Business Leader Luncheon: Rethinking What's Next
The world around us is changing rapidly. New technologies are reshaping industries. And the skills organisations need today may not be the skills they’ll need in five years’ time.
For Western Sydney, this moment presents both significant challenges and opportunities. As the region grows, industries evolve and new investment transforms the economy, leaders will need to understand what is changing, what capabilities matter and how to respond with confidence.
Business Leader Luncheon: Rethinking What’s Next brings together senior business leaders to explore the forces transforming business, leadership and the future of Western Sydney.
Presented by The University of Sydney Executive Plus, Dr Sandra Peter and Prof Kai Riemer will unpack the key trends influencing our changing world and explore what they mean for leaders, organisations and their people.
Attendees will gain insights into:
- The skills and capabilities leaders and organisations will need to navigate what comes next
- How artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are changing organisations and the way we work
- What evolving skills requirements mean for leaders, businesses and their people
- How organisations can build the capability to adapt, innovate and thrive in an increasingly complex environment
- The opportunities and challenges emerging as Western Sydney continues to grow and diversify
- How business, education and industry can work together to build the capabilities needed for the future
Join senior business leaders for an exclusive luncheon examining what effective leadership looks like in a rapidly changing world.
The 2027 Skills Horizon: What Leaders Need to Know Next
Stay ready for anything with this session, based on The 2027 Skills Horizon report.
We will challenge you to think differently about the future. We’ll explore how the world is changing in messy shifts, the new skills you need to learn, and the old things you need to unlearn. We’ll also share wisdom and insights drawn from conversations with hundreds of leaders, from prime ministers to global CEOs.
Put simply, this session covers everything leaders need to know next, to keep you and your team prepared for what’s ahead.
Keynote Presentation and Q&A:
Dr Sandra Peter and Prof Kai Riemer co-author the Skills Horizon, an annual, world-renowned, research report that explores what leaders need to know next. The report features practical insights drawn from conversations with hundreds of executives and leaders — from prime ministers, to pilots, to CPOs — about our changing world.
Dr Sandra Peter
Director of Sydney Executive Plus
Associate Professor at The University of Sydney Business School
Dr Sandra Peter leads executive and leadership development in cutting-edge areas of business, technology and society. Her research focuses on engaging with the future productively and navigating the impacts of emerging technologies and AI.
Through talks, workshops, and executive sessions, Sandra’s helped upskill thousands of leaders from global firms, ASX 100 companies across 20+ industries, and the Australian government.
Sandra is a sought-after keynote speaker and regularly contributes commentary, interviews, and research in national and international media.
Prof Kai Riemer
Director of Sydney Executive Plus
Prof Kai Riemer's expertise spans the fields of AI, disruption, collaborative systems, the future of work, emerging technologies, and the philosophy of technology. He boasts an impressive track record of industry-funded research, high-impact projects, and publications in leading journals.
He has advised and consulted on technology strategy, futures thinking, and organisational preparedness for global businesses and the Australian government. Kai is a public keynote speaker and is frequently asked to provide media commentary on nuanced matters of tech and the future.
WHERE LEADERS CONNECT
The Business Leader Luncheon brings together senior business and community leaders for a considered conversation about the forces shaping organisations and the decisions that lie ahead.
The room brings together:
- CEOs and senior executives
- Business owners and decision makers
- Leaders navigating technology, innovation and change
- Senior professionals shaping the direction of their organisations and industries
- Business Leaders with an interest in the future of the region
It’s an opportunity to step away from the day to day, engage in meaningful conversation and build relationships with leaders from across business and the community.
Date & Time:
Friday 30 October 2026
11.00am - 2.30pm
Location:
PARKROYAL Parramatta
30 Phillip St, Parramatta NSW 2150
Event Format:
- Registration and Networking Drinks from 11.00am to 12.00pm
- Presentations and Lunch from 12.20pm to 2.30pm
Connection Members (excluding Small Business and Construction Connect Members) are entitled to use their allocated complimentary seats for this event
- Platinum Partners: 8 complimentary seats
- Gold Members: 5 complimentary seats
- Charity Partners: 3 complimentary seats
- Silver Members: 4 complimentary seats
- Bronze Members: 1 complimentary seat
- Construction Connect Members: $190 + GST per person
- Small Business Members: $190 + GST per person
- Additional Member Tickets
$190 + GST per person
$1,800 + GST per table of 10 - Non Member Tickets
$250 + GST per person
$2,400 + GST per table of 10
$5.00 from every ticket sold at this event will be shared amongst and donated to the Children's Medical Research Institute, Northcott Disability Services and Ronald McDonald House Greater Western Sydney.
This event is supported by
The University of Sydney
Sydney Executive Plus
About us
Sydney Executive Plus is an initiative of the University of Sydney, focused on executive and leadership development through digital-first microcredential sprints and in-person executive sessions. Our portfolio covers urgent and emerging areas of business, tech, and society. We co-design and deliver each sprint alongside best-in-class industry partners. And each sprint is rigorous and practical, featuring case studies and insights you can actually use.
We bring the university to your workplace, so you can learn the skills you need to lead through anything.
Click here for event terms & conditions.
Date & Time
Friday 30 October 2026
11.00am - 2.30pmLocation
PARKROYAL Parramatta
30 Phillip St, Parramatta NSW 2150Registration Cost
Connection Members
1-8 Complimentary Tickets Per Member
*Refer to your member category
Member Tickets
$190 per person (+GST = $209.00)
$1,800 per table of 10 (+GST = $1,980.00)
Non Members Tickets
$250 per person (+GST = $275.00)
$2,400 per table of 10 (+GST = $2,640.00)
