The Leading with Impact and Innovation Networking Event brought together an extraordinary mix of people from business, education, entrepreneurship, economic development, VET and TVET, technology, wellbeing, workforce planning and community leadership. What began as an end-of-year gathering became a genuinely energising evening that sparked ideas, opened doors and reinforced just how much capability and ambition exists across South Australia and beyond.
Hosted at Ironwood Institute off of Rundle Mall, the event recognised Ironwood’s achievement as South Australia’s Small Training Provider of the Year. The setting was perfect for conversations about the future of learning, skills, industry, international engagement and innovation. With each room hosting rotating speakers, short talks and interactive discussions, the pace was fast, the dialogue practical, and the connections meaningful.
As one attendee said, “What a fabulous night. So many perspectives, so much generosity and so much to think about heading into next year.”
Celebrating Ironwood Institute and a commitment to capability building
A special acknowledgement goes to Navtej Bal, CEO of Ironwood Institute, who opened the evening by sharing what it means to receive the Small Training Provider of the Year award and how collaboration across industry, education and government will continue to shape their vision for 2026. The achievement was widely celebrated by guests and partners. Across LinkedIn, comments summed it up perfectly: “A well deserved win for a provider doing things differently and responding to what industry actually needs.”
A line-up of speakers who brought insight and openness
The speaker rotation created the kind of interest and momentum that standard events rarely achieve. Across three rounds, participants heard from:
- Jill Collins, DFAT
- Florence Masters, FACCI
- Mark Cody, Primary Industries Skills Council SA
- Nick Jackson and Amy Wallace, AI in Education
- Selma Barlow, City of Charles Sturt
- Robin Sands, Link4
- Emily Melgar, Enable College
- Navtej Bal, Ironwood Institute
- Wendy Perry, Workforce BluePrint
Each speaker shared a sharp, conversational perspective rather than a formal presentation, which allowed guests to participate, question, test ideas and connect dots across sectors.
Global engagement and why now matters
Jill Collins (DFAT) offered clarity on the roles of DFAT and Austrade, the momentum building across ASEAN, and how education, workforce capability, entrepreneurship, AUKUS-related skills and development programs create practical pathways for people and organisations to engage internationally. One attendee commented, “I had no idea how accessible DFAT’s programs actually are. It opened my eyes to what’s possible.”
Going global through chambers, business councils and networks
Florence Masters (FACCI) showed how the French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry collaborates with other chambers, including a memorable Euromix event and examples of cross-cultural economic development. She highlighted the practical ways South Australian businesses can make local, national and global connections.
Sustainability, food security and skills for future industries
Mark Cody brought forward a grounded but forward-looking view of sustainability and food systems. His comments around talent pipelines, future jobs in primary industries and global pressures on food security resonated strongly.
AI, learning and the future of education
Nick Jackson and Amy Wallace drew on insights from his two books on AI in Education, sparking conversations about how educators, employers and learning designers can rethink their approach to capability building.
Economic development, entrepreneurship and scaling impact
Selma Barlow (City of Charles Sturt) and Robin Sands (Link4) delivered a standout dual conversation. They explored the many hats Selma wears across economic development, small business engagement and innovation, and Robin shared how Link4 grew locally before expanding internationally. Participants appreciated the honesty and actionable insights, commenting online that this session, “felt like real talk from people who have actually done the hard yards.”
Workforce futures, innovation tours and 2026 opportunities
Wendy Perry (Workforce BluePrint) brought together threads from across the evening while outlining upcoming opportunities for 2026, including the Innovation Tour to the Bhutan Investment Forum, strategic workforce planning with AI, international partnerships in Laos, Bangkok and Vietnam, and broader possibilities emerging for South Australian innovators and educators on the global stage.
Themes that shaped the night
Across speakers and conversations, five themes consistently surfaced:
- Education and Entrepreneurship
• Energy and Industry
• Environment and Nature Positive practice
• Leadership and Learning
• VET and Workforce Futures
Guests noted how strongly these domains intersect, with one message after the event saying, “I walked away seeing how all the pieces connect. It was inspiring and very real at the same time.”
A room full of talent and curiosity
What made the evening stand out was not only the speakers, but the participants. People arrived ready to talk, listen, share challenges and explore collaborations. There was genuine cross-sector curiosity, from those running businesses to those designing policy, delivering training, developing technology or shaping local economic strategies.
The comment thread on LinkedIn captured this beautifully:
“Loved the format. Loved the energy. Loved the diversity of people.”
“It was the perfect mix of practical, strategic and visionary.”
“Such a fabulous night. Thank you for bringing us together.”
Looking ahead to 2026
The tone of the night was clear. South Australia is full of people who are ready to lead, ready to collaborate, and ready to explore new opportunities across industries, internationally and across communities. Whether through DFAT programs, chamber partnerships, innovation tours, workforce development initiatives, or digital and AI-enabled approaches to learning, the appetite for what comes next is strong.
For many, the event was a springboard into new conversations. As one guest put it, “This felt like the start of something bigger.”
Thank you again to Ironwood Institute for hosting, to all speakers for their insights and warmth, and to every participant for making the evening meaningful and memorable.
Here’s to leading with impact, innovation and intention as we step into 2026.