The 2026 Leadership Development for Emerging Leaders Program will be delivered in partnership with Tourism Australia’s dedicated business events unit, Business Events Australia, and Turnkey Event Solutions, whose founder, Dan Londero will oversee the program as a Leading Well executive coach.
The program includes two days of face-to-face learning and individual online coaching sessions. The program will be delivered in two groups limited to 15 participants each, with the first group to undertake their training days in Sydney on August 18 and 19 and the second group to meet in Adelaide on November 30 and December 1 – the first two days of the ABEA conference.
The program will cover mindset, relationship building, communication, wellbeing and systematic leadership principles.
The association is offering subsidised rates for 30 ABEA members, with participation costs determined by membership level.
If there are places left in the program once applications close, non-subsidised places will be offered to industry who are not members of ABEA.
To participate, applicants must be 35 or under or have worked in the industry for less than a decade.
“The business events sector continues to face challenges attracting, retaining and nurturing talent, making leadership development more important than ever,” said ABEA CEO, Melissa Brown.
“ABEA is committed to supporting our emerging leaders because they will be the driving force behind our industry in the years ahead.
“We’re grateful for Business Events Australia’s support in helping us invest in the next generation of industry leaders.”
Tourism Australia’s executive general manager of industry and business events, Sally Cope, said people were at the heart of every business event held in Australia.
“Supporting emerging leaders is critical to ensuring our industry continues to innovate, grow and compete on the global stage.”
Applications for the program will close a week before the two-day in-person learning sessions in each city.
