Keynote Speaker: Kelly Slessor, CEO, Tribe Gen AI
Kelly Slessor is a digital marketing strategist, AI expert, and founder of Tribe Gen AI. With more than 20 years of experience across technology, ecommerce, and artificial intelligence, she helps online retailers unlock growth through practical, data-driven strategies. She has worked with major brands including Forever New, Uniqlo, Lendlease, Mirvac, and Uber Eats, while also supporting more than 1,000 small and medium businesses.
Eight years ago, she pioneered an AI personalization platform that enabled customized shopping experiences. Kelly is also the author of AI for Ecommerce, a practical guide to helping retailers adopt AI to improve customer experience and drive growth.
Kelly is committed to digital inclusion and co-founded the Digital Inclusion Project to foster digital growth and education for underrepresented groups.
She is a frequent AI commentator on Sky News, an investor, and a board advisor. She also hosts the AI Leaders Lunch in Sydney. Kelly was recently recognized as one of the NRF 2026 Retail Voices, named among RETHINK Retail’s Top AI Leaders in Retail for 2026, and acknowledged as a Retail Expert in 2025.
Program
| Time | Program |
| 9:00-9:15 | In Conversation with Graham Hoskins |
| 9:15-9:55 | Data & Insights: What do we know about our industry?
In addition to the regular State of the Industry Report presented each year at the Summit, Alex Masso will present new AMA reports including a more in-depth Consumer Insights report, and more. |
| 9:55-10:40am | Kelly Slessor: AI & Retail
Kelly Slessor will present this year’s keynote, focusing on AI in e-commerce with insights for more and less experienced users of AI tools. |
| 10:40-11:15am | AI & The Future: What Signals Are We Watching?
Dean Ormston (APRA AMCOS), Adele Sutton (COSBOA) and Matt Walsham (Roland Corporation, AMA board member) discuss the issues facing the music industry, small businesses, and music products industry. |
| 11:15-11:30am | Morning Tea |
| 11:30am-12:00pm | Collective Discussions, Part 1: AI & The Future
Facilitated Group Discussion |
| 12:00-12:30pm
|
AMA Awards
Presentation of the 2026 AMA Awards AMA AGM All members are invited to the fiftieth Annual General Meeting of the Australian Music Association |
| 12:30-1:20pm | Lunch |
| 1:20-2:05pm | What’s Working in Music Education?
Judith Bowtell (Alberts | Music Education Right From The Start), Tara Smith (Australian Chamber Orchestra), Rory Alcock (Australian Childrens Music Foundation), Bernie Heard (AYO | Music in Me) The AMA is a longstanding advocate for music education supporter of collaborative efforts to improve the provision of quality music education in Australian schools. In this session, Rory and Tara will share ‘on the ground’ insights from effective programs while Judith will give us the ‘big picture’ of developments in music education around Australia and particularly in NSW. Presented by Alberts | Music Education Right From The Start |
| 2:05-2:20pm | AMA Strategic Plan & Workforce Plan
The AMA will present its Strategic Plan (2026-2030) outlining strategic priorities for the coming years. One of those strategic priorities is workforce development with a focus on musical instrument makers & repairers, which is the subject of a separate Workforce Plan. This session will focus on these two high-level plans charting a course through the next few years. |
| 2:20-2:50pm
|
Training Technicians: Panel
Max Glanville (Sydney String Centre / Glanville & Co.) | Edward Kuschel (Vase Amps / Elk Elektronik) As part of the Workforce Plan and efforts to address industry needs, this session will feature a discussion about training repair technicians for different products. |
| 2:50-3:05pm | Afternoon Tea |
| 3:05-3:45pm | Collective Discussions, Part 2: Strategic Priorities
The second facilitated discussion session will focus on plans and priorities and for the future, bringing the industry together to address common challenges. |
|
3:45-4:15pm |
Ordobyte Launch Andrew Robinson & Sion Boomsma will present a new smart data platform designed for the Australian music products industry, with live demo and Q&A. |
| 4:15-4:30pm | Live Music
A showcase from the Talent Development Project |
| 4:30-4:50pm
|
Closing Plenary – What’s Next |
| 5:00-6:00pm | Drinks
Delegates are invited to join us for drinks and networking |
