WA Innovation Calendar

Smart Systems Engineering for Sustainable Networks
2026-03-04 10:30 - 12:00 (Australia/Perth) | online, Australia
In recognition of World Engineering Day (WED) 2026, join us in celebrating Smart Engineering for a Sustainable Future Through Innovation and Digitalisation.
This panel discussion explores how smart systems, AI, and real-time data are being applied across transport, energy, water, and built assets to create sustainable, resilient, and high-performing infrastructure networks. The session brings together leading experts in systems engineering, digital advisory, and complex infrastructure integration to share practical insights, emerging digital practices, and lessons learned from real-world applications.
The discussion will highlight:

how systems engineering and model-based systems engineering (MBSE) underpin smart, resilient infrastructure
the role of digital intelligence, AI, and real-time data in optimising asset performance and sustainability
socio-technical considerations, organisational barriers, and governance challenges in digital transformation
practical approaches for embedding emerging digital engineering practices into legacy systems

E3 Connect March: Creating a Culture of Agency and Innovation
2026-03-04 13:00 - 14:00 | online, Australia
Designed to facilitate networking and learning from educators and leaders across Australia.
MARCH THEME: Creating a Culture of Agency and Innovation
Explore how entrepreneurial learning empowers young people to identify opportunities, solve real-world problems, and create value for others. This session examines how schools can intentionally foster critical and creative thinking, innovation, collaboration, and learner agency—equipping students with the mindset, skillset, and toolset to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Esperance Zone Innovation (EZI) Innovation Day 2026
2026-03-04 13:00 - 18:00 | Esperance Bay Yacht Club, The Esplanade, Esplanade, 6450, Australia
Esperance Zone Innovation (EZI) will host its next Innovation Day – All About Precision on Wednesday 4 March 2026 from 1pm and Esperance Bay Yacht Club
Bringing together local producers, agribusinesses, researchers and technology developers for a focused day exploring how precision tools and data are being used in both livestock and cropping systems. The day will feature practical, real-world examples of where precision approaches are improving decision-making, productivity and system understanding on farm. Designed to be highly interactive and grounded in producer experience, Innovation Day prioritises discussion and learning over sales, with short presentations and plenty of opportunity for questions and shared insights.
The EZI Group AGM will also be held as part of the event

Fortescue Smart Mining Networking Event
2026-03-04 16:00 - 18:00 | The Westin, 4480 Hay Street, Perth, Western Australia, 6000, Australia
Join Austmine on Wednesday, 4 March for their exciting Smart Mining Networking Event in Perth.
Hear from Tijana La Bianca, Group Manager Green Metal of Fortescue as she shares her insights and expertise on Pilbara 2.0 From Iron Ore to Green Iron with attendees.
This event is the perfect opportunity for industry professionals to connect and build new relationships, while also gaining valuable insights from one of the industry’s leading experts.

Transforming How Industries Connect
2026-03-04 17:15 - 19:00 | Riff, 45 St Georges Tce, Perth, Australia
The difficulty of getting independent systems to share data and work together — the interoperability challenge — has been navigated ad hoc for decades, but the problem continues to grow. And while industry change is never easy, the time is right for a more complete and audacious vision.
Tim will introduce us to an innovative open and federated platform, rooted in DevOps and Agile principles, that is designed to help organisations address interoperability challenges in ever more complex environments. This platform, and the approach behind it, is currently being considered by a federal industry body to support upcoming conformance testing challenges.

Women in Defence Association International Women's Day
2026-03-05 07:00 - 09:00 | The Melbourne Hotel, 33 Milligan Street, Perth, WA, 6000, Australia
Balance the Scales
Join the Women in Defence WA team for our International Womens Day Event breakfast & panel discussion held at the beautiful Aurora Bar at the Melbourne Hotel.

Workshop (online only): Accelerating Development of Australia's Rare Earth Resources
2026-03-05 07:00 - 12:30 | online, Australia
You are invited to an upcoming workshop ran by the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub, for which will detail the outcomes of the Accelerating Development of Australia’s Rare Earth Resources (ADARER) project – a collaboration between Australia’s leading federal science agencies; the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Geoscience Australia (GA), and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

Henderson: Defence Industry Engagement Session
2026-03-05 09:00 - 13:30 | AMC Jakovich Function Centre, 4 McGrath Road, Henderson, WA, 6166, Australia
This series brings together leaders from Babcock, government and key industry partners to provide practical insights into upcoming programs, supply chain requirements, export pathways, and the support available to Australian SMEs looking to enter the sector for the first time or expanding an existing defence footprint.
Across each session, attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how to enter Babcock’s supply chain, meeting defence industry supplier requirements and export opportunities through their Global Supply Chain Program (GSCP).
The Defence Industry Engagement Series supports suppliers across all defence domains and encourages open dialogue on how SMEs and primes can work together to strengthen sovereign capability.

