministries. It is an opportunity for all members of the DEA community, past and present, to celebrate this significant milestone and connect with each other in the spirit of St Dominic.
Our keynote speakers:
Sr Margaret Mayce OP -A Dominican Perspective: Faithful to the Mission
Sr Margaret will focus on scripture and stories and a Global Dominican Perspective. This session will offer participants input on how Dominicans from around the world have sought and are seeking to be faithful to the Mission before them.
Louka Parry – Keynote address: Bold for the Future
Louka Parry will offer an interactive keynote exploring the societal, cultural, technological and educational shifts shaping the future of learning and leadership. The session invites participants to consider what it means for DEA schools and ministries to be bold for the future while remaining deeply faithful to the mission. The session will include provocations, reflection and participant engagement rather than passive listening, using frameworks such as “What? So what? Now what?” or “Discover, Design, Deliver” to help translate insights into action.
Louka will also be assisting with the facilitation of a DEA student dialogue.
This session places student voice at the beginning of Day 2, grounding the day’s future-focused dialogue in the lived experience, insight and imagination of young people across DEA ministries. Students will respond to the core provocation: “There has never been a more important time to be a Dominican.” Students will have the opportunity to affirm, challenge or reframe this statement through the lenses of truth, dialogue, contemplation, human dignity, justice, service, beauty, awe, wakefulness and presence.
The Program is attached with the bios for Sr Margaret and Louka here.
Additional details will continue to be published in the lead-up to the event.
