2027 call for presenters
- 50+
- presenters selected each year
- 4.4/5
- average rating in our post-event surveys
- 675
- delegates at TO26, our flagship conference
- 320+
- companies in the room in 2026
Past presenters
Gareth O'Brien
Mo Ismail
Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece
Elisse Alexander
Ernest Hui
Catherine Argyle
Leeling Bristow
Erin Rogers
Who you’ll present to
Enterprise practitioners
Designers and product managers looking for practical skills, sharper craft and tools they can use on Monday.
Scale-up managers
Leaders growing teams fast without losing customer focus or speed.
Senior leaders
Decision-makers at large organisations working through complexity, regulation and transformation.
Academics and specialists
Experts who bring depth, critique and a longer view of the industry.
Consultants and agencies
Practitioners who carry patterns across industries and shape what clients expect.
What we’re looking for
Broad, diverse, different
Key to our value proposition, we want ideas that speak to our audience as a broad community in a way that everyone can take something away.
Optimistic, playful, pragmatic
We want presentations that not only highlight a challenge or opportunity, but that provide suggestions on what to do about it and how great things can be in easy-to-consume ways. It is a long day and your presentation will be received incredibly well if it nails these three things.
Focused on new perspectives
We want presentations that are insightful and in some ways like comedy routines; they shine a light on something we might already know or believe in, and challenge us in a way that changes our perspective. (Don’t worry, you don’t need to be funny, you can be serious).
What you receive
We value your time and your idea. As a presenter you receive:
- A $750 presentation fee, including GST
- Flights and accommodation for interstate and international presenters
- Reasonable expenses for materials or supplies
- A dedicated narrative coach
- A dedicated presentation manager
- Networking dinners and a dress rehearsal
- Hair and makeup on the day
- Professional portraits
- A professionally filmed video of your presentation
- A free ticket for a friend or colleague
- A gift bag of things we love
Designed for first-time presenters
01
Submit your idea
Pitch the idea, not a finished presentation. Tell us what it is, why it matters now, and what the audience can do with it.
Aim for the edge of what people can already sense: close enough to act on, far enough to stretch them. Today’s how-to lands better as a workshop, and distant speculation rarely gives people a next step. We don’t take presentations already given at another conference.
02
Selection
Our panel reads every submission for alignment with our themes, the spark in your idea, and how compelling your pitch is. Shortlisted presenters join a finalist interview.
Everyone hears back. If we can’t say yes this time, you’ll get comments and encouragement.
03
Title and abstract
Once you’re selected, we shape your title and abstract with you, ready for the programme.
04
Co-design sessions
Two in-person sessions with the whole presenter group, a few months apart. You develop your story alongside the other presenters and hear how theirs are forming.
05
Coaching and support
A narrative coach helps you build a presentation that is engaging and memorable, with office hours with our content director along the way.
A presentation manager looks after everything else: your slides, sound, video, microphone and, for interstate and international presenters, flights and accommodation.
06
Dry run
A full in-person rehearsal at the conference venue the day before, plus networking dinners with the other presenters.
07
On the day
Breakfast and coffee in a fully stocked green room, with volunteers on hand. Arrive 30 minutes before your call time for hair and makeup and your microphone.
Your notes show on a monitor at the foot of the stage, and an Auslan interpreter presents alongside you, so your presentation reaches everyone in the room.
08
After the event
Portraits from our photographer straight after you present, and a professionally filmed video of your presentation, published free on YouTube.
Submit your idea
Thank you
Thank you for your submission.
Submissions for this call are closed.
Questions
- Do I need presenting experience?
No. Our Content Academy coaches first-time presenters from the first draft to the stage.
- Are presenters paid?
Yes. Every presenter receives a $750 presentation fee, including GST.
- Is my travel covered?
For interstate and international presenters, yes. We book your flights and accommodation in Melbourne. Every presenter can claim reasonable expenses for materials or supplies.
- What do I need to attend in person?
The co-design sessions, the dry run and the conference day are in person. The dry run and the conference day are both required.
- Will my presentation be recorded?
Yes. We film every presentation and publish it free on YouTube afterwards.
- What if my idea isn’t selected?
We receive many outstanding proposals and can’t say yes to all of them. Everyone hears back, and if we can’t say yes you’ll get comments and encouragement. We’d love to see you submit again.