Breakfast Summit Series 2021: A Fresh Look at Strategic Planning

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Presented by: Andy Van Schaack, PhD, Associate Professor of the Practice, Vanderbilt University, USA; and John Somerset, FCA, Director, Somerset Education, Australia

Webinar on Wednesday, 29 September 2021, 7:00am—9:00am

The challenge — what economic, technological, and societal forces will shape the environment your school operates within, 5 or even 10 years from now? How can you and your team credibly predict and responsibly plan for the future?

In this workshop, you will learn a systematic, five-step approach to scenario forecasting that will enable you and your team to develop specific, actionable plans for the future — plans that will minimize risk and maximize opportunity for your organization no matter what the future holds.

Reference to forecasting is strategic forecasting, not financial forecasting. This session is best suited to school Governors, Principals, and Business Managers.

In the first hour:
• Attributes of a financially sustainable independent school
• Accounting for non-accountants
• Using the Financial Survey for Schools (FSS) to identify and quantify strengths and weaknesses to inform strategy.

In the second hour:
• Brief introduction to the concept of forecasting
• Detailed description of the five-step scenario forecasting process
• Next steps: Applying the process to your organization.

“Whoever does not know how to take care of the future in the present will depend upon the uncertainties of that very future.”
Seneca, Roman philosopher, 45BC – 65 AD

About the Presenters:
Andy Van Schaack, PhD
Associate Professor of the Practice, Vanderbilt University, USA
Dr Andy Van Schaack is a professor at Vanderbilt University with appointments in the Schools of Education and Engineering. As Chief Scientist of several Silicon Valley-based companies, he earned over a dozen patents. In 2017 he was awarded Vanderbilt University’s Teacher of the Year award. Most recently, he was selected to be a Fulbright Scholar to Austria in 2022.

John Somerset
Director, Somerset Education
John’s passion is financial viability and sustainability of non-government schools. He has 36 years Chartered Accounting experience, with 26 years specialising in schools including past President of Independent Schools Queensland and a past board member of the Independent Schools Australia. John runs the annual Financial Survey for Schools (FSS) which, with up to 700 participants, is the largest in Australia and New Zealand.

Register via Somerset Education Events.
Registration fees:
$90.00 AUD (+gst) per School/Organisation (up to three Registrants.)
Additional Registrants: $45.00 AUD (+gst) per Registrant.
Tax Invoice will be emailed after registration.

For more information about our Breakfast Summit Series, please do not hesitate to contact us via email or call on 1300 781 968.

Kindest regards


  
John Somerset is a Chartered Accountant. He has extensive knowledge of the independent school sector and is past President of Independent Schools Queensland and a past board member of the Independent Schools Australia.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Somerset Education Breakfast Summit SeriesWebinar, Wednesday, 29 September 2021 (7:00am-9:00am).