By CEDIA - Jun 17, 2026 • News
The CEDIA Industry Leaders Forum makes its debut at Integrate 2026. The half-day session is confirmed for Wednesday, 3 September, 8:30am–12:00pm AEST, Level 3 (Rooms E3.1 & E3.2), ICC Sydney, Darling Harbour.
Designed as a platform for industry dialogue and genuine insight, the Forum brings together integrators, manufacturers, distributors, and allied trades to explore the key issues shaping the smart home sector across Australia and New Zealand: workforce development, industry recognition, education pathways, and emerging market opportunities.
Program
Angela McDonald opens with the Member Pulse and Sector Health Update (8:45–9:30am) – a data-driven look at the current state of the integration sector, drawing on industry data and a pre-conference member survey to provide a practical snapshot of where the sector stands today and the priorities for the months ahead.
Christina Bradley of Powering Skills Organisation presents Training for the Smart Energy Home (9:30–10:15am). As homes become more connected and energy systems grow more complex, this session explores emerging VET pathways from traditional energy trades into smart home integration roles, examines how national training products are being redesigned, and looks at how industry can co-design programs that better support smart home and energy technologies.
Associate Professor Michele Verdonck of the University of the Sunshine Coast presents Electronic Assistive Technology: Smart Homes and Independent Living (10:30–11:15am). This session explores how technology is being used in real-world disability contexts, drawing on participatory research with people living with spinal cord injury. It outlines co-designed principles for best practice and the role integrators and suppliers can play in delivering solutions that enhance independence and dignity.
Dr Stephen Hart closes the program with The New Apprentice Wears Wires: Will Advanced Humanoids Join the Aussie Tradie Toolkit? (11:15am–12:00pm). Drawing on a career that began as an apprentice telecommunications technician and progressed through a Doctor of Education and executive leadership in organisational culture, Hart challenges the displacement narrative and examines what a future of human-machine collaboration actually looks like for CEDIA professionals.
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