Leading through constraint to deliver sustainable impact 

See you next year

15 - 17 September 2026, PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney

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Event overview

The Australian nonprofit sector faces mounting challenges in 2026. Escalating financial constraints from inflation and donor fatigue, workforce burnout amid volunteer declines, surging service demands from climate events and economic hardship, plus governance gaps and digital lags, are pressuring third sector teams to become more resilient.

A 2025 ACNC Report reveals unprecedented pressures making it more critical than ever for leaders to secure solutions. 60%+ of small/mid charities battle funding sustainability as expenses outpace income, while critical services are having to turn people away amid cost of living crises.

The Third Sector Leaders Forum 2026 is mission-critical for nonprofit CEOs and executive leaders facing 2026’s execution challenges. It delivers peer-validated frameworks tackling the sector’s top priorities and provides C-suite leaders the practical tools and partnerships needed to turn sector pressures into sustainable impact. This is the room where solutions happen.

Key benefits of attending:

Secure sustainable growth through funding innovation, leadership alignment and tech transformation 

Build resilient teams, governance and partnerships that scale impact 

Strengthen advocacy, accountability and financial stability for Australia's third sector 

Navigate workforce challenges, policy pressures and digital disruption with confidence

Harness AI, data and digital tools to prove impact and drive operations 

The experts guiding the conversation:

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Jean-Baptiste Naudet
Chief Financial Officer
Australian Red Cross
Tony Stuart
Chief Executive Officer
UNICEF Australia
Cate Bennett
Assistant Commissioner - General Counsel and Regulatory Services
ACNC
Justine Cain
Group Chief Executive Officer
Diabetes Australia
Catherine Hoban
Director of Fundraising
Australian Red Cross
Amit Pant
Non-Executive Director and Head of Technology
ADHD Foundation Australia
Sabine Reiser
Head of Philanthropic Partnerships
Oxfam Australia
Kylie Pussell
Chief Executive Officer
Miracle Babies
James Bell
Chief Executive Officer
Weldon Children’s Services

Bianca Stern is the Head of Impact and a founding member of All Things Equal, a Melbourne-based social enterprise empowering people with disability through award-wage employment, purposeful training, and pathways

Bianca Stern
Head of Impact
All Things Equal
Felicity McMahon
Head of Programs
Starlight Children's Foundation
Sandeep Mathur
Head of Data & Engineering
Greenpeace Australia
Russ Graham
Head of Marketing
Cancer Council Australia
Sarah Parker
Social Enterprise Manager
The Freedom Hub
Marella Verbeeten
Director People
Unison
Ragina Rogers
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Indigenous Governance Institute
Kellie Dunn
Chief Executive Officer
Women’s Health Loddon Mallee
Josie Worner
Head of Philanthropy
Act for Peace
Christina Chun
Chief Operating Officer
Social Enterprise Australia
Kate Saporta
Chief Financial and Operating Officer
Family Life
Chris Jordan
Head of Fundraising
Farm Angels
Brad Kane
Chief Operating Officer
Lifeline Central West
Christine Duggan
Executive Director
Guthrie House
Brooke Jennings
Chief Executive Officer
Goldfields Women's Health Centre
Marta Vasquez
General Manager ‑ Young People Services
YMCA NSW
Aaron Crowther
Chief Customer and Community Officer
RAAFA WA
Suzanne Gearing
Chief Executive Officer
Physical Disability Australia
Lachlan Mitchell
National Lead
Mary’s Meals Australia
Beth Barratt Browne
Leadership & AI Readiness Expert
Darren Black
Chief Executive Officer
Superfriend
Christopher Galloway
Chief Executive Officer
Muru Mittigar
Jennifer Rutkowski
Fundraising & Marketing Manager
Sir David Martin Foundation
Emily Briffa
Chief Executive Officer
Hamlet
Faye Spiteri
Chief Executive Officer
Fronditha Care
Michelle Hage
Chief Executive Officer
Arabic Welfare Incorporated
John Cullen
Homelessness Manager
The Salvation Army
Chris Coughlan
Manager Social Enterprise & Impact
Villa Maria Catholic Homes
Cara Varian
Chief Executive Officer
NSW Council of Social Services
Tony Warner
Chief Executive Officer
Variety NSW
Mary Mullins
Head of Finance
Royal Far West
Alex Lee
Chief Executive Officer
The Glen Centre
Shamila Gopalan
Chief Commercial Officer
Sister Works
Tim Edmonds
Chief Executive Officer
Blood Cancer NZ
Nick Orchard
Founder
The Big Refresh
Jess Moore
Chief Executive Officer
Social Enterprise Australia
Phil O’Toole
Managing Partner
Centium

