‘From Adversity to Opportunity’
Mainstreet Australia conference
Mainstreet Australia Conference brings together organisations and individuals committed to the success and survival of main streets and town centres, for education, inspiration & connection.
2022’s theme is ‘From Adversity to Opportunity’, highlighting that, even after such a challenging time as COVID, we are able to extract learnings and ideas and use these for the continued survival of our main streets, and the small businesses that populate them.
We are proud to announce a metro and regional conference for 2022, with the metro conference being held at Hawthorn Arts Centre, Melbourne, Vic on Aug 2nd and the regional event confirmed for Phee Broadway Theatre, Castlemaine, Vic for Aug 4th.
See full schedule below for both sessions. Ticket price includes morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and post-conference networking event, including first drink and nibbles.
Coming to the Castlemaine conference? The Castlemaine conference also offers an option of speed networking or a walking tour of the Main Street. The walking tour is limited to 40 x places and you will need to book your place on the walking tour when booking your ticket. If you miss a spot but would love to go, add yourself to the waitlist.
PLUS, Business Mount Alexander are offering a FREE epicurean tour of Castlemaine’s Mill precinct on Fri, Aug 5 from 8am – 11am.
Castlemaine’s former Woollen Mill is now home to some of Castlemaine’s finest producers! Join them at Das Kaffehaus, opposite the Botanic Gardens for an Austrian breakfast, then visit a French cheese maker, German smallgoods maker, boutique hand crafted chocolates, craft brewery and stop by a local winery.
Breakfast from 8am, tour commences at 9.30am with plenty of opportunities for tasting and buying! Book your place here.
Staying in Melbourne for the Hawthorn Conference on Aug 2? Book at Quest Hawthorn and get 15% off your rate. Promo Code is “MAINSTREET”.
Tickets:
- Member price of $399 inc GST (book before June 30 and get $100 off)
- Non-member price of $499 inc GST (book before June 30 and get $50 off)
Ticket sales close Mon, Aug 1 at 12pm for metro conference and Wed, Aug 3 at 12pm for regional conference. There are no door sales.
NOTE: if you hold a $100 membership, this entitles you to to 1 x member ticket, $200 is 2 x tickets and so on. Any additional tickets required need to be purchased as a non-member
If you aren’t a member, but would like member price, feel free to sign up as a member today and then book your place! In addition to attending this conference, Mainstreet Australia members benefit from other regular events, education, news and shared resources.
Proudly sponsored by:
Conference schedule:
Time
Location
Session details
9am – 9.30am
Melbourne
Welcome from:
– President of Mainstreet Australia, Georgina Pikoulas
– The Hon. Jaala Pulford MP, Minister for Employment; Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy; Small Business; Resources
– Mayor, Jane Addis, City of Boroondara
9.20am – 9.30am
Castlemaine
Welcome from:
– President of Mainstreet Australia, Georgina Pikoulas
– Mayor, Bill Maltby, Mount Alexander Shire
9.30am – 10am
Melbourne and
Castlemaine
Lessons from London’s West End on collaboration for revitalisation of main streets
Jace Tyrrell is currently Chief Executive of New West End Company, representing the people and organisations behind the world’s largest retail & leisure destination. It delivers sustainable place management, destination promotion, advocacy and insight services to 600 businesses, across 80 streets within London’s central district.
In 2022, Jace will be returning to Australia to lead the country’s first Business Improvement District (BID) across Sydney’s Western Harbour. An initiative backed by the New South Wales Government, Sydney City Council with founding local business members. The BID’s vision is to create the best Waterfront in the world!
10.05am – 11am
Melbourne and
Castlemaine
Understanding the Consumer of 2023 and beyond, and what it means for our main streets
Amanda Stevens is a renowned thought leader on the customer experience. She combines current consumer insights with fascinating research into buying behaviour, delivering organisations and business owners powerful strategies for connecting with their customers.
Amanda has a double degree in consumer psychology and marketing. She has consulted to some of the country’s biggest brands, including Lend Lease, Microsoft and Procter and Gamble.
11am – 11.15am
Melbourne and
Castlemaine
Morning tea
11.15am – 12.15pm
Melbourne and
Castlemaine
How to stand out and thrive on a main street … the story of Endota
Facilitated by Sam Choudhury, Vice-President of Mainstreet Australia
Founder of the largest network of spas in Australia, Melanie Gleeson’s business journey started 15 years ago, when she and a friend saw a gap in the market and opened a day spa on the Mornington Peninsula in Melbourne.
Today, Endota is a successful $60 million-dollar franchise, with 100 spas across Australia and a network of nearly 1000 employees, most of them female.
12.15pm – 1pm
Melbourne and
Castlemaine
Lunch
1pm – 1.45pm
Melbourne
Speed networking session or take a personal discovery walk down Glenferrie Road
Castlemaine
1.45pm – 2.05pm
Melbourne and Castlemaine
How to establish a main street marketing and business development fund
Rania Fayad of Yellow Round Table is an award-winning innovator and a business, marketing, business permit and main street specialist with over 18+ years of experience in the public and private sectors.
2.05pm – 3pm
Melbourne
Panel – Enhancing the experience economy in main streets
Facilitated by Georgina Pikoulas, President of Mainstreet Australia. Panellists include:
Katy Cooper, Director City Futures, City of Hobart
Valli Morphett, Village Well
Dean Cracknell, Town Team Movement
Castlemaine
Panel – Enhancing the experience economy in main streets
Facilitated by Georgina Pikoulas, President of Mainstreet Australia. Panellists include:
Gilbert Rochecouste, Village Well
Samantha Choudhury, Principal Placemaker at City of Boroondara and Vice-President of Mainstreet Australia
Gavin Blinman, Director Community Development & Wellbeing, Yarriambiack Shire Council
Craig Becconsall, Urban Spark Studio
3pm – 3.15pm
Melbourne and Castlemaine
Afternoon tea
3.15pm – 4.00pm
Melbourne
Panel – Main streets with a conscience and sustainable solutions
Facilitated by Liz Joldeski, Executive Officer of Mainstreet Australia. Panellists include:
Angela Simons, Renew Australia
Kirsty Bishop-Fox, Sustainability Pathways
Mary Gurry, President, Sydney Road Brunswick Association
Jodie Bricout, Circular Economy Leader, Aurecon
3.15pm – 4.00pm
Castlemaine
Panel – Main streets with a conscience and sustainable solutions
Facilitated by Liz Joldeski, Executive Officer of Mainstreet Australia. Panellists include:
Angela Simons, Renew Australia
Kirsty Bishop-Fox, Sustainability Pathways
Jean Young, Team Leader Plastics, Regions & Partnerships, Sustainability Victoria
4.00pm – 4.15pm
Melbourne and Castlemaine
End of official proceedings
4.15pm – 6pm
Melbourne
Post-conference networking at Glenferrie Hotel, 324 Burwood Road, Hawthorn – first drink and nibbles provided
Castlemaine
Post-conference networking at Shedshaker Brewing, The Mill, 5A/9 Walker St, Castlemaine – first drink and nibbles provided