Marketing Strategy Made Simple
2026-03-05 16:00 - 18:00 | Fremantle Chamber of Commerce, 16 Phillimore Street, Fremantle, WA, 6160, Australia
Join James Fitzjohn, Director and Founder of Brew Consulting, to learn how to apply the fundamentals of marketing strategy to grow your business.
In this session, you’ll discover:

What marketing really is
Why marketing is getting harder (and what to do about it)
The role strategy plays in successful marketing
How to apply marketing strategy to your business
A simple framework you can take home
A real-life example from a brand you know

Free for members and all attendees also receive a complimentary discovery consultation from Brew Consulting.

Women in Data Science (WiDS) Perth 2026
2026-03-05 17:00 - 19:30 | UWA Oceans Institute, Fairway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
The University of Western Australia, in collaboration with the UWA Data Institute and Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, is excited to bring you Women in Data Science (WiDS) Perth 2026.
Our expert panel of leading WA-based data science experts will share their different stories and perspectives on what it takes to build a successful career in data science. Our panel discussion will be followed by Q&A and light refreshments with networking.

Women in Energy: Balancing the Scales: It’s Time to Break Down the Barriers
2026-03-05 17:00 - 20:00 | Ernst & Young, 11 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA, 6000, Australia
Join Women in Energy Perth for their 2026 International Women’s Day celebration.
An engaging International Women’s Day panel sharing journeys of change, breaking barriers, and shaping a more balanced future for all.

WA International Women's Day 2026 - Leaders Breakfast Event
2026-03-06 06:30 - 10:30 | Fraser’s Restaurant, 60 Fraser Ave, West Perth, 6005, Australia
Join For Purpose leaders for a morning of connection, reflection, and celebration as we mark International Women’s Day 2026.
Speakers:

Professor Lyn Beazley AO
Dr Hilda Turnbull
Mary Nenke
Andrea Musulin
Hon Maryka Groenewald MLC
Hon Julie Freeman MC
Jasmin Diab CSC GAICD
Professor Samar Aoun AM
Miquela Riley
Sarah Sfakianakis

Attend online or in person for an inspiring morning with a special breakfast honoring the remarkable women who have shaped WA’s history.

CERI - Concept to Creation Online Info Session
2026-03-06 10:00 - 11:00 | online, Australia
Tune in to an informative online webinar on what we do here at CERI and learn about the upcoming program Concept to Creation (C2C) and how it will help you grow your startup, idea to full fledged commercial reality!
Hear from C2C alumni on their experiences and how it has changed their startup and professional futures!
More information can be found here: https://www.ceri.org.au/programs/concept-to-creation

Bloom: Home Cooked to Household Name
2026-03-08 15:00 - 16:00 | Bloom Lab, Crawley, 2 Park Road, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating big dreams, bold moves, and seriously good cookies.
Join Nadia Nesevski, founder of Cookie Loaded, as she shares how she turned a home-baked idea into a cookie empire. What started in her kitchen became a brand people line up for – and she’s spilling the real tea (and crumbs) on how she made it happen.
From late nights and leap-of-faith moments to scaling, branding, and building a cult-like following, Nadia will take you behind the scenes of growing Cookie Loaded into a household name – the wins, the setbacks, the risks, and the resilience it took to back herself all the way.

MRIWA Research Showcase 2026
2026-03-09 08:00 - 18:00 | Beaumonde On The Point, 306 Riverside Drive, East Perth, WA, 6004, Australia
This event will showcase cutting-edge research and emerging applications of AI and machine learning across the mining and minerals sectors, highlighting their role in shaping a sustainable future. Explore current innovations, future possibilities, and the associated risks and opportunities—fostering a shared vision for strategic research and collaboration.
From smarter exploration to predictive maintenance and sustainability breakthroughs, discover how technology is transforming resources. Network with leading researchers, innovators, and industry experts driving the next era of mining innovation.

WALSIH Virtual Global Expert Program: Steven Haken
2026-03-09 15:00 - 16:30 | online, Australia
If you’re building a medtech or digital health company with eyes on Europe, this session is exactly what you need before you make your next move.
This event will be bringing in Steven Haken, Managing Director of Odelle Technology, for the first session of the WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub’s Virtual Global Expert Program.
20+ years structuring reimbursement pathways across the UK and EU for med devices, diagnostics, biotech therapeutics, and digital health.
Monday 9 March | 3:00–4:30pm AWST | Virtual

Politics & Business breakfast with the Hon. Stephen Dawson MLC
2026-03-10 06:45 - 09:00 | Crown Perth, Great Eastern Highway, Perth, WA, Australia
Join Business News for an insightful conversation with one of the state’s most experienced leaders.
The Hon. Stephen Dawson MLC is currently the Minister for Regional Development; Ports; Science and Innovation; Medical Research; and the Kimberley, and serves as Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.