Share a stage with 50+ industry experts

We invite you to join us and share your expertise or suggest a presenter. Please get in touch with us for more information on the event and how to participate. We look forward to hearing from you!

Who should attend:

C-level executives and senior leaders responsible for:

Operations

HR/People & Culture

Finance

Communications

Fundraising

Strategy

Sectors:

Not for profits

NGOs

Charities

Government

Social Enterprises

Philanthropies

Event features

The event program meticulously outlines the schedule and flow of activities, designed to fully engage attendees. It details keynotes, panel discussions, workshops, networking sessions, entertainment, and other planned elements, ensuring a captivating experience from start to finish.

Streams

Customise your learning journey with 2 inclusive streams encompassing all aspects of the industry, you can design a personalised schedule that maximises your time and experience.

Panel Discussions

Learn from expert panellists who will share their perspectives on emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities from the industry.

Case Studies
Gain valuable insights from industry experts through engaging case study sessions, designed to present solutions and learnings to key challenges in the industry.
Workshops
Deep dive into an interactive and intimate classroom style workshops with like-minded individuals and discuss key topics.
Exhibition


Showcase your brand to senior NFP professionals by exhibiting at our event.

Sponsoring
Elevate your brands visibility and choose from a wide range of sponsorship packages to expose your organisation to a diverse audience.
Networking Opportunities
Connect with other industry experts, thought leaders, and fellow senior attendees as you contribute to a shared learning experience.
Streams

Customise your learning journey with 2 inclusive streams encompassing all aspects of the industry, you can design a personalised schedule that maximises your time and experience.

Panel Discussions

Learn from expert panellists who will share their perspectives on emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities from the industry.

Case Studies
Gain valuable insights from industry experts through engaging case study sessions, designed to present solutions and learnings to key challenges in the industry.
Workshops
Deep dive into an interactive and intimate classroom style workshops with like-minded individuals and discuss key topics.
Exhibition


Showcase your brand to senior NFP professionals by exhibiting at our event.

Sponsoring
Elevate your brands visibility and choose from a wide range of sponsorship packages to expose your organisation to a diverse audience.
Networking Opportunities
Connect with other industry experts, thought leaders, and fellow senior attendees as you contribute to a shared learning experience.

Supporting partners

Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Exhibitor
Exhibitor
Exhibitor
Supporting Partner
Supporting Partner
Supporting Partner

Our Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

Associate Sponsor

Plenary Chair sponsor

Round-table Sponsor

Exhibitor

What our Attendees say

As someone who is new to the NFP/charity sector, the Third Sector Live conference help me increase my knowledge on what is happening in the sector in Australia. It was so wonderful to hear speakers share information on what has worked for them and also some of the work and processes that they are embracing. This conference is a must for anyone new to the sector and for those that have been around for a while, there is valuable information that is shared

I really enjoyed listening to the range of speakers presenting on a diverse range of topics at the conference. The opportunity to network with other senior executives of other charities and share experiences was incredibly valuable

A very enjoyable event, I met many interesting people from our sector from long term established organisations through to start ups. A good opportunity to be in a room with people leading organisations who face the same challenges and opportunities and hearing how these challenges are overcome.

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