DAY 1:
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

Sunday 18th of October

Kick off NFC26 EVOLVE with a choose your own adventure.

Five specialist streams run throughout the day, covering the topics that matter most to you and your business. Select your stream and build a day of focused, practical content designed to deliver real insights you can take straight back to work. Round out the day with Welcome Drinks and the chance to reconnect with the franchising community.

Program is accurate at time of publication — more speakers updated daily.

7:00AM — 3:30PM
Registration Opens, Reception Foyer, NCC Canberra
7:30AM — 8:20AM
Coffee Available in Exhibition Hall
8:30AM — 8:35AM
FCA Welcome

Jay Westbury — Welcome. All Sunday streams start together in Main Plenary

8:35AM — 9:10AM
The Fund Fight: Counsel v CFO v CMO on Franchising's Riskiest Line Item
Facilitator: Louise Wolf, Principal - MST Lawyers
Panellists: Concept Eights team: Maryclare Cassisi - Senior Legal Counsel, Tom Martin, CFO/COO, Grant Lee, CEO & Acting General Marketing Manager
 
This session brings together the General Counsel, the CFO and the General Marketing Manager to explore the issues each faces in relation to marketing generally, and specifically the preparation and audit of marketing fund (now 'specific purpose fund') financial statements under the Franchising Code of Conduct.  
9:10AM — 9:15AM
Move to Stream Sessions

CHOOSE YOUR STREAM

Select the stream you are wanting to book and build a day of focused, practical content designed to deliver real insights.

Scroll across to select your stream.

The Legal Symposium offers franchisors, franchisees and legal professionals the chance to deep-dive into critical legal matters impacting the franchise sector. Topics will include franchise agreements, compliance, dispute resolution, and emerging regulations. Stay ahead of the curve with expert-led discussions and practical advice on managing legal risks within your franchise system.

8:30AM — 9:15AM
Morning Sessions

Scroll up to view the morning program.

Please note that all streams commence with the same opening sessions.

9:15AM — 9:20AM
Legal Symposium Welcome

Presented by: Louise Wolf — Principal, MST Lawyers

9:20AM — 10:10AM
Code Issues One Year On / Master Drafting Session
Presenters: Maija Kerry, Partner - Norton Rose Fulbright, Tamra Seaton, Consulting Principal - Keypoint Law
ROI and reasonable opportunity to make a return and interplay with consent to assignment
Compensation for early termination, Legal Costs, Unusual clauses eg right of exit for changes to manual
10:10AM — 10:50AM
End of Term and Restraints - Its not you its me! What happens when Franchisors and Franchisees break up
Facilitator: Sean O'Donnell, Partner - HWLE Lawyers
Presenters: Emily Lucas, Special Counsel - HWLE Lawyers, Dr Craig Latham - ASBFEO,
Managing end of term. Options, Six months notices, Consequences/consultation, Hold over clauses,
Disputes flowing from the issues, Social media consequences – war stories
10:50AM — 11:15AM
MORNING TEA, Exhibition Area
11:15AM — 12:05PM
Competition Law Update
Facilitator: Greg Hipwell, Partner - Maddocks Lawyers
Presenters: Wolfgang Hellmann, Partner & Head of Competition - Maddocks Lawyers, Mick Keogh, Deputy Chair - ACCC
Pricing issues, ACCC enforcement matters over last 12 months, Cartel conduct, Merger clearance rageme
12:05PM
Move to Concurrent Sessions
12:05PM — 12:45PM
Concurrent Sessions
Concurrent Session 1
Practical Challenges for In-House Counsel
Facilitators: Harpreet Hayer, Chief Legal Officer - Jims Group, Tamra Seaton, Consulting Principal - Keypoint Law
Presenters: To be announced
 
Join us for a practical discussion of the legal and commercial issues keeping in-house lawyers awake at night. We will explore recent developments in vicarious liability, restraints of trade, employment risks, contracting pitfalls and strategies for reducing legal exposure while maintaining a commercial focus. This session brings together practical insights, lessons learned and real-world examples to help manage risk, influence outcomes and add value across the business.
 

