7:00AM — 3:30PM
Registration Opens, Reception Foyer, NCC Canberra
Jay Westbury — Welcome. All Sunday streams start together in Main Plenary
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.
Scroll up to view the morning program.
Please note that all streams commence with the same opening sessions.
Presented by: Louise Wolf — Principal, MST Lawyers
Concurrent Session 4
Unfair Trading Practices in Franchising
Facilitator: Derek Sutherland, Consulting Principal - Keypoint Law
Presenters: Jay Westbury, CEO, Franchise Council of Australia, Stephen Giles, Partner - Norton Rose Fulbright
Presented by: Louise Wolf — Principal, MST Lawyers
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.
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Please note that all streams commence with the same opening session.
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.
Concurrent Session 2
Cyber Audit session - Guy Cosgrove and Damian Seaton, MD, Cyber Audit Team
Risks, Tips, traps, Loyalty programs and Data Breaches
Fire Side chat
Facilitator: Peter White FRANdata
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
Facilitator: 15min Kellie Ponting
Panellists: Straight Out Digital - Simon Blangiardo,
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.
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.
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Please note that all streams commence with the same opening session.
Panel: Vishal Devle, Partner - Cotchy
Too often, franchisees measure success by what's sitting in the bank account. This session will provide practical strategies to help franchises build stronger businesses, improve profitability, secure funding and ultimately create long-term personal wealth.
Concurrent Session 1
Beyond the Numbers: How Commercial finance Creates Value
Show the evolution of finance from reporting function to commercial decision-maker.
Concurrent Session 2
Cyber Audit session - Guy Cosgrove and Damian Seaton, MD, Cyber Audit Team
Risks, Tips, traps, Loyalty programs and Data Breaches, Recent amendment act going through.
Fire Side chat
Concurrent Session 1
Solving Complex Franchise Problems: How High Performing Teams Actually Drive Growth
Facilitator: Tom Martin (Concept Eight)
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
Structuring Franchise Operations Under the New Minimum Tax on Trusts
Daniel Smedley, Accredited Specialist in Tax Law | Principal - Sladen Legal
From 1 July 2028, the Government will apply a new 30 per cent minimum tax to income earned through discretionary trusts. Many franchise businesses operate through these trust structures, and the new rules will require franchisees to review how their business is held and whether changes are needed. This session provides a practical briefing on the draft legislation, the options available to affected franchise operators (including electing into a new regime or restructuring with rollover relief), how to set up a new franchise structure that is ready for the new rules from day one, and the steps franchisees should consider taking before the new rules commence.
Daniel Smedley, Accredited Specialist in Tax Law | Principal - Sladen Legal
FCA will present subject matter experts with a moment in time briefing.
Held in MAIN PLENARY - OPS AND FINANCE
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.
Scroll up to view the program.
Please note that all streams commence with the same opening session.
Facilitator: Nikki Richardson - GYG
Profitability isn't about one big change—it's about hundreds of operational decisions made every day.
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.
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.
Facilitator: Jarrod Montigue, Group General Manager Franchising - Roll'd
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.
Leading Through Influence - The Hardest Skill in Franchising
Faciltator: Charlie Duffle, Foodco
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
Structuring Franchise Operations Under the New Minimum Tax on Trusts
FCA will present subject matter experts with a moment in time briefing.
Daniel Smedley, Accredited Specialist in Tax Law | Principal - Sladen Legal
From 1 July 2028, the Government will apply a new 30 per cent minimum tax to income earned through discretionary trusts. Many franchise businesses operate through these trust structures, and the new rules will require franchisees to review how their business is held and whether changes are needed. This session provides a practical briefing on the draft legislation, the options available to affected franchise operators (including electing into a new regime or restructuring with rollover relief), how to set up a new franchise structure that is ready for the new rules from day one, and the steps franchisees should consider taking before the new rules commence.
Lead Presenter: Operandio
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.
Facilitator: Kevin Bugeja
The fastest-growing franchisees are buying multiple businesses.
Presenters: Jarrod Montigue, Roll'd
Scroll up to view the program.
Please note that all streams commence with the same opening session.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Keynote: Damien Gooden, CEO ER Strategies
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.