Forbes Australia has announced the return of its flagship Business Summit, presented by Salesforce, on 13 November at Ilumina, Sydney. The lineup will see Scott Farquhar, Bruna Papandrea, Laura Henshaw, Ben Thompson, Daniel Petre, Steve Baxter and more.
This year’s theme is ‘Break Through: Game Changing Business Conversations,’ focused on challenging convention, bringing together those shaping the future of the Australian business landscape.
The Summit invites Australia’s senior business leaders, founders, and investors to explore the trends, pressure, and possibilities re-setting the business agenda.
From a rare fireside chat with Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquhar on the next wave of innovation, to business innovators including Bruna Papandrea from Made Up Stories, Laura Henshaw from Kic, Nick Mowbray from ZURU and Dr Mary Manning from National Reconstruction Fund – plus a focus on new frontiers in med tech and defence tech, culture-driven innovation and AI-led leadership – the Summit is curated for insight.
Speakers at the Forbes Australia 2025 Business Summit include Scott Farquhar, co-founder, Atlassian, Bruna Papandrea, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning producer, founder and CEO of Made Up Stories, Laura Henshaw, co-founder and CEO, Kic, Ben Thompson, co-founder and CEO, Employment Hero, and Robin Khuda, founder and CEO, AirTrunk.
It will also see Steve Baxter, founder, Beaten Zone Venture Partners, Nick Mowbray, co-founder, ZURU, Daniel Petre, co-founder and partner Emeritus, Airtree Ventures, Frank Fillmann, EVP and GM, Salesforce ANZ, Richard Weinberg, CEO, Terrace Tower Group, Sarah Walsh, COO, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, Elle Ferguson, founder and creative director, ELEFFECT, Dr Mary Manning, chief investment officer, National Reconstruction Fund, Swati Dave, non-executive member, RBA Governance Board, Jacqui Lennon, chief technology and transformation officer, Zurich Australia, Oleg Vornik, CEO and MD, DroneShield, Tim Doyle, co-founder and CEO, Eucalyptus, Dominic Price, work futurist and former Atlassian.
Moderators include Sean Aylmer, journalist and podcaster, Fear & Greed; Scott Bidmead, TV host and wellbeing expert; Jacqui Duncan, GM NSW, Stone & Chalk; Shivaune Field, senior journalist, Forbes Australia; and Mark Whittaker, senior features writer, Forbes Australia.
The Summit’s topics draw on building company value, navigating market shifts, harnessing AI responsibly, and translating cultural momentum into business growth.
“At Forbes Australia, our mission is to shine a light on the people and ideas shaping the future of business. The Business Summit brings those stories to life on stage, in real time, creating a space where leaders can share lessons, challenge perspectives and spark the conversations that move Australia forward,” Sarah O’Carroll, editor-in-chief, Forbes Australia, said.
“The Summit is more than an event – it’s a high-impact community,” added Heidi de Boer, Group Head of Marketing, Forbes Australia. “Our theme, ‘Break Through’, is an invitation to business owners and decision-makers to look beyond the status quo and take fresh action on what matters next,” O’Carroll added.
The Forbes Australia 2025 Business Summit will be held on 13 November, 2025, at Ilumina, Sydney, presented by Salesforce.
