ETBA Equine Business Summit and Awards Night 2026 Recap

Okay, I’ve been sitting with this one for a few days because I genuinely wanted to do it justice and include absolutely everything. So grab a coffee, get comfy, and let me take you through one of the coolest weekends I’ve had in this industry so far!

Let me just started by saying I LOVE Melbourne so much. It’s literally one of my favourite places in the world. To me it always just feels like a place where things happen, ideas grow, and where conversations go deeper, and last longer than they do anywhere else.

So heading back over for this summit? Already a massive yes from me.

The Venue: Flemington Racecourse

To begin with, the 2026 ETBA Equine Business Summit and Awards Night was held at Flemington Racecourse, and that alone was so special to me for one particular reason.

Those who have followed my journey will know the significance of my horse Ginger Jones and his story. He raced at Flemington before coming over to race in WA, and then retired into my care. He shaped a great deal of my work with thoroughbreds both currently racing and Off The Track. He sparked my curiosity, made me ask questions, and inspired me to dive into the welfare and care of thoroughreds more than I ever had before.

Overlooking the racecourse and thinking of how influential he was to my career and life in general was so incredbly special. Some horses change you forever, and he was certainly one of the ones I’ll never forget…

Connection and Community

Before I get into the program, I really want to speak to the atmosphere in that room, because it set the tone for everything.

The calibre of people in attendance was something so incredible. It was so beautiful to see and meet so many knowledgeable, collaborative, and genuinely invested people in this industry. The conversations were anything but surface level. They were the kind that lead to long-term professional relationships, shared ideas, inspiration, and a stronger collective voice for equine health and welfare.

I absolutely loved that there was a consistent topic throughout both days which was a shared language around equine welfare and the importance of providing educated, informed guidance to horse owners. Not creating fear or overwhelm, but empowering people with the knowledge to advocate confidently for their horses.

That is truly the work I care about deeply, and hearing it reflected so clearly across the room was both validating and super energising.

The Summit: Day 1

Hannah Jayde Basetti, Founder of ETBA, kickstarted our day, and from there, magic happened!

Brooke Huckerby from Penn & Lytics followed, and what she had to say was so value-packed and engaging. I finished her session with my brain firing in about fifteen thousand different directions. She was the kind of speaker who doesn't just give you information, she gives you ideas and inspiration to carry on with.

Next we heard from Emily Purvis from Pure Equine Law. It was an incredibly valuable session on something many of us don't talk about enough: How to actually protect your equine business. By the time she finished, there was a mutual understanding that the legal frameworks that safeguard the work you've built is not a nice-to-have, it's absolutely essential. I left with a much clearer picture of what that looked like within my business.

Tenai Seymour from Ads Haüs was next. She spoke on copywriting for conversion, and as someone who works in the writing industry, this was a highlight of the day for me. She had a refreshing perspective, clear voice, and genuinely new ways of thinking about how we communicate with our audiences. I filled pages of notes. Literally PAGES. It was one of those sessions you want to revisit again and again.

Dominique Ribeiro Da Silva from Domin8 Digital closed out day one, and what an energy to finish on. She was engaging, uplifting, fun, and completely original. Exactly the kind of session you need at the end of a full day. It didn't wind things down. Instead, it sent everyone out the door buzzing.

The Summit: Day 2

Kylie Rogers, CEO of the Victorian Racing Club, opened day two and was everything you'd hope for from someone in that role. Empowering, exceptionally well-informed, and solutions-focused. She didn't just speak about the industry which is what I found super cool. Instead, she offered a roadmap to everyone in the room. It was an incredibly valuable way to start the morning.

The networking sessions ran by Duncan Equine throughout both days deserve their own mention. There is something about being in a room with people who genuinely love what they do and want to see each other succeed. The conversations I had during those sessions were some of the most inspiring of the entire weekend, if not in my career itself! I went in absolutely dreading the networking sessions, but ended up finding so much value in them.

The panel featuring Greg Childs (VIPA Safety), Annette Kaitinis (Scootboot), Amy Bland (Equinade), Bec Christian (VALA), and Nicole Creed (EquiCare App) was exactly what this kind of summit does best. We heard from real people, real businesses, real experience, and real stories. It was so great to hear from people who have built something and are willing to share what that actually looks like.

Katherine Dunstan brought a thoughtful and considerate perspective to the program, adding real depth to the day's conversation. A valuable, bubbly inclusion in a strong lineup.

The second panel with Nicole Creed, David Shoobridge, and Amanda Ross brought together three distinct viewpoints that really complemented each other well. It was definitely the kind of conversation where you're scribbling notes the whole way through and wishing it ran longer.

Charlie Blomfield closed the summit off perfectly. He was seriously the perfect note to end on. Completely himself, completely present, thought-provoking, and genuinely refreshing to listen to. His session was a reminder that there’s real power in bringing more of you into your brand, not a curated, polished version, but the actual you. I left thinking about how much energy I sometimes spend trying to sound a certain way, when the most compelling thing I can do is just be honest and be myself.

The Awards Night: 30U30 Presentations

On the evening of day 1 was The ETBA Awards Night, featuring the 30U30 Presentations. I was absolutely honoured to be recognised as part of the APH 30 Under 30 Cohort. This initiative is all about celebrating the people shaping Australia’s equine future, and it’s something that I think is so special.

I honestly can’t describe how grateful I am. This industry has given me enormous purpose, and to have that work recognised in a room full of people I respect so greatly is not something I at all take lightly. A huge thank you to the sponsors who made this recognition possible: Engel Australia, Petcover, andRacing Victoria Off The Track.

And the biggest thank you to Tiff Chapman fromAustralian Performance Horse Magazine for creating something so special that celebrates the next generation of equine professionals. You are absolutely amazing!

Home Time!

Now I’m home from Melbourne with a suuuper blocked ear from flying and some sort of unbeatable flu, but it really doesn’t matter in comparison to how truly incredible this years summit was.

This summit reinforced everything I believe about the direction this industry is heading: Grounded in welfare, driven by education, and strengthened by community. I came home with a full cup and a renewed sense of purpose in the direction my business is heading.

To everyone I connected with across the summit and awards night: Thank you! It was a privilege to be in the room.