Concurrent Session 2
Corporate Structuring Trusts
Faciltator: Jay Westbury, CEO - Franchise Council of Australia
Presenter: To be announced

FCA will present subject matter experts with a moment in time briefing. Held in Main Plenary.
12:50PM — 1:30PM
Concurrent Sessions
Concurrent Session 3
Franchising & Leasing
Facilitators: Joel Marshall, Principal - Hitch, Seva Surmei, Partner - Lynch Meyer Lawyers
Presenters: Phil Chapman - Lease One.
 
Timing of issuing franchise documents in the absence of confirmed, premises or signed lease, possible legislation unifying leasing legislation.
 

Concurrent Session 4
Unfair Trading Practices in Franchising

Facilitator: Derek Sutherland, Consulting Principal - Keypoint Law
Jay Westbury, CEO, Franchise Council of Australia, Stephen Giles, Partner - Norton Rose Fulbright
 
Candid conversation around unfair trading practices
 
Be prepared if the general prohibition on unfair trading practices extends to franchise arrangements.  Is it the end of freedom of contract? Will it fetter the power to make unilateral changes? What about setting performance targets or altering margins on products? This session will cover the current state of play, and what might happen if the Government follows through on its promise to extend UTP laws to franchising.
1:30PM — 2:15PM
LUNCH, Exhibition Area
2:15PM — 2:55PM
Case Update
Facilitator: Alicia Hill, Principal - Sladen Legal
Presenters: Ben Coogan, Partner - Thomson Geer Lawyers, Alicia Hill, Principal - Sladen Legal
The Case Update session for this year’s Legal Symposium brings you cases decided since last year’s conference that are considered to be relevant to the operation of franchise systems.
The session combines in-depth case presentations that will tease out issues considered and determined by the courts affecting rights between parties in a franchise relationship, with a whirlwind update on all the relevant ACCC prosecutions and outcomes to highlight areas that the regulator has been focusing on.
2:55PM — 3:40PM
Employment laws and Franchisor Liability Session
Facilitator: Jane Garber-Rosenzweig, Principal & Founder - Gable Lawyers
Presenters: James Sanders, Principal - MST Lawyers, Others to be announced
3:45PM — 4:10PM
AFTERNOON TEA, Exhibition Area
4:10PM — 4:50PM
Concurrent Sessions
Concurrent Session 5
Managing a whole of network transformation
Facilitators and Presenters: Greg Hipwell, Partner - Maddocks Lawyers, Nick Rimington, Partner - Norton Rose Fulbright
 
Abandoning being a franchisor, Change management, operational, legal, Optus, network restructuring, model reform
 
Concurrent Session 6
Navigating AML/CTF in Practice: Practical Compliance and Risk Management in the Franchise Sector
Captain: Simone Pentist, Vik Sundar - Keypoint Law, Matt Tarabay - Infotrack
 
This session seeks to provide a real-world breakdown of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing operational realities, with a look at the core compliance minimums, then a focus on the practical aspects of managing the lifecycle journey through the AML/CTF process; managing tipping off, confidentiality sensitivities and exits when needed, plus industry insights.
 
This panel session will feature expert commentary from panellists Vik Sundar (ACT Law Society President and Keypoint Law, Consulting Principal and Head of Strategy, Risk & Growth) and Matthew Tarabay (Senior Marketing Manager, InfoTrack) and facilitator, Simone Pentis (Advantage Partners Lawyers, Director, QLD Law Society Franchising Chair and FCA QLD Chapter Committee Member).
4:50PM
Move to Sessions
4:55PM — 5:45PM
Practice Management Session - Legal Advice and AI
Facilitator: Greg Hipwell, Partner - Maddocks Lawyers
Presenters: Shaun Temby, Partner - Maddocks Lawyers, Others to be announced
AI being used to bypass lawyers, Issues for franchisors, Inhouse counsel, Expectations of clients, Harvey/legora, Hazards of using AI with public models.
5:45PM
Wrap Up

Presented by: Louise Wolf — Principal, MST Lawyers

6:00PM — 8:00PM
WELCOME RECEPTION, Exhibition Hall

Join fellow marketing professionals at the Franchise Marketers Network (FMN), where you’ll gain actionable insights on the latest trends, digital innovations, and strategic marketing tactics tailored for the franchise industry. This event fosters networking and knowledge sharing, providing you with the tools to elevate your franchise marketing efforts and stay ahead in an increasingly competitive landscape.

