Mobilising Generosity, Shaping the Future
The Philanthropy Australia Conference is the nation’s premier gathering for the philanthropic and for‑purpose sector; a landmark event that brings together more than 1,000 funders, changemakers and innovators from across Australia and around the world.
In 2026, we meet at a defining moment: as social and environmental challenges intensify, the opportunity and responsibility to mobilise generosity has never been greater. Across five days of learning and inspiration, Conference delegates will help shape the future of philanthropy in Australia, exploring the theme “Mobilising Generosity, Shaping the Future.”
Hosted in Brisbane for the first time, the core conference on September 8-10 is framed by immersive learning experiences on September 7 and September 11.
The Philanthropy Australia Conference 2026 will be a pivotal moment for the sector. Join Philantropy Australia to connect, collaborate and harness the full potential of generosity.
Guest Speakers
- Paul Ash - Chief Executive Officer at Christchurch Call
- Naina Batra - Chief Executive Officer of AVPN
- Rueben Berg - Co-Chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria
- Jim Bildner - Chief Executive Officer of the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
- Jamie Choi - Chief Executive Officer at Tara Climate Foundation
- Tim Dixon - Cofounder of More in Common
- Trista Harris - President at FutureGood
- Marika Hedin - Chief Executive Officer of Riksbankens Jubileumsfond
- Dex Hunter-Torricke - Founder & President at Center for Tomorrow
- Lourdes Inga - Executive Director of International Funders for Indigenous Peoples
- The Honourable David Janetzki MP - Treasurer, Minister for Energy and Minister for Home Ownership
- Joanna Kerr - Founder and Principal of NutHatch
- Anita Patel - Vice President of Grantmaking at Bush Foundation
- Brian Wyborn - Chief Investment Officer at Aboriginal Investment NT
Program overview
The core Conference runs from Tuesday 8 September to Thursday 10 September, bookended by Masterclass Monday (Monday 7 September) and Field Trip Friday (Friday 11 September).
In 2026, participants will experience new programming such as an induction for first time conference attendees; a funders network showcase afternoon, multiple curated networking events, dedicated time for organisations to host side events and exclusive, member-only field trips to for-purpose initiatives across Brisbane and surrounds.
