This year’s ACAPMA Conference is set to deliver another high-impact program that brings together Australia’s fuel and convenience leaders, technical experts, suppliers, and stakeholders for three days of strategic discussion, professional development and invaluable networking.
With a focus on delivering practical insights and future-facing strategies, the 2026 Conference coincides with ACAPMA celebrating 50 years of supporting the fuel industry of Australia.
Comprising industry leaders and subject matter experts, the agenda will deliver a knowledge dividend, balanced with the opportunities to network in the Expo Hall, the space that will host all the breaks, lunches and networking drinks.
The social, networking and recognition events will again be a feature of the event, including the coveted ACAPMA Fuel & Convenience Awards presented at the Gala Dinner.
2026 will also see two separately ticketed events, the first Women in Fuel luncheon along with a dedicated Regulator Forum, where they will outline their issues and priorities for the coming year.
Following these opening events, delegates will be invited to Registration and Welcome Drinks in the Expo Hall before a short walk to the AMPOL Social Dinner at the Lakeside Pavillion where the industry will come together in a relaxed lakeside setting.
On Tuesday 8 September, the Plenary Sessions commence with a Keynote Breakfast to be delivered by industry giant, Ross Lake, Managing Director of Tasco Petroleum. As a founding member of ACAPMA, Ross will reflect on the fledgling years of ACAPMA and share his experience in growing one of Australia’s iconic regional distributer retailers.
Following a short break, we will learn about the most recent advances in technology the industry relies upon. The Gallagher team will then take delegates through a compelling and graphic example of the importance of protecting business from digital attack by doing a live hack on stage, before providing advice on what businesses can do to mitigate their risks.
With the Strait of Hormuz still a centre of conflict, the Australian Institute of Petroleum will talk about the lessons learned so far, what is being done to boost Australia’s fuel security, and what the future of fuel supply and security might look like.
We will then turn to an ‘in conversation’ session, where NAB CEO Andrew Irvine will talk about Australia’s economic outlook, the advent of AI and how this will impact the employment and productivity and also why NAB has been supporting the fuel industry when others were retreating. This conversation will really deliver the knowledge dividend we promise delegates.
Following the afternoon tea and to round out the first day, we will hear from Ron Finemore AO, one of the leading figures in the transport and logistics industry, Ron is known for his dedication to improving safety, productivity, profitability and customer service. Ron will regale delegates with open, honest and forthright commentary and share some personal stories from his experience with the fuel industry.
The Tuesday wraps up with Drinks in the Expo from 4.15pm – 6.30pm before delegates can have dinner at their own leisure.
Wednesday 9 September begins with the second Keynote Breakfast with Ballarat born Matt Stafford, President, International, Omnicom PR, one of the world’s ‘Big 3’ corporate reputation consulting firms. Based in London, Matt is responsible for all markets apart from North America, giving him a unique perspective on geopolitics. Matt previously served as Cabinet Secretary in the office of Prime Minister Abbott and was later President, Asia Pacific for another corporate affairs firm based in Hong Kong for 15 years.
Following a short break we will have a Perspectives session featuring Adam Creighton who will draw on his in-depth experience, including 13 years as a journalist for The Australian, where he was both the Economics Editor and US Bureau Chief during the first Trump Presidency. He will also draw on his experience as an economist at the Reserve Bank of Australia to deliver delegates his perspectives of the industry in an economic and international context.
Completing our Perspectives session will be Alan Cadd, Managing Director of Informed Sources who will dive into the market distorting effect of government interventions into the retail fuel market. Drawing on his deep well of data, Alan will build a case that government interventions can often have unintended consequences and fail to meet their stated objective.
After reconvening following lunch, the Retail Focus session will have three chapters. Firstly, understanding your customer is critical to competition in the fuel industry. Every two years ACAPMA conducts the Consumer Attitudes Report to dive deeply into the thinking of the petrol and convenience customer. Delegates will get a briefing on the results of the 2026 Consumer Attitudes Report from Rebecca Sullivan.
The second chapter will be around retail strategy.
The final chapter will be presented by Darren Park from UCB who will talk about retail execution, the good, the bad and the ugly, and the opportunity for excellence.
The Conference will finish on a high with a must see Keynote Address by former Premier of Victoria, The Hon Jeff Kennett. 23 years in the Victorian Parliament and serving as Premier of Victoria from 1992 to 1999 Jeff has left an indelible mark on the Australian political landscape.
As the founder of beyondblue and Chair from 2000 – 2017, along with being President of the Hawthorn Football Club, delegates will be treated to a wide-ranging Keynote Address offering insights into governance and leadership in complex high profile environments.
The day concludes later that evening with the 50 Years of ACAPMA Awards and Gala Dinner at the Plaza Ballroom. This black tie event will also feature the ACAPMA Fuel and Convenience Awards.
Explore the event and register here: https://acapma.com.au/acapma-conference/
The ACAPMA Conference 2026 is made possible with the support of our sponsors;
Gallagher Insurance | Ampol | 7 Eleven Australia | bp Australia | New Sunrise Group | FujiFilm | UCB Stores | Caltex Australia | Freedom Fuels | Innomatics | Informed Sources | Roasting Warehouse | The Distributors | PDI Technologies
and exhibiting partners;
Atlan Stormwater | BioPak | Beacon Software | Companion Software | Dover Fueling Solutions | ecoblue | Elaflex | EnviroLED | EV-NRG | Franklin Electric Fueling Systems | Gilbarco Veeder-Root | Glassbox | Leaseinfo | Re-X | Octane | PEC | QuickFuel | Sesami | SwitchCo | TankSolutions | Wex |
ACAPMA
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