8:30AM — 9:15AM
Morning Sessions

Scroll up to view the program.

Please note that all streams commence with the same opening session.

9:15AM — 9:20AM
Franchise Marketers Welcome
9:25AM — 10:05AM
AI, Search & Why Marketing Has Changed Forever
Search is no longer just Google. Customers are discovering brands through AI, ChatGPT, social platforms and recommendation engines, fundamentally changing how franchise brands are found. This session explores what every franchise marketer needs to know about SEO, AEO, generative search and the rise of zero-click marketing.
10:05AM — 10:45AM
Marketing in a World That Changes Overnight

Digital marketing has never changed faster. Meta updates, AI moderation, new advertising rules and changing algorithms mean franchise systems need to adapt almost weekly.
Hear how leading brands are navigating constant disruption while keeping franchisees engaged and marketing effectively.

10:50AM — 11:15AM
MORNING TEA, Exhibition Area
11:15AM — 11:55PM
National vs Local Winning the Marketing Levy & LAM Conversation

How much should be invested nationally? What belongs locally? How do you build franchisee trust in marketing levies while empowering local area marketing that actually delivers results?
This practical discussion shares how successful brands balance national brand building with local customer acquisition.

11:55PM — 12:40PM
Recruitment is Marketing Winning the Race for Great Franchisees
Finding customers is important.
Finding quality franchisees is business critical.
Discover how leading brands market their franchise opportunity, generate better leads, nurture prospects and recruit multi-site operators in one of the most competitive recruitment markets the industry has seen.
12:40PM — 1:20PM
The Most Trusted Marketing Isn't Created by Marketing Franchisee Generated Content

Consumers trust people more than brands.
Learn how leading franchise systems are empowering franchisees to become authentic content creators while maintaining brand standards. Discover practical frameworks for creating scalable local content that drives engagement, trust and sales.

1:30PM — 2:15PM
LUNCH, Exhibition Area
2:15PM — 3:00PM
Marketing Smarter, Not Harder - Practical AI Every Franchise Marketer Can Use Tomorrow
Forget the hype.
This fast-paced session showcases real AI workflows being used by franchise marketing teams today—from campaign creation and content production to analytics, franchisee support and productivity.
Live demonstrations.
Real prompts.
Real examples.
3:00PM — 3:45PM
The Marketing Lab. What's Actually Working Right Now? - Interactive Workshop
No presentations.
No sales pitches.
The room divides into facilitated groups to solve the biggest marketing challenges facing franchising today. Each table tackles a different issue—from AI to franchise recruitment, LAM, digital marketing or customer engagement—before sharing their best ideas with the room.
This highly interactive closing session ensures every delegate contributes, collaborates and leaves with practical ideas they can implement immediately.
3:45PM — 4:10PM
AFTERNOON TEA, Exhibition Area
4:10PM — 4:40PM
SUPERCHARGE ROUND TABLES
4:40PM — 5:10PM
SUPERCHARGE ROUND TABLES
5:10PM — 5:40PM
SUPERCHARGE ROUND TABLES
6:00PM — 8:00PM
WELCOME RECEPTION, Exhibition Hall

The Franchise Operations Network (FON) is designed for Operations teams, multi-unit and single unit franchisees who are looking to optimize operations across locations. This event covers topics like scaling businesses, multi-unit management strategies, operational efficiency, and growth opportunities. Connect with like-minded people and gain practical knowledge to enhance your portfolio’s success and profitability.

8:30AM — 9:15AM
Morning Sessions

Scroll up to view the program.

Please note that all streams commence with the same opening session.

9:15AM — 9:20AM
Franchise Finance Welcome
9:25AM — 10:05AM
The Numbers Don't Lie: Financial Foundations for Franchise Success
How franchisees use financial information to identify opportunities, reduce profit leakage and make better decisions. Real examples from operators who have significantly improved performance by focusing on the right KPIs rather than relying solely on their bank balance.
10:05AM — 10:45AM
End of Term and Restraints - Its not you its me! What happens when Franchisors and Franchisees break up
10:50AM — 11:15AM
MORNING TEA, Exhibition Area
11:15AM — 12:05PM
Beyond the Numbers: How Commercial finance Creates Value
Show the evolution of finance from reporting function to commercial decision-maker.
12:05PM — 12:45PM
Concurrent Sessions

Concurrent Session 1
Solving Complex Franchise Problems: How High Performing Teams Actually Drive Growth
Pull the curtain back on how modern franchise systems solve real business problems.
Great franchise systems don't solve problems in silos.

