The ARIA Innovator Conference is back for 2026. We bring global knowledge to Australian shores, and uncover what’s next for music, entertainment and media at large. Innovator is designed to give our industry a competitive edge in centralising leading research, insights and opinion from various industries across one day of exceptional programming.
Day 1 - Tuesday 24th March
Speaker lineup
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.
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.
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.
Jonathan 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.
One of the most dynamic creative leaders of her generation – a Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 honouree, World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and the youngest editor-in-chief in Vogue’s 130-year history – Zhang’s career spans filmmaking, editorial leadership and global creative direction across fashion, film and media. Today, Zhang’s work spans filmmaking, producing and cultural strategy, developing original film and television projects while advising artists and global brands on culture-driven storytelling and community building through The Mì-Mì Project and Mì-Mì Labs, the platforms she founded to support the development of new creative IP and female-driven storytelling across film and media.
Her keynote conversation will explore creative leadership across industries, the lessons she has drawn from working between cultures and disciplines, and what the music industry can learn from the evolving ecosystems of fashion, film and digital communities.
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.
Narelda Jacobs OAM is a Whadjuk Noongar journalist, presenter and author. Her career at Network 10 spans a quarter of a century. You'll also find her on NITV and SBS, the ABC, podcast airwaves, in documentaries and Australian dramas, hosting events and sharing her lived experience around the country and internationally, and giving back to her community through ambassadorial and board roles
Sosefina Fuamoli is one of Australia’s most respected voices in music media, with writing credits in Rolling Stone Australia/NZ, NME, The Australian and Time Out. She hosts On The Record for ABC Radio Australia, presents R&B/hip-hop program Window Seat on Melbourne’s 3RRR FM, and is a music correspondent for ABC TV’s News Breakfast. A two-time winner of the National Live Music Award for Live Music Journalist, Fuamoli received the Emerging Talent award at the 2024 AIBs in London and was nominated for Music Journalist of the Year at the 2025 International Music Journalism Awards in Germany.
Thanks to our supporters again for 2026 - Sound NSW
Learning Outcomes
Global Audience Expansion
Cultural Influence & Engagement
Data-Driven Marketing
Entrepreneurial Innovation
AI-Powered Innovation
TICKETS HERE
Regional Travel Support
What Is the Regional Travel Fund?
The ARIA Innovator Regional Travel Fund provides financial support for eligible attendees travelling from regional NSW to attend the conference in Sydney on 24 and 25 March 2026.
Support is available to cover travel costs and, for those travelling from further afield, accommodation for the night before the conference. Funded attendees self-book their own travel and accommodation and are reimbursed after the event on submission of receipts.
The fund is finite and places are limited, so we encourage eligible professionals to apply early.
Am I Eligible?
To be eligible for the Regional Travel Fund you must:
The fund is open to a range of regional locations across NSW. Whether you're based in the Hunter Valley, Central West, Riverina, New England, South Coast or Far North Coast, we encourage you to apply and our team will assess your eligibility.
How It Works
Key Dates
|
Date |
Milestone |
|
Friday 6 March 2026 |
Applications open |
|
Monday 16 March 2026 |
Applications close - 5:00pm |
|
Wednesday 18 March 2026 |
Applicants notified |
|
Monday 24 March 2026 |
ARIA Innovator - Day 1 |
|
Tuesday 25 March 2026 |
ARIA Innovator - Day 2 |
|
Monday 6 April 2026 |
Receipt submission deadline - 5:00pm |
Ready to join the conversation? Apply for the Regional Travel Fund below.
Apply for the Regional Travel Fund → HERE
For questions about the fund, contact our events team at ARIAInnovator@aria.com.au
Innovator Ticketing Privacy Statement - ARIA
Innovator Ticket Refund Policy - ARIA
Innovator Ticketing T&Cs - ARIA
ARIA Innovator is ARIA’s new initiative to inspire and cultivate innovation and entrepreneurship within the Australian music industry. With rapid technological advances and shifting global music consumption, ARIA Innovator provides industry professionals with access to cutting-edge insights, tools, and strategies that drive growth and success in the changing world.
Through its programs, ARIA Innovator will empower artists, managers, and labels to develop innovative business models and marketing strategies that enhance discoverability and deepen audience engagement in both domestic and international markets.
As a brand, ARIA Innovator is designed to be a continuous force for positive change, facilitating workshops, conferences, and discussions that bring together leading minds from within and beyond the music industry. By fostering collaboration and forward-thinking approaches, ARIA Innovator is committed to shaping the future of the Australian music sector.
Our first initiative, made possible through support from Sound NSW funding via Create NSW, was the inaugural ARIA Innovator conference and Accelerate Strategy Workshop held on Gadigal Country in NSW in March 2025.
ARIA launched ARIA Innovator to actively engage the music industry in addressing critical issues such as discoverability and export challenges. This initiative is part of ARIA’s evolving role as thought leaders, providing industry professionals with access to global experts and strategic insights. With funding provided by Sound NSW’s Strategic Funding round, ARIA Innovator aligns with their objectives of developing pilot programs, capacity-building, and promoting sustainability within the contemporary music sector in NSW. This program aims to support long-term growth for NSW-based artists and businesses.
The conference covered some of the most pressing shifts facing the industry, including the cultural strategies that drive consumption, the future of music marketing, sustainable creative entrepreneurship, and the real implications of artificial intelligence in music.
ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd said: “The diversity of the turnout was exactly what we’d hoped for: artists, managers, executives, founders, and thinkers all coming together to talk seriously about the future of Australian music. What made it special was that the conversations didn’t end when the sessions did. The most valuable part of events like this is what happens in between, when ideas get exchanged, connections get made, and the next thing starts to take shape.”
For any queries, please email ARIAInnovator@aria.com.au
Thanks to our Supporters
