Spotlighting the opportunities and challenges of driving transformation and industry in regional hubs and communities, IIF26 is not to be missed. A limited number of Early Bird tickets are now on sale, with registrations encouraged as soon as possible to secure a booking for IIF26 at a discounted price.
Bunbury will be the centre of powerful talks this October, when the South West city hosts a conference that will shine a light on the trailblazers, trends and technology driving transformation across industries. The 2026 Innovative Industries of the Future Conference will present an enticing mix of keynote presentations, panel discussions, demonstrations of technology, investment tours, and boardroom discussions.
Expected to attract leaders, innovators and investors, the conference will explore the sectors expected to make a significant contribution to the South West’s growth and development over the next decade. Advanced manufacturing, agritech, energy transition and the circular economy are highlighted on the program for the conference, which will be held over 27 and 28 October with wrap-around activities either side of the main event.
Prior to the conference, delegates will have the opportunity to uncover investment opportunities through participating in industry tours which will demonstrate what the region has to offer. Post conference, invite-only closed-door boardroom discussions will bring together invited senior leaders and experts for the purpose of tackling the complex challenges that regions face.
Keynote speakers include pioneering aerospace engineer Renee Wootton Tomlin and inventor and innovator Jordan Nguyen. WA Government Ministers Don Punch and Stephen Dawson, and City of Bunbury Mayor Jason Miguel, will also take to the stage.
Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Miguel said Bunbury is preparing to roll out the welcome mat to investors and industry leaders from across Australia and the world.
“We have the infrastructure, the industrial capability and the coastal lifestyle that makes it an ideal setting for serious conversations about the future of regional industry,” Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Miguel said. “We’re looking forward to showing delegates yet again exactly why the South West is where innovation meets opportunity.”
“Working alongside the South West Development Commission, we’re happy to support in shaping iiF26 to deliver real outcomes – new partnerships, clear investment pathways, and practical solutions for the challenges regions face. This conference puts Bunbury on the national stage, and we’re ready to demonstrate what our region has to offer.”
South West Development Commission Chair Danny Griffin said Bunbury and the wider South West has a lot to offer. “From advanced space surveillance to autonomous vehicle training, the South West region is home to innovative industries that place the region at the forefront of industry and on the world map,” Mr Griffin said.
“We continue to work collaboratively with our partners in regional development, like the City of Bunbury who we are working with on this conference, to attract new and emerging industries that will further diversify the economy and create future job and business opportunities. The conference will bring together leaders to tackle problems, with the wider focus on seizing the opportunities.”