Concurrent Session 2
Corporate Structuring Trusts
FCA will present subject matter experts with a moment in time briefing.
Held in MAIN PLENARY - OPS AND FINANCE

12:45PM — 1:30PM
Built To Sell: Creating Enterprise Value In Franchise Businesses (Franchisors perspective)
1:30PM — 2:15PM
LUNCH, Exhibition Area
2:15PM — 3:00PM
Beyond The Board Pack: Why Finance Leaders Have Become Strategic Leaders
Explore how modern finance leaders influence business direction. Great board reporting is about more than presenting financial statements—it's about telling the story behind the numbers. Learn how to deliver clear, strategic financial reports that help boards understand business performance, identify risks and opportunities, and make informed decisions. This session will explore the key metrics that matter, how to communicate with confidence, and how finance leaders can become trusted advisors in the boardroom.
3:00PM — 3:45PM
AI That Actually Works: Practical Automation for Franchise Businesses
AI isn't about replacing people—it's about solving real business problems. For many franchise businesses, technology, HR and innovation often sit within the finance function, making finance leaders the drivers of AI adoption. This practical session cuts through the hype to demonstrate how AI tools and agents can streamline repetitive tasks, improve decision-making and free up teams to focus on higher-value work. Through live examples and real business use cases, discover how organisations are using tools like Claude and AI agents to deliver measurable results today.
3:45PM — 4:10PM
AFTERNOON TEA, Exhibition Area
4:10PM — 4:40PM
SUPERCHARGE ROUND TABLES
4:40PM — 5:10PM
SUPERCHARGE ROUND TABLES
5:10PM — 5:40PM
SUPERCHARGE ROUND TABLES
6:00PM — 8:00PM
WELCOME RECEPTION, Exhibition Hall

The Franchise Operations Network (FON) is designed for Operations teams, multi-unit and single unit franchisees who are looking to optimize operations across locations. This event covers topics like scaling businesses, multi-unit management strategies, operational efficiency, and growth opportunities. Connect with like-minded people and gain practical knowledge to enhance your portfolio’s success and profitability.

8:30AM — 9:15AM
Morning Sessions

Scroll up to view the program.

Please note that all streams commence with the same opening session.

9:15AM — 9:20AM
Franchise Operations Welcome
9:25AM — 10:05AM
The Profitability Playbook - What the Best Operators Do Differently

This practical session explores the controllable drivers that improve unit economics, protect margins and help franchisees succeed in a high-cost environment. Learn how leading brands coach franchisees to focus on the numbers that matter most and build profitable habits throughout the year.

10:05AM — 10:45AM
Beyond the Checklist - Reinventing the Field Visit

Field visits remain one of the most valuable tools in franchising—but only if they create meaningful change.
Discover how leading operations teams are moving beyond compliance to coaching, accountability and long-term business improvement. Learn practical techniques to maximise every visit and build momentum between visits.
Learn how leading brands are redefining field support to build stronger relationships and better business outcomes.

10:50AM — 11:15AM
MORNING TEA, Exhibition Area
11:15AM — 11:55PM
Turning Around Underperforming Franchisees

Every network has struggling franchisees.
What separates great operations teams is how they identify issues early, rebuild confidence and return businesses to profitability.
Hear genuine turnaround stories, what worked, what didn't and the conversations that changed everything.

11:55PM — 12:40PM
Concurrent Sessions
Concurrent Session 1

Leading Through Influence - The Hardest Skill in Franchising
Unlike traditional managers, Operations Managers don't have authority. They influence.
This session explores how exceptional franchise leaders build trust, create accountability and inspire behavioural change—without ever becoming "the boss."

