On the Day

  Friday, 1st May 2026 

The Forum is on Friday, 1st May 2026. Registration opens at 8.00am, located in the Pre-Function Foyer. Enjoy your complimentary fresh barista coffee and a muffin, and take some time to browse the Exhibitor Space (located in the Hospitality Room). At 8:30am, doors will open to the Presentation Space (located in the indoor Sports Courts), where our MC will commence introductions from 8:50am. 

Northam Recreation Centre  

The Forum is being held at the Northam Recreation Centre, Peel Terrace, Northam WA 6401. Ample parking is available on site. The coffee van will be located in the Undercover Area accessible via the Exhibition Space following registration. Your complimentary coffee voucher will be shared with you as you check in.

The Wheatbelt Futures Forum is a value-packed one day event that brings Wheatbelt businesses, local government, and government representatives together to focus on business opportunities in the coming year and beyond. The event is industry focused, with brief presentations from delegates representing a range of Wheatbelt industries, extended panel discussions and networking throughout the day. We aim for attendees to walk away with an informed plan on how they can operate their business in the current economic climate and take advantage of the opportunities that may present themselves in the near future.

Registrations

Registrations will commence from 8.00am at the Exhibitor Space Foyer – look for the signs. Here, you will also receive your coffee voucher for a professional barista coffee, and a drink voucher for the post-event Sundowner.

Enter the Exhibition Space 

In the Exhibition Space, you can help yourself to a locally made fresh muffin while you browse the exhibitors and wait for colleagues to arrive. Via the Exhibition Space out to the Undercover Area will be coffee vans. The coffee vans will also be available at the morning tea break if you miss the opportunity to receive one before the first session starts.    

Into Session One 

 All presentation and panel sessions will be held in the Presentation Space, located in the indoor Sports Courts. The first session starts promptly at 8:50am with an introduction to the Forum and housekeeping for the day by our MC - Kitty Prodonovich, Welcome to Country by local Elder - Deborah Moody, and Shire of Northam Welcome by President Chris Antonio. We will then move into a Ministerial Update by the Hon Stephen Dawson MLC;  then an Economic presentation from Professor Alan Duncan from Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre.   

Morning Tea

 We will move into a morning tea break at 10:30am for 30 minutes in the  Exhibition Space where there will be an area set up at the front with food and beverages. The coffee van will be available to purchase barista coffee – or if you haven’t used the voucher for your complimentary coffee, you may use it at morning tea. Our morning tea includes a selection of warm and cold treats to take you into Session Two smiling...

Into Session Two

 At 11.00am we will move back into the Presentation Space and begin Session Two at 11:05am. In this session we will have our first focus topic: Infrastructure. Our Keynote Speaker, Stephanie Unwin from Arc Infrastructure will give her presentation. 

 A 40-minute Q&A panel of industry experts will then follow, joined by and  guided by Guest Moderator, Tracy Lefroy.

We will then have our second focus topis: Construction & Housing. Our Keynote Speaker Steven Rowley from Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute will give his presentation.

At the completion of this presentation, we will again hold a 40-minute Q&A in the same format as the previous session, guided by Guest Moderator Robyn Sermon.

 All questions will be submitted through Slido and attendees will invited to scan a QR code to access the app on their phone and submit questions for the Moderator to address the panel. 

Lunch

  We will move into lunch at 1:00pm in the Exhibition Space. A gourmet lunch will be served buffet style assisted by our chefs and includes a delectable array of warm meat and vegetarian dishes, salad, and dessert. A spread to remember!

Session Three

    At 1.50pm, we commence the final session of the day.  In this session we will have our third focus topic: Renewable Energy. Our Keynote Speaker, Tim Bray from Powering WA will give his presentation. 

 A 40-minute Q&A panel of industry experts will then follow, joined by and  guided by a Guest Moderator, Mia Davies.

From 3.00pm, we will have our final key topic: Health. Our Keynote Speaker, Danny Rogers from WACHS will give his presentation. 

 A 40-minute Q&A panel of industry experts will then follow, joined by and  guided by Guest Moderator, Caroline Robinson.

At 3.40pm we welcome Renee Manning, Acting CEO Wheatbelt Development Commission to share the WDC overview.

Conclusion & Sundowner

 Lachlan Hunter MP - Member for Central Wheatbelt, will deliver a Closing Address before our gracious MC Kitty Prodonovich wraps up the Forum at 4:00pm. 

Sundowner Sponsor, The Rec Hotel Northam have generously provided their venue for participants to gather to further network if they wish. There is a welcome drink on arrival and the voucher for this will be shared with you at Registration. Gourmet wood-fired pizzas will be served until 6:30pm.

Special rate accommodation for our delegates can be booked by emailing Brendan Dabinett-Halliday directly at admin.northam@therec.com.au (book early to avoid disappointment)

Our Exhibitors

  Be sure to take the opportunity during the breaks to have a chat with some of our generous sponsors in the Exhibitor Space (Hospitality Room). More information will be shared by each of our exhibitors in their "Elevator Speeches" just prior to the first break.