08:55am - 9:05am

Welcome and opening remarks

09:15am - 9:45am

Keynote

The Racing Year in Review

Bren unpacks the highlights, the talking points and the turning points of the racing year.

• Bren O’Brien - Managing Editor, The Straight

09:45am - 10am

Keynote

State of Play: The Australian Market Update

Don Carducci opens the conference and sets the tone through his sharp read on where the Australian market sits and where it's heading.

• Don Carducci - Head of Emerging Companies, J.P. Morgan

9:45am - 10:30am

Panel

State of Play: The Australian Market Update

11:00am - 11:45am

Keynote

Keeping Up with the Modern Fan

11:45am - 12:30pm

Panel

Connected, Invested, Engaged: Reaching Tomorrow’s Racing Fan

12:30pm - 12.45pm

Case Study

Innovator’s Dilemma: How a Wagering Giant Reimagined its Future

1:30pm - 2:15pm

Panel

C-Suite Showcase: Wagering Service Providers

2:15pm - 3:00pm

Myths, Truths and Solutions – Breeding, Bloodstock and Training in 2025

3:30pm - 4:15pm

Keynote

Behind the Firewall: Uncovering Australia’s Shadow Betting Market

4:15pm - 5:00pm

Panel

Inside the Regulatory Agenda: Reform, Integrity and Enforcement

9:05am - 9:15am

Welcome and day 1 recap

• Alex Norrish - Senior Associate, Senet (MC)

9:15am - 10:00am

Keynote

Data & Insights from the Racing and Wagering Industry

• Simon Berry - Head of Insights, Gemba

10:00am - 10:45am

Panel

The Trust Factor: Animal Welfare, Public Image and the Generational Divide

Leaders from across the racing codes explore how the industry is responding to changing public expectations, particularly across generational lines. With a focus on animal welfare, public perception, and trust, panellists will examine the shared challenges facing each code and the strategies being used to reshape the narrative and build a more trusted, sustainable future for the sport.

• Ryan Phelan - Head of Media, Harness Racing Victoria

  • Vaughn Lynch - Chief Operating Officer, Racing Victoria

  • Peita Duncan - Board Chair, Greyhound Racing Victoria

  • Doug Freeman - Board Member, Harness Racing NSW

11:15am - 11:45am

Keynote

A View from the Northern Territory Regulator

As Chair of the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission, Alastair Shields chairs the body responsible for licensing and regulating sports bookmakers and betting exchanges licensed in the Northern Territory. Shaped by delegate feedback, this keynote will explore the Commission’s current enforcement priorities and examine trends in complaints received. It’s a valuable opportunity to hear directly from the regulator at the centre of Australia’s most active licensing jurisdiction, and one that oversees Australia’s largest bookmakers.

• Alastair Shields - Chair, Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission

11:45am - 12:30pm

Panel

What Works? Reimagining Responsibility in Online Wagering

With responsible gambling under sharper regulatory and public scrutiny, this panel brings together voices from government, industry, and behavioural science to explore what’s actually working in harm minimisation. From data-driven tools to policy shifts and operator accountability, the discussion will focus on where responsibility is heading in 2025 and beyond.

• Joel Williams - General Manager - Regulatory & Government Affairs, Tabcorp (moderator)

  • Natalie Wright - Executive Director Regulatory Policy, Hospitality & Racing, NSW Government

  • Kai Cantwell - Chief Executive Officer, Responsible Wagering Australia

  • Alastair Shields - Chair, Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission

1:30pm - 2:15pm

Panel

Powering Sport and Brand Growth Through Partnerships

Partnerships and sponsorships in live sport have evolved well beyond simple logo placement. In today’s fast-paced wagering and racing environment, brands seek to forge genuine connections with fans, share brand equity with sporting partners, and achieve measurable commercial outcomes. Industry leaders will share insights on creating strategic partnerships that go beyond traditional sponsorship, showing how wagering operators, sporting bodies, and rights holders can deliver value on and off the track.

• Ben Turner - Head of Sports Content and Partnerships, APAC / Head of Global Basketball, Sportradar

  • Troy Benton - Director Marketing & Innovation, Tabcorp

  • Rob Annable - Chief Commercial Officer, Picklebet

  • Ben Holst, Senior Industry Partnerships Manager – Commercial, Sportsbet

2:15pm - 3:00pm

Panel

Racing Across Borders: Global Perspectives on the Future of Thoroughbred Racing

This panel brings together senior leaders from Australia, New Zealand and the UK to explore the future of thoroughbred racing through both international and local lenses. The discussion will focus on the practical realities of leading a racing jurisdiction - including how to keep participants in the game, how to fund prize money sustainably, and what role wagering, scheduling, and cross-border cooperation play in the long-term health of the sport.

• Paul Cross - Director, Crossy Consulting (moderator)

  • Aaron Morrison - CEO, Racing Victoria

  • Matt Ballesty - CEO, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing

  • Brant Dunshea - Acting CEO, British Horseracing Authority (BHA)

3:00 - 3:05pm

Closing address