13-15 October 2025
Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
The Symposium is full of engaging content in a practical format, designed to ramp up towards the Australian Event Awards ceremony at the end of the last day.
The Event Symposium will bring together leaders in the industry from some of Australia’s biggest events and festivals as well as offering a variety of sessions exploring the latest event trends, communication techniques and creatively enhancing events.
Please note that the program is subject to change.
Destination Famil
Kick off your Australian Event Symposium experience with an exclusive pre-event famil showcasing the diversity, culture, and versatility of the Coffs Coast. From stunning lookout views to iconic attractions and unique venues, this tailored itinerary is designed to give event professionals a taste of what makes this region the perfect destination for all kinds of events.
Welcome Drinks
Ahead of the busy Symposium programme, join us for Welcome Drinks – an opportunity to catch up with colleagues and industry friends at the Hoey Moey, a long-time favourite with locals and visitors alike. From national touring bands and headline acts to a treasure trove of local musical talent, this coastal pub champions all things live music. Enjoy relaxed vibes, shared platters and drinks as you soak up the energy of this much-loved Coffs institution.
Opening Plenary: The Synergy Between Events and Regional Tourism
Events help contribute to the growth of the local region through media exposure, attracting future visitation, providing opportunities for the local community to contribute towards the event and an opportunity for visitors to experience the best the region has to offer.
Festivals, food and wine events, exhibitions, conferences, corporate events have the potential to venture outside of capital cities but what can they do to ensure it’s beneficial for them?
The key is to build a strong relationship between the Destination and the Event and work together to ensure there is benefit for both parties. So where do you start? What do you look for?
This session will delve into the relationship from both sides and how to maximise the collaboration to benefit everyone.
Skills and Outcomes:
Speakers:
Australia’s current National Terrorism Threat Level is “probable”. Following the December 2024 vehicle attack on the Magdeburg Christmas Market in Germany, what should we be doing to safeguard the event participants at outdoor events?
Skills and Outcomes:
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In today’s rapidly evolving event landscape, staying ahead of trends is key to creating impactful and memorable conferences. This session will dive deep into what’s currently driving innovation in talent and conference design, as well as what’s beginning to lose relevance. From the rise of hybrid experiences to the growing importance of inclusivity and diversity, we’ll explore how conferences are shifting to better engage audiences and deliver value. We’ll also highlight outdated approaches that no longer resonate with modern attendees, and discuss how to refresh your event strategy to align with the latest best practices. Expect actionable insights on the latest tech, design strategies, and talent engagement models, ensuring you leave with fresh ideas to elevate your next conference.
Skills and Outcomes:
Speaker:
Festivals are one of the biggest assets to Australia’s community and culture. They provide access to the arts, provide significant social and economic benefits and support the local community.
But in this uncertain time of financial constraints, the loss of festivals is supressing the arts, the innovation from the creative minds and diversity in the offering available to the community.
So what can we do to overcome the uncertainty? How do we encourage the community to get behind the festivals and support them more than before?
Speakers:
Concurrent Sessions
Vicky Lowry shares the strategic transformation of one of Australia’s most iconic rural events. Once a celebration of Ute culture and outback spirit, the Deni Ute Muster has evolved into a multi-generational festival that welcomes 20,000 attendees, including record numbers of children and families. This journey has been shaped by intentional programming, infrastructure investment, community partnerships, and a strong commitment to maintaining the authenticity of its rural roots. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how to navigate growth, respond to changing audience expectations, and future-proof legacy events, without losing what makes them unique.
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Regional destinations are often overlooked as the host destination for Business Events with the decision driven by the perception that it’s too hard to get to, too costly and generally, too hard. This session will break down these challenges, identify the support available to Business Events and the benefits to attendees and clients in hosting a regional Business Event.
Skills and Outcomes:
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In an ever-evolving climate, sustainability initiatives have transformed and grown. What can we, as an industry do, to ‘do our bit’ and make our events and contributions to events more sustainable without increasing the budget? Whose responsibility is it to drive the sustainability – venues, organisers, clients? This session will delve into a budget-friendly exploration of the initiatives the industry can tap into, partnerships to engage with and how to overcome the challenges of engaging in sustainable practices.
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Plenary: From Trusted Advisor to Value Creator: Elevate Every Event Through Measurable Impact
This session transforms how event managers, suppliers to the industry, venues and conference organisers view the Trusted Advisor role, showing that everyone, from internal service providers to frontline staff, has the power and responsibility to deliver measurable value at every touchpoint. By tackling the global trust deficit, defining what truly builds trust in commercial settings, and leveraging listening and questioning skills, attendees will learn to uncover authentic stakeholder needs and master the equation of value that underpins every memorable event.
With practical frameworks from The Sales Revolution™ and A Culture of Customer™, participants will instil Customer Consciousness™ and Commercial Competence in their teams, boosting loyalty, maximising impact, and ensuring the benefits always outweigh the costs for every stakeholder. Leave ready to deliver exceptional, measurable value that sets your events apart.
