The inaugural Connect Conference has been purpose-designed to deliver leading-edge intelligence, insights and inspiration for leaders, operators and customers of the print, sign, packaging and visual communications industry.
Featuring local and international experts and thought leaders across a range of high performing businesses and expertise specialties, Connect Conference 2026 will help you discover ways to navigate through future business trends, emerging technology, and sustainability requirements. The program is designed to educate, upskill and challenge the status quo, so if you're a business owner, operational lead or decision maker, you won't want to miss this important leadership event.
Connect Conference
2-4 September, 8:30am – 1:30pm each day
Hall 2A, Sydney Showground (entry via the Dome), Sydney Olympic Park
Tickets include entry into the Visual Impact Expo
Buy Tickets for Connect Conference 2026
| STANDARD DAY TICKET* | STANDARD 3-DAY PASS* |
| $249 - Visual Connections Australia Members | $656 - Visual Connections Australia Members |
| $289 - Other Association Members | $756 - Other Association Members |
| $369 - Non-Members | $956 - Non-Members |
Download Connect Conference 2026 Program
|
DAY 1:
|
WEDNESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER - BETTER BUSINESS |
|---|---|
| 8:30AM | Registration, Tea & Coffee |
| 9:00AM | Welcome & Opening |
| 9:15AM | International Industry Insights Panel: Leaders from international industry associations share their insights: Lori Anderson, ISA, Linda Edwards - Managing Director of BSGA, Ford Bowers, CEO, Printing United Alliance; and Nigel Davies, President, FESPA Australia, with moderator Karren Challoner-Miles, CEO of Visual Connections. |
| 10:05AM | Keynote: Steve Vamos: Leading Through the Shifts & Shocks: Author, advisor and former CEO at Xero, Microsoft Australia and Apple Asia Pacific, will share his experience leading through the shifts and shocks of the past 40 years of technology and industry change, and provide a practical approach to strengthen the most important capability you need in these times - being good at change. |
| 11:05AM | Morning Tea |
| 11:30AM | Education, Training & Careers Panel: Featuring Megan Lilly - Acting Commissioner, Jobs & Skills Australia; John Watters, Executive Officer, AusSIP, Paul Richards - Head Teacher, Sign & Graphics, Sydney TAFE; and Charbella Ayoub - apprentice signwriter, Cunneen Signs, with moderator Rob Griffith, Editor at Visual Connections |
| 12:25PM | Keynote: Dr David Cooke - Executive Director, ESG Advisory and author of Kind Business - How Values Create Value on corporate responsibility and how values drive business success. |
| 1:30PM | Program concludes |
|
DAY 2:
|
THURSDAY 3 SEPTEMBER - NAVIGATING SUSTAINABILITY |
| 8:30AM | Registration, Tea & Coffee |
| 9:00AM | Welcome & Opening |
| 9:10AM | Fireside Chat - Sustainability as a Tool for Value Creation: Mel Ireland, Queensland Government, chats with Brett Spicer - Senior Sustainability Professional, Bird & Bower Advisory, about embedding sustainability in your business in a way which creates and protects value. |
| 9:55AM | In Conversation: Gillon McLachlan, CEO of Tabcorp and former CEO of the AFL, speaks with Matt Aitken, Managing Director of IVE Group about his experience of leadership, how and where Tabcorp is transitioning from print to digital, and the challenges and opportunities that creates. |
| 10:40AM | How Do We Use Less for Longer in 2026 - Gayle Sloane, CEO , The Waste Management & Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR). |
| 11:10AM | Morning Tea |
| 11:30AM | Sustainability is Moving Down the Supply Chain: What it Means for Your Business: Barbara Albert, Co-CEO, 100% Renewables. |
| 12:00PM | Keynote - Jamie Whincup: Get an inside view on the fine balance that achieves successful vehicle livery, and a behind-the-scenes look at high-performance competition culture and commercial strategy |
| 12:45PM | Criticality of Transparency in Sustainability Partnerships - Scott Maynard,Head of Market, Polestar Australia. |
| 1:30PM | Program concludes |
|
DAY 3:
|
FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER - FUTURE READY |
| 8:30AM | Registration, Tea & Coffee |
| 9:00AM | Welcome & Opening |
| 9:10AM | Fireside Chat - Is This the End of Print?: Matt Fitzpatrick from Signarama and Neil Brener from JC Decaux discuss local and global trends and technologies and the future for both print and digital outdoor advertising and signage, with moderator Karren Challoner-Miles, CEO of Visual Connections. |
| 9:55AM | Unlock What Your Business Already Knows and Q&A: Richard Williams, Managing Director of Precision Solutions Group, on cyber awareness and adaptability in business. |
| 10:40AM | Morning Tea |
| 11:00AM | The Future of Signage: Join a panel discussion on the industry's future featuring Steen Zimmerman, Zimmerman Industries; Steve Lambourne from SS Signs and Callan Laughton from Insigns, moderated by Mick Harrold, President of the Australian Sign & Graphics Association (ASGA) |
| 11:45AM | Keynote: Dr Craig Emerson - Managing Director, Emerson Economics - leading economist and former Federal politician |
| 12:30PM | AI Case Study - Dr Xun Li, team leader and senior researcher, CSIRO, on how AI can increase efficiency, reduce labour-intensive work, improve decision-making and create business value - and how to make sure it helps, rather than hinders. |
| 1:30PM | Program concludes |
VIEW CONFIRMED SPEAKER DETAILS HERE
Wed 2 Sept - Fri 4 Sept
8:30am - 1:30pm
Wed 2 Sept - 10:00am - 6:00pm
Thu 3 Sept - 10:00am - 5:00pm
Fri 4 Sept - 10:00am - 3:00pm
Find out more
