National Conference: First speakers announced
22 July 2026
The business program has been curated to explore the challenges and opportunities facing HVAC business leaders, united by the theme of #BELONG.
Stirling Mortlock
Wallabies Legend
Building a winning culture
Having captained every team he has represented, including the Wallabies, the ACT Brumbies and the Melbourne Rebels, Stirling Mortlock knows what it takes to lead at the elite level.
Over a stellar 15-year career, he earned 140 Super Rugby and 80 Wallaby caps, and captained Australia from 2006–2009.
During and after his rugby career, Stirling has held senior roles in the finance sector, and in 2020 he co-founded XV Capital, Australasia's leading sports-tech advisory and investor, which helps sports organisations, ventures and investors unlock growth and value.
Stirling is passionate about sharing his insights and philosophies on leadership and teamwork to help inspire and refine your business, team and personal goals to drive high performance and success.
In his presentation on Day 1, Stirling will draw on his experiences on the playing field and in the boardroom to share the keys to building a winning, high-performance culture.
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Brian Cook
Legendary AFL CEO
The business of belonging
Brian Cook is one of Australia's most respected sports administrators, with 37 years as an AFL club CEO across the West Coast Eagles, Geelong, Carlton and now Melbourne (interim) — making him the longest-serving CEO in the AFL's 127-year history.
Renowned for his values-based leadership and ability to build high-performance cultures, he has overseen premiership success, major infrastructure developments, strong financial growth and record membership outcomes.
At Geelong, he transformed the Club from a financially challenged regional organisation into one of Australia's leading sporting brands, while at Carlton he led a period of renewed on-field success, record profits and record membership.
A Life Member of both the AFL and Geelong Football Club, Cook has been recognised with numerous awards for his contribution to Australian sport and leadership. He is also a genuine leader in inclusion and belonging, having played a key role in developing inclusive workplace cultures and advancing gender equality initiatives.
Brian is a natural fit for this year's theme of BELONG. In this unmissable fireside chat, we'll delve into his approach to culture-building: creating environments where people and communities genuinely feel a part of something.
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Kim Seeling Smith
Business Futurist
The future of work
Kim Seeling Smith is an award-winning Business Futurist who deciphers emerging trends across business, the workforce and leadership to help organisations and individuals remain relevant, resilient and ready for anything.
Kim has held a seat at the table with Sir Richard Branson for her innovative work on the Future of Work. She was named a Top 100 Thought Leader by Thinkers360 and a Top 101 Global Influencer on Employee Engagement. She wrote *Mind Reading for Managers* — the definitive guide to employee 1:1s — and co-wrote a career development guide with best-selling author Brian Tracy.
As a former professional accountant with KPMG and a regular contributor across TV and print, Kim is a rare individual who seamlessly blends commercial acumen with cutting-edge Future of Work practices.
Kim will help us make sense of what it takes to future-proof our workforces so we attract, retain and empower highly skilled staff.
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James Healy
Behavioural Scientist
A people-first approach to adopting AI
James Healy helps organisations better understand and influence human behaviour to deliver outstanding workplace cultures and happier, more productive workers.
He is a global pioneer in the application of Behavioural Science, helping businesses create organisations that are designed for humans — not the other way around.
James is founder and Managing Director of The Behaviour Boutique, a behavioural science consultancy that helps organisations address their most critical challenges. He has extensive experience leading behavioural, cultural and technological transformation projects across a range of industries — including construction — in more than sixty countries.
He is a podcast host and author of three books, including Adopting AI: A People First Approach and the forthcoming BS At Work: Why So Much of Modern Work Is BS and How Behavioural Science Can Make It Better.
At NATCON26, James will help delegates get to grips with AI — the most exciting, most terrifying, most important technological development in human history. Leaders need to do this sooner rather than later, or risk being left behind.
More speakers to be announced soon. Register now and view full program