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World Business Forum Sydney Returns in November 2025 with Global Thought Leaders

World Business Forum Sydney

Michael Phelps, the world's most decorated Olympian, will share powerful lessons on resilience, mindset, and sustaining excellence.
Michael Phelps, the world's most decorated Olympian, will share powerful lessons on resilience, mindset, and sustaining excellence.
Key Facts:
  • World Business Forum returns to ICC Sydney on 11-12 November 2025, focusing on The Power of the Unpredictable and expecting 2,500+ attendees
  • High-profile speakers include Michael Phelps, Amy Edmondson, Guy Kawasaki and former Tesla President Jon McNeill
  • Programme will address key themes including leadership, innovation, resilience and navigating disruption in business
  • Event aims to equip Asia Pacific business leaders with practical strategies for growth and organisational success in an uncertain business landscape

The World Business Forum (WBF), the premier annual event for senior executives and business leaders in the Asia Pacific, will return to the ICC Sydney on 11–12 November 2025, unveiling its first line-up of globally renowned presenters who will share powerful insights on leadership, innovation, resilience, and the future of business.

Hosted by WOBI, the Forum promises two extraordinary days of transformative ideas, inspiration, and networking opportunities, bringing together more than 2,500 decision-makers, innovators, and industry leaders.

Each year, the World Business Forum explores the most pressing leadership and management challenges. The 2025 edition will focus on how leaders can navigate disruption, harness creativity and innovation, and build resilient, high-performing organisations in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

At the heart of the 2025 program is the theme “The Power of the Unpredictable.” In today’s world of constant disruption and uncertainty, the Forum will challenge leaders to view unpredictability not as a threat, but as an opportunity to innovate, adapt, and inspire.

Delegates will experience a program that blends cutting-edge insights with practical strategies designed to accelerate growth, strengthen organisational culture, and unlock long-term success.

“This year we’ve curated a program that responds directly to the challenges and opportunities leaders are facing in the Asia Pacific region,” said Daniel Hernandez, APAC Director at WOBI.

“From the transformative impact of AI to the need for psychological safety and resilient cultures, our speakers will deliver strategies that are as practical as they are inspiring. Attendees will leave empowered to put these ideas into action immediately within their organisations.”

The 2025 Forum features an extraordinary line-up of internationally renowned thinkers, innovators, and practitioners, including:

Michael Phelps, the world’s most decorated Olympian, will share powerful lessons on resilience, mindset, and sustaining excellence, drawing from his remarkable career and ongoing advocacy for mental health.

Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson, ranked as the world’s number one management thinker, will demonstrate how psychological safety and embracing intelligent failure can unlock innovation and growth.

Guy Kawasaki, former Apple Chief Evangelist and now Chief Evangelist at Canva, will explore how creativity can serve as a competitive advantage in an AI-driven future.

Jon McNeill, the former Tesla President and Lyft COO, will share real-world lessons from Tesla’s framework for scalable innovation.

Darren Shand, who shaped the New Zealand All Blacks into one of the world’s most successful sporting teams, will reveal how elevating collective potential can build and sustain winning cultures.

MIT Sloan’s Renée Richardson Gosline, a leading expert on customer experience, will explore how humanising AI can create unforgettable and inclusive customer experiences.

While, Peter Wilton, a renowned professor from UC Berkeley, will provide a roadmap for leading in the new era of digital disruption and business transformation.

Two additional presenters will be announced in the coming weeks, rounding out an extraordinary program of internationally renowned thinkers and innovators.

In addition to the live two-day event, registration includes exclusive on-demand access to sessions and highlights from World Business Forums worldwide, a digital content library featuring over 300 hours of curated leadership and management insights, and year-round access to WOBI’s global executive community that spans more than 50 countries.

Attendees will also be invited to local networking events throughout the year, fostering collaboration and connections among Australian and New Zealand business leaders.

“With the World Business Forum now in its third decade, our mission remains the same: to inspire, challenge, and equip leaders with the tools they need to thrive,” Mr Hernandez added.

“Sydney has become a true meeting point for the region’s executives, and in 2025 we expect to see our most dynamic and engaged audience yet.”

The Details:

World Business Forum Sydney 2025

Dates: 11–12 November 2025

Venue: ICC Sydney

Website: https://lp.wobi.com/wbf/world-business-forum-sydney


Contact details:

For further information, including media passes and/or interview opportunities, please contact:

Vicky De George

0405 151 485

[email protected]

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Michael Phelps -OFICIAL.jpg

Michael Phelps, the world's most decorated Olympian, will share powerful lessons on resilience, mindset, and sustaining excellence.
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WBFSydney2025_LineUpAnnouncement.docx

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