Program
| Time | Session | Speaker |
| Session 1 9.30am - 11.00am | Welcome | Gorgi Coghlan Emcee Broadcaster, Singer, Actress, Owner "The Buninyong Hotel" & "Bermingham Farm" (Ballarat, Victoria) Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin Welcome to Country Penny Fowler AM Chair, Tourism Australia |
| Update from our Minister for Tourism Hear from our Tourism Minister about the Federal Government’s commitment and focus on driving forward the growth of the Australian tourism industry. | Senator the Hon Don Farrell Minister for Trade and Tourism, Special Minister of State | |
| Roadmap to 2035 Managing Director Robin Mack will share an outline of Tourism Australia’s strategic roadmap to 2035, focusing on high-yield growth and strengthening Australia’s position as a world-leading destination. | Robin Mack Managing Director, Tourism Australia | |
| Thrive 2030 Charting the course for Australia’s Visitor Economy and the next phase of the THRIVE 2030 action plan. | Dara Williams Deputy CEO, Policy and Programs, Austrade | |
| 11.00am - 11.30am | Morning Tea | |
| Session 2 11.30am - 1.00pm | Dollars and Destinations: How the economy is moving the travel needle From interest rates to international markets, Chris Kohler unpacks the "hidden" economic drivers influencing where and how the world spends its travel budget. | Chris Kohler Journalist and Nine Finance Editor |
| Are we there yet? How the aviation industry is shrinking the map Long haul, without the long face. How aviation is changing the feeling of distance. | Lorie Argus CEO, Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Renee Wootton Tomlin CEO & Founder, New Era Energy Cam Wallace CEO, Qantas International & Freight Panel discussion facilitated by: Rob Dougan Executive General Manager, Strategy and Culture, Tourism Australia | |
| Destination Spotlight Join us as we learn from our industry by celebrating their milestones, learning from their adaptability, and a shared commitment to ensuring the sustainable growth of our industry. | ||
| 1.00pm - 1.50pm | Lunch | |
| Session 3 1.50pm - 3.10pm | Decoding the modern Chinese traveller Unpack the opportunities and shifting preferences of Chinese visitors and the digital tools required to win their business in 2026. | Garry Burns CEO & Founder, The Gaibo Agency Kevin Lu CEO, Melbourne Convention Bureau |
| Beyond Sustainability: The regenerative revolution the next big thing in global travel Discover how Australian operators are moving beyond the baseline of sustainability to create net-positive impact and why this 'next big thing' is the key to our long-term global competitiveness. | Apsara Baldovino Partnerships lead, Habitat Positive, Taronga Conservation Society Australia Rob Hyatt Manager Cultural Experiences, Koorie Heritage Trust Fiona Merida Director of Strategic Engagement and Education at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Panel Discussion with Gorgi Coghlan | |
| 3.10pm - 3.45pm | Afternoon Tea | |
| Session 4 3.45pm 5.30pm | The Attention Economy of Travel Turning viral curiosity into visitor conversion. | Introduced by Susan Coghill Chief Marketing Officer, Tourism Australia Ankita Shetty Creative Strategy Lead - TikTok |
| The MECCA Masterclass: Crafting destinations people seek out. | Marita Burke Chief Creative Officer - MECCA | |
| Wrap up and close | Robin Mack Managing Director, Tourism Australia | |
| 5:30pm - 8:00pm | Networking Event |
*Program is subject to change