The Youth Tourism Conference
We’re cooking up something big for this year’s Youth Tourism Conference! While we finalise our keynote lineup, we can already promise an inspiring day of fresh ideas, real talk, and future-focused insights.
Hosted by our resident emcee, the always energetic Mr Tommy Leiper, the stage will spotlight industry experts, bold innovators, and outside-the-box thinkers ready to challenge the status quo. From grassroots brilliance to AI breakthroughs, this year’s event will spark new ideas and ignite your vision for what’s next in youth tourism.
Stay tuned — the future is just getting started.
Date: Thursday 6 November 2025
Time: Arrival and registration from 8:30am.
Function Room: Ocean View Room
Venue: The Island’s Penthouse
Dress code: Business casual
Conference Agenda
8:30 AM Arrival and Registration
8:50 AM (10 mins) Welcome (Acknowledgement of Country) & Housekeeping
With Tommy Leiper
9:00 AM (30 mins) 50 Years of the Working Holiday Visa
With Julian Ledger
9:30 AM (30 mins) Keynote Speaker: Anna Harrison
Dr Anna Harrison will share evidence-based insights on how humans connect with brands and experiences, drawing on her patented ADORE Process™ to explore the future of consumer interaction.
10:00 AM (5 mins) Introduction to Pitchers
With Tommy Leiper
10:05 AM – 10:20 AM (15 mins)
Pitcher 1: Clinton Forster from Kuratour
Kuratour is a premium digital tour platform that delivers immersive self-drive and walking tours worldwide, with AI-generated itineraries tailored to travellers. It also empowers operators with multi-language support and an easy-to-use portal for creating and managing branded tour experiences.
Pitcher 2: Peter Falconer from BoostAR
BoostAR is an Australian startup using augmented reality to help youth tourism operators turn everyday marketing into interactive, shareable experiences that engage travellers and build stronger brands.
10:20 AM (30 mins) Morning Tea
10:50 AM (5 mins) Welcome Back & Introduction
10:55 AM (25 mins) BYTAP / AQ / BYATA / YTNSW / YTV
With Peta Zietsch
11:15 AM (20 mins) TA Sponsor Speaker: Kristy Malapa
Tourism Australia will share the latest insights into the youth and Working Holiday Maker market, including arrival trends, traveller behaviour, and how operators can better engage this vital audience through marketing and research-led strategies.
11:35 AM (40 mins) Keynote Speaker: Sarah Gardiner from Griffith University
Dr Sarah Gardiner brings over 20 years of experience in Australia’s youth tourism sector. As Director of the Griffith Institute for Tourism, she specialises in travel behaviour, experience design, and innovation, working closely with industry and government to shape the future of tourism.
12:15 PM (5 mins) Emcee Introduction to Pitchers
12:20 PM – 12:35 PM (15 mins)
Pitcher 3: Dinesh Kaku from Dazhboards
Dazhboards is an AI-powered platform helping tour operators automate customer support, streamline operations, and unlock real-time insights for sustainable growth in the tourism industry.
Pitcher 4: James Cowlishaw from PayPal
PayPal will share how smart, scalable payment solutions are transforming the tourism industry—enhancing guest experiences, enabling global growth, and unlocking new opportunities for operators.
12:35 PM (55 mins) Lunch
1:30 PM (10 mins) Welcome Back & Introduction
1:40 PM (30 mins) Accommodation Panel: Tim Alpe, Alex Hill, Jordan Hews
This panel with Lylo, Drifter and LA Collective will explore how traveller expectations have shifted post-COVID, the evolution of accommodation styles, and the challenges and opportunities ahead—from AI and automation to sustainable pricing and regional growth.
2:10 PM (40 mins) Keynote Speaker: Ben Southall
Ben Southall, founder of Best Life Adventures, is an Adventurepreneur who has undertaken record-breaking journeys across the globe and now leads adventure travel experiences to some of the world’s most extreme wilderness areas.
2:50 PM (10 mins) Wrap Up & End of Conference
3:00 PM Conclusion
