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: 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 2: 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 3: 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 (5 mins) Australia Industry Update from Peta Zietsch (BYTAP)
11:00 AM (20 mins) New Zealand Industry Update from Laura Crowther & Katie Taylor (BYATA)
11:15 AM (20 mins) TA Sponsor Speaker: Leigh Sorensen joined by Painted Dog Brent and Catherine from Painted Dog
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 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.
Pitcher 5: Josh Mayer from We Travel
WeTravel is a booking and payments platform for multi-day and group tour operators, helping them create seamless itineraries, manage foreign currencies, and simplify post-booking administration — all in one place.
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, Jeremy Pilditch
This panel with Lylo, Drifter and Flashpackers 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