What is the future of generosity? Conference 2026 program and Masterclasses released

As Philanthropy Australia marks its 50th year, Conference 2026 will look beyond the milestones of the past and towards the opportunities and challenges that will shape the next 50 years of giving. Bringing together leaders, changemakers and practitioners from across the sector, the Conference will explore a central question: What is the future of generosity, and what does it ask of us now?

The newly released program highlights the breadth and depth of topics on offer in Brisbane from Tuesday 8 September – Thursday 10 September with sessions designed to spark new thinking, challenge assumptions and inspire collective ambition for the future of philanthropy. From emerging approaches to giving and shifting power, to the ideas, innovations and partnerships that will shape our shared future, participants will be invited to explore how generosity can evolve to meet the opportunities and challenges of the decades ahead.

Philanthropy Australia CEO Maree Sidey says Conference 2026 is an opportunity to reflect on where philanthropy is today while imagining what it could and should become, through the eyes of the next generation.

“As we celebrate 50 years of Philanthropy Australia, this Conference is about looking forward. Together, we’ll explore how generosity is evolving, the trends and forces that will shape the next 50 years of giving, and the role philanthropy can play in creating a more connected, resilient and just future. I’m particularly excited that we will conclude the Conference by reflecting on the responsibilities that come with wealth, influence and decision-making, and how these can be mobilised for greater impact in the years ahead,” Maree says. 

Three days, three themes  

Across three days of the core program, the Conference will pose three poignant questions.  

Day One focuses on understanding the changing landscape of generosity. We examine the trends, ideas and global shifts reshaping philanthropy, alongside new approaches to leadership, trust, community partnership and shared power. Together, these conversations ask: How do we strengthen the practice of philanthropy to meet the challenges of our time? 

Day Two looks outward to the forces shaping our future. From artificial intelligence and democratic resilience to Asia’s growing philanthropic influence, new approaches to mobilising capital and the choices facing funders. Participants will be invited to consider how philanthropy can anticipate change rather than simply respond to it. The question becomes: How do we harness our collective resources, relationships and influence to shape a more just and sustainable future? 

Day Three broadens the conversation to the systems that underpin society itself. Through discussions on wealth, inequality and prosperity, and concluding with the voices of young people imagining the next fifty years of giving, participants are challenged to think beyond today’s decisions and embrace their role as stewards of future generations. The Conference closes with a call to action: How do we mobilise generosity today to build the future we want tomorrow? 

See the program here: Program | Philanthropy Australia Conference 

Masterclasses open  

Alongside the core program, registrations are now open for a suite of in-depth Masterclasses. Held on Monday 7 September, these immersive, three-hour workshops are an opportunity to build capability, deepen expertise and engage directly with sector experts on some of philanthropy’s most pressing opportunities and challenges. 

There will be hands-on learning across topics including artificial intelligence, First Nations partnerships, governance, impact investing, advocacy, leadership and strategies to mobilise giving. These Masterclasses are led by experts in their fields and are ticketed separately. 

Register here: Masterclasses | Philanthropy Australia Conference 

Field trips filling up 

Delegates who are Philanthropy Australia Impact or Engage members can also look forward to a range of field trips across Brisbane, providing unique opportunities to connect with peers, experience place-based initiatives firsthand and continue conversations beyond the conference venue.  

Trips include learning about how philanthropy has acted as a catalyst across Brisbane’s medical research ecosystem; an immersive field trip for funders to Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island) on Quandamooka Country; a tour of Brisbane’s Cultural Precinct; and more.    

Register here: Field Trip Friday | Philanthropy Australia Conference

With Conference tickets now more than 75 per cent sold, this event promises to be one of the sector’s most important gatherings of the year. Prospective delegates are encouraged to register now to avoid missing out. 

Explore the plenary program, secure your place at Masterclass Monday and, if you haven’t already, register now before tickets sell out. 

^{Philanthropy Australia Conference 2024 participants}