Event Summary
Client:
HLB Mann Judd
Project:
Australasian Conference 2026
Location & Venue:
Melbourne, 1 Hotel
Timing:
May 2026
Scale & Format:
225 pax, two-day conference
Services:
Event Management, Content Production, Delegate Management
Think Big… the best events are measured by what changed, not what happened!
Event Overview
Peanut Productions partnered with HLB Mann Judd to deliver its 2026 Australasian Conference, bringing together 225 delegates from independently owned firms across Australia and New Zealand for two days of learning, collaboration and connection at Melbourne’s newest luxury hotel, 1 Hotel.
Centred around the theme ’Think Big’, the conference challenged delegates to step beyond their everyday roles, embrace new perspectives and explore what the future of the profession could look like. Every element of the experience was intentionally designed to inspire curiosity, encourage collaboration and leave delegates feeling energised to return to their businesses with fresh ideas and renewed ambition.
Our Approach
For us, Think Big wasn’t simply the conference theme, it became the creative and strategic foundation for the entire delegate journey.
Working closely with the HLB Mann Judd team, we developed an experience that balanced thought leadership with genuine moments of inspiration and connection, ensuring every touchpoint reinforced the conference’s central message. From the playful visual identity and guest communications, through to production, accommodation, registration, transfers, speaker management and social events, every element was designed to feel cohesive, purposeful and engaging.
The result was an experience that invited delegates to leave their everyday thinking behind and immerse themselves in something both professionally valuable and genuinely enjoyable.
Experience Design
The conference identity embraced a playful, illustrated aesthetic inspired by the Think Big theme, creating an immediate sense of optimism, curiosity and possibility from the very first delegate touchpoint.
This philosophy extended well beyond the visual identity. Rather than focusing exclusively on technical accounting content, the program brought together an inspiring lineup of speakers from business, elite sport and entrepreneurship, including Matt Jones, Mark Wales, Mark Visser and Tim Keel. Each challenged delegates to think differently about leadership, resilience, innovation and performance.
Immersive networking experiences – including a Yarra River cruise, a breath work session and a collaborative orchestral team-building experience, providing delegates with opportunities to authentically engage in meaningful ways outside the conference room. The orchestral experience became a fitting metaphor for the HLB network itself: independent firms, each with their own strengths, coming together to create something greater than the sum of its parts.
Event Execution
Peanut Productions managed the conference end-to-end, delivering a seamless delegate experience across multiple venues throughout Melbourne.
Our scope included accommodation, registration, transfers, speaker management, production, entertainment, styling, delegate communications and the conference gala dinner, ensuring every operational detail supported the broader event experience.
To further enhance engagement, a live digital scribe transformed keynote presentations into illustrated visual summaries, helping delegates retain key insights long after each session concluded. The conference culminated with a gala dinner at Carousel, where live entertainment, interactive performances and a dynamic local band created a memorable celebration that balanced professionalism with personality.
Event Outcomes
The 2026 Australasian Conference successfully transformed the Think Big vision into an experience that delegates could genuinely see, feel and participate in.
By combining purposeful content, playful creativity and seamless execution, the conference encouraged delegates to challenge conventional thinking, strengthen relationships across the HLB network and return to their businesses with renewed confidence and practical inspiration.
For Peanut Productions, the event demonstrated the power of intentional experience design. When every touchpoint supports a clear strategic objective, a conference becomes far more than a series of presentations, it becomes an experience that shifts perspectives, builds stronger connections and leaves a lasting impact.
