Business Events Adelaide has marked another strong financial year which has seen 197 future business events secured, forecast to attract 105,000 delegates and create over 6,800 jobs in South Australia.
The combined total of these business events is estimated to deliver a $602m benefit for the state, which was detailed in the organisation’s 2025/2026 Annual Report and announced at its Annual General Meeting on 28 October.
Business Events Adelaide credited the past financial year’s success to a targeted approach that sought to attract business events with long-term impact in priority sectors – such as health and life sciences, defence, space, AgTech and advanced manufacturing – as well as mid-size business events (up to one thousand delegates) that complemented Adelaide’s tier-two destination strengths.
The result is an economic tail of partnerships, research, investment and reputation, which Business Events Adelaide says is just as instrumental as the immediate impact of delegate spending, which injects almost A$2m per day into the state economy.
Business Events Adelaide chair Ian Horne said: “The organisation is in a strong financial position, which lets us deliver for members and invest in priorities like the International Strategy.”
Business Events Adelaide CEO Damien Kitto added: “Having spent recent years consolidating our domestic position, we are now investing in a genuine presence in key overseas markets, building relationships rather than relying on periodic visits and creating a dedicated role here in Adelaide to oversee our highest-priority international bids.”
Horne also acknowledged the significance of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet’s additional A$10m contribution to bid funding.
“The measure of an organisation lies in its ambition and its resolve. That is why I am confident in where we stand, and excited about what lies ahead,” said Horne.
In the 2025/2026 financial year, Business Events Adelaide was supported by seven Strategic Partners – Adelaide Airport, Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide Oval, Arinex, Hilton Hotel, SkyCity Adelaide and The Conference Company – and backed by funding from the State Government and City of Adelaide.
At the AGM, Avril Baynes, managing director at SkyCity Adelaide, was elected to the board unopposed as the Strategic Partner representative.
Please click here to access the Business Events Adelaide 2025/2026 Annual Report.
