THE WHITSUNDAYS Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced the full program for the 2025 Whitsunday Business Conference.
The chamber’s flagship event is designed to inspire, inform and connect the region’s business leaders, operators and entrepreneurs.
Held as a full-day conference, on Thursday, August 28, 2025, the program showcases an impressive lineup of keynote speakers, industry panels, practical sessions and networking opportunities.
Everything is tailored to the needs of the Whitsunday business community at the event, being held at TAFE Cannonvale.
Mayor Ry Collins will officially open the event, including a major announcement confirming Whitsunday Regional Council’s formal commitment as a Small Business Friendly Council.
This reinforces the region’s dedication to creating a more supportive environment for local enterprise.
Leading the day’s discussions is acclaimed business coach Judy Porter, from Shiift, delivering the keynote address Get Out of Your Own Way — a call to action for business owners and leaders to step into their potential and drive purposeful growth.
A feature panel discussion, Working Better Together – From Vision to Impact, will bring together regional leaders to explore how collaboration is delivering real outcomes in infrastructure, housing, investment, and community development.
Panellists include Elizabeth Hackett (Whitsunday Skyway), Terry Archer (Whitsunday Sailing Club), Justin Butler (Club Whitsunday), and Carol Norris (Greater Whitsunday Communities).
A networking segment will follow — Get Connected: Who’s Here to Help Your Business? — that will provide businesses with direct access to regional agencies and programs offering growth and support solutions.
Throughout the day, attendees will participate in four streams of concurrent sessions covering essential topics such as leadership, finance, workforce growth, marketing, customer service, digital innovation, and community partnerships.
A networking segment entitled Get Connected: Who’s Here to Help Your Business? will provide businesses with direct access to regional agencies and programs offering growth and support solutions.
The conference will close with an energising plenary, Power Up: What’s Next for Your Business? A motivational finale focused on next steps and sustaining business momentum.
The 2025 Whitsunday Business Conference promises to be an unmissable event for anyone seeking practical knowledge, strategic insight, and meaningful business connections.
Program Detail
9:00am – 9:20am OPENING
- Official Opening from Mayor Ry Collins
9:20am – 9:50am KEYNOTE
- Get Out of Your Own Way by Judy Porter/Shiift.
9:50am – 10:30am PANEL
- Working Better Together: From Vision to Impact with Elizabeth Hackett/Skyways, Terry Archer/Whitsunday Sailing Club, Justin Butler/Club Whitsunday, Carol Norris/Greater Whitsunday Communities.
10:30am – 11am BREAK
11:00am – 11:45am SPEED DATING
- Get Connected: Who’s here to help your business? with Georgia Lavers/Greater Whitsunday Alliance, Robert Cocco/Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsunday, Paul Hanlon/Whitsunday Regional Council, Roxanne Birse/Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Gerard Millican/Queensland Business Concierge and others!
11:45am – 12:30pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS
- The Art of Feedback: The F-word that could save your team & your business with Judy Porter/Shiift
- Business & Community: Partnering for Positive Impact case studies with Rebecca Woods/Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre, Annika and Ian Thomson/Ocean Crusaders, and Coutrney Quinn-McCrabe/Tassal and Libby Edge/Eco Barge.
- From Solo to Scalable: Building a business that works with you, with Corrina Lindby/The Answer is Yes and Kate Tulett/Th3rd Dimension Media
12:30pm – 1:15pm LUNCH
1:15pm – 2:00pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS
- Ask An Expert: Money Matters for Modern Business with Gus Walsgott/Rural Financial Counselling Service, Kim Jamieson/APW, Justin Butler/Eclipse Financial Planning, Luke Sheppard/Bendigo Bank Business, Doug O’Connor/Option Insurance Brokers, and Fiona Erquiaga/Smooth Sailing Finance Consulting
- International Recruitment & Migration: Driving Business and Regional Growth with Alana Hopkins, Workforce Abundance
- Unlocking Motivation: Leading with Purpose and Impact with Brian Ward/BRIAN8
- The Power of Storytelling: Using Personal Branding to Grow Your Business with Rachael Smith/Mackay and Whitsunday Life
2:00pm- 2:45pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS
- Ask An Expert: Local Marketing That Works with Melanie Laas/EMME Influence, Courtney Casey/Southern Cross Austereo, and Trish Jandt/Mackay and Whitsunday Life
- Tendering: Top Ten Tips with Ros Weche/Queensland Department of State Development and Infrastructure
- The Dying Art of Customer Service: 12 Rules for Success with Rick Brown
- Ask An Expert: Smarter People Management for Small Business with Mark Lipkin/Airlie Group
2:45pm – 3:15pm BREAK
3:15pm – 4:00pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS
- Leveraging AI and VR for Business Innovation and Social Impact with Simon Lowe/People Tech Revolution and Rachel Cliffe/Telstra Regional Australia
- From Insight to Impact: An Action Lab for Future-Fit Teams with Georgia Lavers/Greater Whitsunday Regional Jobs Committee
- Ask An Expert: Finding Support Before You Need It with Cassandra Walsh/My Pathway
4:00pm – 4:45pm CLOSING
- Power Up: What’s Next for Your Business, an interactive session that session captures key insights from the day and attendee action plans.
4:45pm CLOSE
Conference Details & Tickets
What: The 2025 Whitsunday Business Conference
When: 9am-5pm Thursday 28 August 2025
Where: TAFE Queensland Whitsunday campus, Cannonvale
Registration: Via the Chamber’s website.
- Tickets can be shared within a team, allowing you attend what you can.
- Tickets include morning and afternoon tea, and lunch.
- Early bird registrations close 30 June, starting from $79.
Conference tickets
Tickets include morning and afternoon tea, and lunch. Early bird registrations are now open.
Early Bird registrations close 30 June
Members (Chamber and Tourism Whitsundays): $79 two-for-one tickets
Association Partners: $79 each
Non-Members: $99 each
1 July to 28 August
Members (Chamber and Tourism Whitsundays): $99 two-for-one tickets
Association Partners: $99 each
Non-Members: $129 each.
