Talent development progeamme will be led by Leading Well Executive Coach Dan Londero.
The Australian Business Events Association (ABEA), in partnership with Tourism Australia's Business Events Australia (BEA), has launched its 2026 Leadership Development for Emerging Leaders Program, offering 30 sponsored scholarships to support leadership development across Australia's business events sector.
Supported by BEA and delivered in partnership with Leading Well and Turnkey Event Solutions, the programme aims to equip emerging leaders with the skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex business environment.
The scholarships will partially fund participation for ABEA members and business events professionals. The programme combines face-to-face workshops, individual coaching and leadership development modules covering communication, relationship building, wellbeing, feedback, leadership performance and systems thinking.
Two intakes of 15 participants will be held in Sydney and Adelaide. The Sydney programme takes place on 18-19 August, while the Adelaide intake will be held on 30 November-1 December, ahead of the ABEA Conference.
The programme will be led by Leading Well executive coach Dan Londero and includes one-on-one coaching following the face-to-face sessions. Participants who complete the programme will also be recognised at the ABEA Conference & Awards in December 2026.
The initiative forms part of BEA's broader investment in industry capability and talent development, which also includes sponsorship of the Future Leaders Award in the Australian Business Events Awards. Applications for the 2026 programme are now open.
Commenting on the launch of the new programme, ABEA CEO Melissa Brown said: “The business events sector continues to face challenges attracting, retaining and nurturing talent, making leadership development more important than ever.”
Tourism Australia’s EGM, Industry & Business Events, Sally Cope added: “People are at the heart of every successful business event in Australia, and supporting emerging leaders is critical to ensuring our industry continues to innovate, grow and compete on the global stage.”