Anthesis at Sustainability Business Live 2026
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Date: 3-4 June 2026
Insights
Sustainability Business Live 2026 is Australia’s biggest ever corporate sustainability event. It’s the only full-scale trade show designed to help businesses find sustainability solutions that are also good for their bottom-line. This cross-sector event connects climate-conscious businesses with solution providers, consultants, climate tech innovators, funders, and policymakers to accelerate a just transition to a low carbon economy.
Let’s Connect
If you’re planning to attend Sustainability Business Live, we’d love to meet with you. You can find a line-up of our sessions below for both Wednesday the 3rd and Thursday, the 4th of June. Please reach out, or connect with one of our delegates directly to schedule time with our team. You can also drop by the Anthesis Lounge at any time for a coffee and a chat.
Anthesis Sessions | Wednesday, 3rd June
Headline Keynote: Megatrends. Understanding the forces shaping the next era of business strategy
9:30 AM-9.50AM
Dr Matthew Bell will examine the forces rapidly reshaping the operating environment for organisations, from artificial intelligence and geopolitical instability to the investment landscape, nature and biodiversity, and supply chain pressure. He will explore why these forces are converging, why traditional planning horizons are under strain, and what this means for decarbonisation, resilience, and long‑term value creation. The keynote sets the context for action beyond theory, and frames the decisions leaders are being pushed to make now and what leaders should focus on in the years ahead.
Panel: What breaks, what adapts, and what holds in this new era
Featuring: The Honorable Matt Kean, CEO, Climate Change Authority; Kristy Graham, CEO, ASFI; Meredith Banks, Head of Sustainability, Wesfarmers
10.10 AM-10.40AM
This post‑keynote panel responds to a clear shift in decision‑making conditions for senior leaders. Building on Dr Matthew Bell’s address, the discussion will examine how developments in artificial intelligence, geopolitics, investment pressure, expectations around nature and biodiversity, and supply chain disruption are converging and placing new demands on business strategy. Panellists will explore how leaders are responding as these forces compress planning horizons and challenge long‑held assumptions about risk, resilience, and value creation. The session focuses on what is changing in practice, what remains fit for purpose, and what leadership needs to recalibrate now.
Hosted by Dr Matthew Bell the panel will focus on what this moment demands from leaders now, where pressure points are emerging, and how organisations are and need to adapt in practice.
Anthesis Sessions | Thursday, 4th June
Kenote: Communication in an Era of Polarisation and Scrutiny
9:45AM-10.15AM
Freya Williams is an international brand and communications expert focused on sustainability, reputation, and public scrutiny. In this keynote presentation, Freya explores how organisations can communicate sustainability progress in an increasingly polarised and scrutinised environment. Drawing on insights from Anthesis’ Hugging the Bear report and examples from around the world, she will examine why sustainability narratives trigger backlash, where reputational risk is rising, and how missteps occur even when intent is sound. The session will introduce practical communication frameworks to help sustainability claims withstand political and public scrutiny, how to frame and align internal and external messaging, and support confident, timely engagement on high‑stakes issues.
Learn more about Hugging the Bear
Panel: “Nature is not material to my business.” Let’s debate.
Hosted by Matt Drum and Feat.: Tennant Reed, Director – Climate Change and Energy, Ai Group and other special guests TBC
11.00AM-11.30AM
“There’s no nature in my P&L.” “We don’t have the budget.” “What’s the return to shareholders?” “There’s no compliance requirement.”
These are arguments still heard in boardrooms, and this session puts them to the test. The Anthesis Nature Debate is a fast‑paced, moderated discussion where panellists take opposing positions to examine when nature stops being abstract and starts affecting cash flow, asset values, supply continuity, and access to capital. The discussion is grounded in commercial logic rather than advocacy, testing which assumptions about nature still hold under scrutiny and which are breaking down as business environments become more interconnected. The session focuses on what senior leaders need to reconsider as nature‑related pressures move from the margins into material considerations on the risk register and, increasingly, the balance sheet. Which arguments are still defensible today?
Sustainability Business Live
Date: 3-4 June 2026
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ASRS Insights | Executive Workshop
Day 1. Wednesday 3rd June 12.15pm – 2.30PM
- This executive‑level, focused two‑hour session brings together insights from Group 1 preparers, data‑led analysis of first‑year ASRS reports, regulatory perspective, and a facilitated working session. Participants will apply a practical exercise to their own business context, testing assumptions and building clarity and confidence in how to approach reporting expectations.
- The session is designed for open discussion and peer learning, with a clear focus on what works in practice, grounded in first‑year reporting experience and expert guidance on ASRS compliance.
- Anthesis experts will host the session with special guest speakers including:
David Nesbitt, Ethical Sourcing Manager, The Sussan Group | Gerry Buchanan, Senior Manager Corporate Strategy and External Affairs at Toyota Motor Corporation Australia | Ruth Dawes, Partner at HFW. | Justin Williams, Managing Director at Australian Accounting Standards Board & Auditing and Assurance Standards Board. - Limited seats. Group 2 Reporters can apply to join this working session.
- Reach out for more information – or register your interest below.