Concurrent Session 2
Corporate Structuring Trusts
FCA will present subject matter experts with a moment in time briefing.
Held in MAIN PLENARY - OPS AND FINANCE

12:40PM — 1:20PM
AI in Operations - Your Next Team Member Isn't Human

AI is already changing franchise operations.
Imagine if your Operations Manager arrived at every site visit already knowing:
the biggest risk, likely staff issues, declining KPIs, customer trends, personalised coaching recommendations
See practical demonstrations from brands already embracing AI.

1:30PM — 2:15PM
LUNCH, Exhibition Area
2:15PM — 3:00PM
Scaling Without Breaking - Supporting Multi-Unit & Multi-Brand Operators

The fastest-growing franchisees are buying multiple businesses.
How do franchisors evolve their operational support when one franchisee owns 8, 20 or 50 locations?
Topics include:
Different support models
Territory management
Multi-site coaching
Succession
Corporate structures

3:00PM — 3:45PM
The Best Operations Ideas of 2026
3:45PM — 4:10PM
AFTERNOON TEA, Exhibition Area
4:10PM — 4:40PM
SUPERCHARGE ROUND TABLES
4:40PM — 5:10PM
SUPERCHARGE ROUND TABLES
5:10PM — 5:40PM
SUPERCHARGE ROUND TABLES
6:00PM — 8:00PM
WELCOME RECEPTION, Exhibition Hall
Great franchise systems aren’t built on products. They’re built on people.
Evolve — Growing People, Growing Performance
8:30AM — 9:15AM
Morning Sessions

Scroll up to view the program.

Please note that all streams commence with the same opening session.

9:15AM — 9:20AM
Franchise People and Learning Welcome
9:25AM — 10:05AM
The Leadership Capability Gap - Why Great Franchisees Don't Automatically Become Great Leaders

One of the biggest challenges facing franchising is that many franchisees become business owners without ever learning how to lead people.
This session explores how leading franchise systems are developing leadership capability from day one—building confident leaders who create stronger teams, better cultures and more profitable businesses.

10:05AM — 10:45AM
Training Isn't the Answer - Behaviour Change Is.

The best franchise systems invest in what happens afterwards.
Discover how leading brands are embedding coaching, accountability, reinforcement and practical follow-up to ensure training becomes lasting behaviour change.

10:50AM — 11:15AM
MORNING TEA, Exhibition Area
11:15AM — 11:55PM
Winning the Talent War - Attracting, Engaging & Retaining the Modern Workforce

Recruitment is only the beginning.
From Gen Z casual employees to experienced managers, expectations have changed dramatically.
Explore how franchise systems are attracting better people, creating engaging workplaces and improving retention across multiple generations.

11:55PM — 12:40PM
People Strategy = Growth Strategy

The highest-performing franchise networks don't separate people strategy from commercial strategy.
How do leadership development, succession planning, culture and capability directly influence profitability, customer experience and network growth?
This session explores why investing in people is no longer an HR initiative—it's a business growth strategy.

12:40PM — 1:20PM
Learning That People Actually Want - The Future of Franchise Learning
Learning Management Systems have evolved well beyond online compliance modules.
Explore how leading brands are using:
gamification, micro-learning, mobile learning, AI, Kahoot!, coaching, personalised learning pathways to engage today's workforce.
1:30PM — 2:15PM
LUNCH, Exhibition Area
2:15PM — 3:00PM
The Changing Workplace - What Every Franchise Employer Needs to Know

Industrial relations continues to evolve.
This practical panel examines: Closing Loopholes reforms, casual employment, wage compliance, psychosocial safety, working from home, right to disconnect, under-16 employment changes
what franchisors should be preparing for next.

3:00PM — 3:45PM
The Franchisees Everyone Wants - Building High-Performing Franchise Networks Through People
The best-performing franchise networks don't simply have better systems.
They have better people.
Hear from franchise leaders who have intentionally built cultures of accountability, leadership development and continuous learning—and the commercial results they've achieved.
3:45PM — 4:10PM
AFTERNOON TEA, Exhibition Area
4:10PM — 4:40PM
SUPERCHARGE ROUND TABLES
4:40PM — 5:10PM
SUPERCHARGE ROUND TABLES
5:10PM — 5:40PM
SUPERCHARGE ROUND TABLES
6:00PM — 8:00PM
WELCOME RECEPTION, Exhibition Hall