At the invitation of Dr Alex Krzensk, Churchie’s Dean of AI Strategy and Academic Performance, Old Boy and current parent Lachlan Hanly was recently welcomed back to campus to share with staff his expertise in artificial intelligence (AI).

At a time when schools, professions and communities are continuing to navigate the rapidly evolving impact of AI, Lachlan’s presentation provided a timely and valuable opportunity for staff to reflect on both the scale of change now underway and the implications for teaching and learning. Drawing on his professional experience in the field, Lachlan offered an engaging overview of AI’s development, its current capabilities and the pace at which the technology continues to advance.

His presentation appealed to staff across a broad range of experience with AI, supporting those still developing confidence while also challenging those already engaging more deeply with the technology. Of particular interest was the scale of current global investment and the rapid growth in AI capability, including examples that showed how quickly tools are moving from simple task support to more sophisticated reasoning, analysis and content generation.

For Churchie, the presentation also reinforced an important educational principle. While AI will continue to shape aspects of work, learning and society, the School’s focus remains firmly on boys: their developing minds, their foundational skills and the productive challenge of learning. These priorities will continue to sit at the centre of the Churchie classroom.

We are grateful to Lachlan for generously sharing his time and expertise, and for bringing both an Old Boy and current parent perspective to this important conversation.