ARIA Innovator reveals first speakers for 2026

The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) is thrilled to reveal the first speakers joining ARIA Innovator in 2026, with the second iteration of the conference taking place on 24 March at the NSW State Library.

Following the success of the inaugural event in 2025, ARIA Innovator will bring together a fresh group of world-class speakers to address the forces shaping the future of the music industry, including AI, new technologies, culture and community building, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

Among the first speakers announced are Meng Ru Kuok (Caldecott Music Group, NME, BandLab Technologies), Jon Dworkin (Executive Vice President, Digital Strategy, Universal Music Group), Cathy Hackl (tech and gaming executive), Dom Price (work futurist), and The Betoota Advocate’s Errol Parker and Clancy Overell. Award-winning broadcast journalist Narelda Jacobs OAM will interview and steer the conversations.

ARIA Innovator has been made possible by the NSW Government through Sound NSW.

The event will comprise an innovation conference and mixer on 24 March, followed by a Leadership Workshop on 25 March: an application-only program designed to develop leadership skills for high-performing, mid-level people working in the NSW music industry.

Meng Ru Kwok said: “The music industry is in an incredible place, and yet we’re still in the early innings. That’s true of everything right now, including AI. The tools will keep evolving, but great artists and great work will always matter. If anything, this moment reminds us how important creativity and musicianship are, and that’s what excites me most.”

Jon Dworkin said: “I am thrilled and honoured to take part in ARIA Innovator. Australia is a critical market for UMG, an incredible source of talent domestically and globally, and an important source of executive talent for our industry and community. I look forward to sharing some of my experiences and some of UMG’s perspectives on digital transformation and hope our insights will provide clarity and potentially even some inspiration.”

Cathy Hackl said: “Music and gaming are no longer parallel industries, they are converging into one of the most powerful cultural forces of our time. What excites me most is how this convergence unlocks new forms of expression and new revenue models. Australia has an extraordinary opportunity to lead here by bringing together its world-class music talent and its fast-growing gaming and technology communities. The future of music will not only be heard, it will be played, experienced, and lived inside interactive worlds. I’m thrilled to join ARIA’s event to explore how we can build that future together.”

Dom Price said: “Every industry that thinks it’s immune to disruption ends up with a greatest hits album and no new tracks. The future belongs to the artists and leaders brave enough to keep experimenting.”

Errol Parker said: “We are excited to partner with the purveyors of the nation's most dangerous award statue.”

Narelda Jacobs said: “I'm thrilled to be facilitating some important conversations during ARIA Innovator that will help take Aussie artists and creatives to the world. I'm particularly passionate about making sure the unique sounds of First Nations musicians are amplified across the globe.”

ARIA CEO, Annabelle Herd, said: “From the start, Innovator has been about looking outward to invite the thinkers, builders and cultural leaders who can challenge how we see Australian music and what’s possible within it. We’re incredibly fortunate to have such a breadth of perspectives contributing to these conversations for a second year running, and we all can’t wait to explore the new ways of thinking they’re sure to spark in our community. Thank you as always to Sound NSW for helping to make this possible.”

Tickets are on sale now, ARIA members receive $5 off with a member code.

For tickets and more information, visit https://events.humanitix.com/aria-innovator-conference-march-2026-yr4hvedq or the ARIA Innovator website at www.aria.com.au/innovator.

Session information:

Making Music More Collaborative

Featuring Meng Ru Kuok in conversation with Narelda Jacobs

Meng Ru Kuok is the Group CEO & Founder of Caldecott Music Group: a global music industry operator, innovator and investor spanning multiple sectors, including digital (BandLab Technologies), media (NME Networks), and manufacturing and retail (Vista Musical Instruments). By integrating the physical, digital, and social supply chain around music, CMG brings together brands and people who are passionate about music, allowing them to deliver authentic content, products, and experiences for all music lovers. In this session, Meng will share his vision for accessibility and collaboration in music, discussing how emerging technology can help artists create and connect.

How We Built the Betoota Advocate

Featuring Errol Parker and Clancy Overell in conversation with Narelda Jacobs

Errol Parker and Clancy Overell will share the story behind building the Betoota Advocate into a powerful community of engaged fans. This candid conversation will explore their early strategy and how it has evolved, practical insights into building and maintaining a strong following, and innovative approaches to content and fan engagement.

The Opportunity in New Technologies

Featuring Jon Dworkin

Jon Dworkin is Executive Vice President of Digital Business Development at Universal Music Group. Jon and his team lead UMG's digital partnerships globally, working with the company's senior management team to develop digital strategy, next-generation business models, and oversight of digital strategy throughout UMG's global expansion. In this presentation, Jon will explore the opportunities in new technologies for the Australian music industry, drawing on his experience as an artist strategist and his perspective on what it takes to succeed in music tech today.

Transforming Your Working Life

Featuring Dom Price

Dom Price brings experience spanning gaming, tech and finance, including his work at Atlassian. His presentation will explore work behaviour and practical applications, the path to entrepreneurship, embracing a failure mindset, and insights on building successful creative businesses.

Music and Gaming: a Marriage Made in Heaven

Featuring Cathy Hackl

Cathy Hackl – often called the Godmother of the Metaverse – is a globally renowned futurist and tech innovator who has shaped the intersection of AI, immersive technologies and gaming for some of the world's biggest brands. As an External Partner at Boston Consulting Group and founder of Future Dynamics, she advises companies including Nike, Louis Vuitton and Walmart on emerging tech strategy. Hackl has designed experiences in platforms like Roblox and Fortnite and produced virtual concerts including Electric Fest. Recognised by Forbes, Vogue Business and Newsweek as a leading innovator, she is the host of Adweek's TechMagic podcast and author of five books including Spatial Computing: An AI-Driven Business Revolution. In this session, Cathy will explore the opportunities for deeper collaboration between gaming and music – beyond sync deals – and examine how AI can help promote music to gaming audiences, drawing on real-world case studies from her work at the frontier of both industries.

ARIA Innovator Leadership Workshop:

This five-hour interactive Leadership Workshop on 25 March is designed to build leadership skills for high-potential, mid-level executives and individuals working in NSW in the Australian music industry. Facilitated by industry strategist Megan Brownlow, 20 participants will be selected through an application process.

Participants will be guided through learning exercises in various formats: plenary sessions, small working groups and individual tasks. Each participant will leave with an understanding of what drives them, new leadership frameworks that can be applied immediately, and personal commitments in a take-home notebook. Following the workshop, each participant will have the opportunity for an individual coaching session with Megan Brownlow.

Applications close today 5pm (AEST) 18 February. Successful Leadership Workshop applicants will be informed by 25 February.

For more information, please contact:

Andrew Knowles

M: 0449 510 357

E: andrew@skmediagroup.com.au