Coming September 2026
Be part of a full day dedicated to Illawarra business and leave with ideas and opportunities you can use straight away.
Earlybird tickets are now on sale for September 17 at Dapto Ribbonwood Centre — grab yours before they sell out.
Earlybird Tickets Now AvailableThe Team Behind the Day
SUB Illawarra is driven by a group of passionate local businesses and community leaders committed to making the day a success.
Event Director
Luke Griffin
Growth Concept Development Services
Luke is the founder and driving force behind Suburban Business Summit — connecting local business owners, community leaders and change-makers across Australia's suburbs and regions.
Master of Ceremonies
Edwin Smith
Edwin brings energy, warmth and expert facilitation to the SUB Illawarra stage — keeping the day moving, the room engaged and the conversations flowing.
Lead Panel Facilitator
Lence Naumovski
Prysm.io
Leading the facilitation of panels across the day's program.
Charity Head & Volunteers
Tony Jones
ACP Publishing
Leading the charity component and coordinating volunteers throughout the day.
After Party Venue
The Groundz
Dapto Showgrounds
Hosting the official SUB Illawarra after party — networking, live entertainment and community celebration.
Additional steering committee members to be announced as the program firms up.
Sept 17 · Dapto Ribbonwood Centre
A full day of speakers, panels, networking and an after party at The Groundz, Dapto Showgrounds. Driving Business · Backing Success · Connecting Community.
Setup
Exhibitor & Partner Bump-In
Networking
Arrival Networking & Coffee
Opening
Official Opening
Panel
Regional Leadership Panel — The Future of the Illawarra
Panel 1
The Illawarra Story — Past · Present · Future
Presentation
Supporting Community Through Food
Break
Morning Tea & Expo Engagement
Keynote
More Than a Business — A Story of Resilience
Local Success Story
Run Havoc — Building Community One Step at a Time
Panel 2
Outsourcing — Going Grey but Remaining Relevant
Presentation
Building Tomorrow's Illawarra — Industry · Infrastructure · Innovation
Business Success Story
Building Trust. Creating Wealth. Supporting Community.
Panel 3
Charity & Community Impact
Break
Networking Lunch
Panel 4
Arts, Tourism & Place Making
Keynote
Better Health — From No Friends to a Story Untold
Panel 5
Business Allies — Supporting Business Success Across the Illawarra
Closing
Closing Ceremony
Transfer
Transfer to After Party
After Party
Official SUB Illawarra After Party — The Groundz, Dapto Showgrounds
Draft program — times and sessions subject to change as the program firms up.
The Dapto Ribbonwood Centre is centrally located and easy to find, whether you're driving or using public transport for the Illawarra Summit.
By Car
By Bus
By Train
Suburban Business Summit is a one-day event for local business owners, professionals, and community leaders who believe strong local businesses build strong communities.
We bring "big conference" ideas, speakers, and connections into suburban and regional areas, close to where you live and work. Our first Summit showed there's real demand for practical, no-hype learning and genuine local connections.
In 2026, we're growing into a series of local events across Australia, each with its own community flavour but the same goal: helping local businesses grow, collaborate, and lead. You'll find people from trades, charities, finance, professional services, health, retail, hospitality, education, and more.
At each Summit you can expect:
Suburban Business Summit is where local ambition meets practical support. Backing business. Driving success.
Limited Places Available
Put your business front and centre at the Illawarra Summit. Whether you want to take the stage, run a workshop, or showcase your product or service on the expo floor — we have a package for you.
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