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Tropical Vibes by the Sea, step into holiday mode at the newly renovated Aanuka Beach House – the Coffs Coast’s hottest new venue by the Tilley & Wills Group. With beach club vibes, ocean views, entertainment, dinner and drinks, this is your chance to experience a slice of tropical island fun without leaving the mainland.
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Concurrent Sessions
More and more attendees are leaving their event registrations to the last minute—despite the long-standing tradition of early bird pricing. As a result, organisers are facing increased uncertainty around budgeting, catering, venue planning, and delegate materials, often needing to make critical decisions without reliable numbers.
This session explores the shifting landscape of attendee behaviour and opens a conversation about how event professionals are responding. Rather than offering fixed answers, it will share examples of incentives and approaches that have been trialled—with varying degrees of success—and invite discussion around how we can collectively adapt our strategies, timelines, and expectations to meet the moment.
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The organising of a small community event is a different “kettle of fish” to putting on a large-scale, mass-attendance function: whether it is a commercial, charity or other not-for-profit ‘community’ event, there tends to be a very different set of principles, parameters and priorities for operational efficiency and overall success. This session will deal with that set, with advice and some “guidelines” to maximise the chances of solid support , smooth operations, and achieving your goals for the event.
Skills and Outcomes:
Speakers:
Simon Balderstoneregister
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Concurrent Sessions
This post graduate research investigated the regulation by local government in the New South Wales Hunter Region of events outside formal, purpose-built physical infrastructure, whether the land or water is under private or public control or ownership. It found that LGAs have many rules, practices, regulations, definitions, community expectations and contradictions and favour events on Council-owned or controlled locations. These actions are based on beliefs that any event has community benefits and whilst adverse impacts are overlooked due to the that temporariness of the event. Local government needs a better approach to the planning for and regulation of events. The outcome should be a more democratic, consistent and transparent event regulation system rather than accepting the nuances of public servant decision-making as a foregone conclusion.
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Exhibitions and Conferences complement each other – the Conference providing exhibitors with a direct, interactive market of attendees and the Exhibition, a centralised location of all the latest products, technology and services flooding the marketplace.
How do you set your exhibition apart from the rest? The key is to be on top of the latest trends, know your market – what do they want to know and what do they expect to see in the exhibition?
Skills and Outcomes:
Speaker:
Matt
PearceEmma
BowyerAnt
Hampelregister
now
This panel explores how events can evolve from one-off spectacles into catalysts for sustained cultural, economic, and social outcomes. With a focus on scalable legacy frameworks, we will unpack how creative producers, local governments, destination marketers, and infrastructure stakeholders can collaborate to embed lasting value into the DNA of repeat events.
A key discussion point will be the strategic shift from temporary, resource-heavy event infrastructure to integrated, place-based permanent solutions that serve both annual festivals and broader community use. We will examine practical pathways for councils and organisers to invest incrementally, unlocking long-term efficiencies and elevating the impact of recurring events.
Drawing on case studies such as NOOR Riyadh, Play Manly, The Long Walk, Events in the Sydney Domain, and Red Bull X-Fighters Cockatoo Island, the panel will highlight models that align with tourism, cultural policy, and destination development objectives—particularly relevant for regional growth and placemaking.
Skills and Outcomes:
Speakers:
Derrin
BrownChris
TowardShane
BuzzaIain
Morrisonregister
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Concurrent Sessions
Even the best laid plans can come into question – the event has been perfectly planned, everything has fallen into place, but have you planned for the unforeseen, the unexpected? Crisis management is an essential piece of the event planning puzzle. From communication through various channels, to staff trained in safely and effectively managing the attendees and the site – every second in that moment is crucial to successfully navigating the crisis at hand.
Skills and Outcomes:
Speakers:
Stephanie CassimatisKatrina
de JerseyScott
CrebbinChris
HallEllie Laing-Southwardregister
now
Multicultural events can be seen as bridges between communities – enabling people to share their traditions, cuisine, stories of their homeland and an opportunity for others to ensconce themselves in a different cultural setting. These events build stronger communities, inspire creativity and innovation, and demonstrate inclusivity.
Skills and Outcomes:
Paula MasselosRebecca ButchartPetra McNeilly RutledgeNia
Karterisregister
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The arts play a big role in people’s happiness and wellbeing but as the cost of living rises, what do events, curators, programming teams, designers and the like need to look at, to continue to encourage attendance, keep it accessible and not go backwards?
Skills and Outcomes:
Speakers:
Vickii
CotterDavid
CafferyTravis
Greenregister
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Venue: Wiigulga Sports Complex
Venue: Wiigulga Sports Complex
Welcome to Country at the 2019 Australian Event Awards in Perth, Wadumbah Aboriginal Dance Group
Gold Coast International Marine Expo
2016 National Finalist - Best Exhibition
Birdsville Big Red Bash
2016 National Finalist - Best Regional Event and 2016 National Winner - Australia's Favourite Event
Adelaide Ceremony, Interstate Australian Event Awards 2020
Singers perform at the Queensland Air Museum as part of Sunshine Coast Destination Experience during the social program at the Event Awards and Symposium 2017.
WineTasting Fest 2020, showcased the skills, knowledge and abilities of the first year students of Kenvale Collage, National Finalist 2021