Sustainability Business Live: where compliance, risk and commercial strategy come together

Australian businesses are entering a decisive new era. With the implementation of AASB S2 mandatory climate-related financial disclosures, sustainability has shifted firmly into the domains of financial reporting, governance, risk management and executive accountability. What was once largely voluntary is now regulated. What was once siloed is now enterprise-wide.

It is against this backdrop that Sustainability Business Live (#SBLive2026) takes place on 3–4 June 2026 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Organised by Stirling Media, founded by Craig Macfarlane, the event has been purpose-built to help organisations respond to this new reality — practically, commercially and strategically.

“The conversation has fundamentally changed,” says Macfarlane. “Sustainability is no longer just a values discussion. It’s about risk, compliance, governance and performance. With AASB S2 now being implemented, boards and executive teams need clarity, credible partners and real-world solutions. Sustainability Business Live is designed to bring all of that together.”

What makes this event different is not simply its scale — more than 3,500 attendees, 100 exhibitors, 10 concurrent conference streams with 200 speakers — but its structure.

For the first time in Australia, the entire business team is being brought together under one roof at a sustainability-focused event. This is not sustainability managers speaking only to other sustainability managers. This is CFOs sitting alongside ESG leaders. Procurement teams attending with operations managers. Risk and governance professionals engaging directly with energy managers, fleet directors and data specialists.

That convergence makes Sustainability Business Live a uniquely powerful proposition. Real change does not happen in departmental silos — it happens when decision-makers across finance, operations, risk and strategy are aligned. This event has been designed specifically to facilitate that alignment.

The 2026 edition features 10 concurrent conference streams, allowing attendees to build their own learning journey. Delegates can move between sessions on climate reporting, risk and governance, sustainable finance, electrification, waste and circular economy, energy optimisation, climate technology investment, certification pathways and operational decarbonisation. Attendees are not locked into a single theme — they curate the program that best suits their organisation’s priorities.

Anthesis — the world’s leading sustainability consultancy — joins as Title Sponsor, reinforcing the event’s international credibility. Dr Matthew Bell will travel from the UK to provide global insight into sustainability transformation and strategic implementation. The speaker lineup also includes Dr Saul Griffith on electrification as a business opportunity; Amanda Robinson from Nestlé, sharing practical lessons from embedding sustainability within a multinational supply chain; and Haris Murtaza from Alsco, presenting real-world operational improvements that have strengthened resilience while reducing environmental impact.

Sessions will directly address the practical implications of AASB S2, including climate risk identification, governance frameworks, internal controls, data integrity and disclosure readiness. The program also explores certification and assurance pathways, helping organisations strengthen credibility with regulators, investors and customers.

Importantly, Sustainability Business Live is free to attend for verified solution-buyers (solution-seekers) — those responsible for implementing change within their organisations. In a market where many sustainability conferences charge upwards of $2,000 per delegate while offering limited program choice, this event delivers broader content, greater flexibility and stronger commercial relevance at no cost to qualified attendees.

Solution-providers are equally welcome — and encouraged — to participate. Suppliers can purchase delegate tickets at a rate significantly lower than comparable industry events, or participate through the exhibition and sponsorship program, which includes complimentary attendee passes. This ensures a high-quality balance between organisations seeking solutions and those equipped to deliver them.

The exhibition floor will feature more than 100 providers across carbon accounting, emissions reduction, electrification infrastructure, energy management, sustainable finance, climate tech and compliance systems. There remains limited opportunity for solution providers to secure last-minute exhibition stands.

“At its core, this event is about action,” Macfarlane adds. “We’ve created a platform where entire business teams can come together, understand their compliance obligations, manage risk intelligently and implement changes that deliver measurable ROI. That’s where real transformation happens.”

For organisations navigating the intersection of sustainability, risk and commercial performance, Sustainability Business Live represents not just another conference — but a catalyst for enterprise-wide change. For event enquiries email info@stirlingmedia.com.au

www.sustainabilitybusinesslive.com.au

#SBLive2026

Image credit: iStock.com/kasto80