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Deep Dive into Australia’s Premier Event Industry Experience: The Event Symposium and Awards 2025

The Australian Event Symposium, held alongside the Event Awards, is the nations flagship gathering for event professionals. It’s where innovation meets networking, driving growth and unity across the industry.

Headed to Coffs Harbour on 13 – 15 October 2025, this event offers professionals across all sectors – organisers, councils, suppliers, venues, marketers, PCOs, educators, and government bodies – a rare opportunity to connect, upskill, and advocate for Australia’s events future.

View 2025 Program

  1. Day-by-Day Program - What's On
  2. Secure your Spot Today
  3. Why Attend
  4. Event Highlights and Experience
  5. Destination Spotlight

Day-by-Day Program - What's On

Tuesday 14 October: A Day of Insight

Opening Plenary: The Synergy Between Events and Regional Tourism - with Linda Tilman, Michael Thurston, and Greg Donovan, exploring how regional destinations and events fuel mutual growth.

Morning Breakout Sessions

  • Crowded Places: Security and risk management by Craig Sheridan.
  • Talent and Conference Design: Trends with David Green.
  • Festival Cultural Impact: Peter Noble, Harry Barry, and Ben Lewis discuss regional event culture.
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
  • Deni Ute Muster Case Study: Insights from Vicky Lowry.
  • Business Events in Regions: with Michael Thurston and Simon Latchford.
  • Sustainability: Making a Positive Impact - Melissa Hamilton and Andrew Cameron-Smith offer actional strategies.
Afternoon Plenary: Ingrid Maynard delivers a session on sales and engagement strategy.

Evening: Dinner at Aanuka Beach House, an immersive coastal venue perfect for relaxed networking by the sea.


Wednesday 15 October: Deeper Insights and Celebration

Morning Breakout Sessions
  • Driving Early Registrations: Strategies from Peta Moore.
  • Small Community Events: Simon Balderstone troubleshooting operations.
Mid Morning Sessions
  • Event Regulation and Local Government: Gary O'Dell on navigating red tape.
  • Exhibitions and Conferences Integration: Matt Pearce, Emma Bowyer and Ant Hampel explore maximising exhibitions.
  • Designing for Legacy: Derrin Brown, Chris Toward, Shane Buzza and Iain Morrison delve into the strategic shift from temporary to permanent.
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
  • PR and Crisis Communication: with experts like Stephanie Cassimatis, Chris Hall, Katrina de Jersey, Scott Crebbin and Ellie Laing-Southward.
  • Multicultural Event Building: Paula Masselos, Rebecca Butchart, Petra McNeilly Rutledge and Nia Karteris explore creativity, innovation, and inclusivity between culture and community.
Closing Plenary: Rising Cost of Living vs Wellbeing and Events: Featuring David Caffrey from Dionysus and a multi Event Award winner in 2024.

Awards Ceremony
Staged at Wiigulga Sports Multipurpose Centre, this is your opportunity to join the industry, mix with the best of the best and celebrate the brilliant nominees and winners from across the industry.

See the Program

Secure your Spot Today

Be part of the most important conversation in the Australian Events Industry.
Offering registrations to suit everyone's schedules, you can pick how much of the Symposium you want to attend!

  • Full Symposium Registration: includes access to all sessions, famil, social events on Monday and Tuesday and includes a ticket to the Event Awards Ceremony
  • Day Registration: includes access to the sessions and social events on the day selected
Register Now for the Symposium to secure your place!

Register Now

Why Attend

Learn from the leaders in design, risk, sustainability, digital marketing, crisis management, regional tourism, and more.

Connect with 100 + peers from across Australia - broaden your network with suppliers, councils, universities, governments, and industry specialists.

Build real business value in an intimate, workshop-orientated environment - rather than traditional, lecture-heavy formats.

Be part of industry unity this is the only national, all inclusive awards and symposium platform for Australian event professionals.

Want to know more?

Event Highlights and Experience

Pre-Event Famil - Monday Afternoon
Kick off your experience with an exclusive Famil tour, hosted by the City of Coffs Harbour.
Explore C.ex Coffs International Stadium and discover venue possibilities across the coast - from waterfront venues to lush hinterlands - showcasing why the Coffs Coast is an emerging event destination.

Welcome Drinks - Monday Evening Ease into the Symposium with Welcome Drinks at the Hoey Moey, a locally beloved coastal pub. Enjoy shared platters and live music - perfect for reconnecting with peers in a relaxed atmosphere.

Secure your Spot!

Destination Spotlight

Beyond the Event Awards and Symposium, Coffs Harbour is a destination in its own right-where pristine beaches meet lush hinterland and vibrant local culture.

Whether you're catching the sunrise at the iconic Big Banana, walking along the Solitary Islands Marine Park, or exploring the hinterland waterfalls and rainforests, there's plenty to experience before and after the event.

Local food and wine trails, coastal walks, and cultural hubs make it easy to extend your stay and soak up everything the Coffs Coast has to offer.

So why not come early, stay a little longer, and turn your trip into both business and leisure?

Check out Coffs