The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Summit, held in Sydney on 5 November 2015, was hosted by the New South Wales (NSW) Minister for Education, Adrian Piccoli, on behalf of his Education Council colleagues. It was attended by just over 100 experts, thought leaders and STEM professionals from industry, government and education sectors. The purpose of the Summit was to have a dynamic and open discussion about key issues and opportunities for STEM education in Australia, to inform the development of the national STEM school education strategy. The afternoon was split into two sessions. The first session discussed the types of STEM skills young Australians need to thrive in the 21st century; the second session focused on how to increase participation and diversity in STEM education. The Summit covered a great many issues in STEM education. This summary paper presents the key themes which emerged from the conversation that are of particular importance for national strategy development. Over 40% of Summit participants also submitted further ideas and suggested areas for change online.