Energy Exchange Australia (EXA)
2026-03-10 09:00 - 2026-03-12 17:00 | Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, 21 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, 6000, Australia
For over 40 years Energy Exchange Australia (EXA), previously known as AOG Energy, has cemented itself as a critical event in the oil, gas and energy market. Held annually in Perth, EXA builds on the strong legacy AOG Energy has established but with a modern outlook and new opportunities.
EXA is dynamic and immersive, with improved experiences to connect, inspire, and exchange initiatives. It tackles key industry challenges, encourages disruptive conversations, and showcases prominent influential industry figures who are making a difference in the energy transition, accelerating us to a decarbonised future.
Learn more and register here: https://exaexpo.com.au/

International Women’s Day Spacecubed Breakfast Club
2026-03-10 10:00 - 11:00 | Fern, 79 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA, 6000, Australia
Join us at Fern, powered by Spacecubed, for a relaxed and interactive International Women’s Day Breakfast Club focused on connection, conversation and shared learning.
Running from 10am – 11am on Tuesday, 10th March at Fern (79 St Georges Terrace), the morning will run as human-led conversation zones. Attendees can choose the topic that resonates most, join open discussions, and move freely between tables — creating space for meaningful conversations and new connections across business, leadership and community.

Unlocking Global Tech Talent: A Founder’s Visa Playbook
2026-03-10 14:00 - 14:30 | Riff, 45 St Georges Tce, Perth, Australia
Join for this exclusive Perth Landing Pad event, delivered in collaboration with our global partner TechVisa, designed to help founders access and mobilise international tech talent strategically, compliantly and at speed.
TechVisa Co-Founder Natasha Prévot and General Manager Emily will break down the four visa pathways most relevant to scaling tech companies — 400, 482, 186 and 858 — and explain when each makes commercial sense.
In this high-energy, founder-focused session, you’ll learn:
• How to integrate visa strategy into your growth roadmap
• The three-stage 482 process explained clearly and commercially
• How to secure long-term retention through permanent residency pathways
• How to sequence hiring decisions to reduce risk and maintain momentum
• How to position immigration as infrastructure for scale
Whether you’re raising capital, expanding into new markets, or competing for world-class engineers and product leaders, this session will give you clarity, confidence and a strategic edge.

Panel: The conflict between commercial metrics and customer outcomes
2026-03-10 17:15 - 19:30 | Hatchd, Level 3/108 St Georges Tce, Perth, WA, 6000, Australia
Panel Event: The conflict between commercial metrics and customer outcomes. How product managers can balance cultural challenges, managing metrics, and being a good human being.
As technology and the landscape evolves we are seeing a growing conflict between delivering commercial outcomes and delivering value to and protecting the interests of customers. Performance metrics drive individual financial benefits, and so we can see this driving a tendency for leadership to focus delivery on organisational commercial value at the cost of service or product outcomes to the customer. Product Managers are directly part of the interface facilitating this and often have to struggle with the fallout of final decisions.

WA Spotlight on Biomedical Careers: Talent, Transition & Transformation
2026-03-10 17:30 - 19:30 | Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, 6 Verdun Street, Nedlands, WA, 6000, Australia
Discover biomedical career pathways in WA. Employer insights, real journeys and networking across research, industry and government.
Ready to discover what a career in WA’s biomedical sector really looks like?
The ‘WA Spotlight on Biomedical Careers: Talent, Transition, Transformation’ is an exciting in-person event exploring current and emerging workforce opportunities across WA’s growing biomedical sector. The sector extends well beyond traditional clinical and health roles and includes opportunities in research, advanced manufacturing, product development, digital and data, clinical trials, government and start-ups.
This event brings together employers, recruiters, government and sector leaders to provide practical insights into career pathways, hiring expectations and skills needed now and into the future.
Whether you are a student, researcher or industry professional considering a career transition, the session will help you better understand where your skills fit and how to take the next step.

UNSW Perth Alumni Talks | The Future of Mining
2026-03-10 17:30 - 19:30 | PwC, 125 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA, 6000, Australia
Join fellow alumni in Perth for an exclusive thought leadership event featuring Professor Serkan Saydam, Chair of Mining Engineering at UNSW Sydney and Director of the UNSW ARC Research Hub for Next Generation Mining Methods (NextGenMIN).
Professor Sadam will explore how the industry must shift from simply adopting new technologies to creating new knowledge, integrating advanced technology and human capital to design mining systems designed for:

Zero waste
Zero (net) emissions
Zero (human) entry
Improved safety, productivity and efficiency

Founder Story: How Ida Sports' Discovery Cut Costs & Raised $2.5M
2026-03-11 07:30 - 08:30 | Riff, 45 St Georges Tce, Perth, Australia
In this practical session grounded in the Disciplined Entrepreneurship model, you’ll see the actual deck that raised the first $2.5 million for Ida Sports and unpack the customer discovery work that shaped it.
Ben will share how early customer interviews helped Ida Sports more than halve production costs, refine their feature set, and avoid building the wrong product — reinforcing why early validation is critical for first-time founders.
Perfect for early-stage builders, this session blends theory and practice, with actionable insights you can apply immediately (and a timely lead-in to our upcoming pitch practice session).

2026 BioInnovation Festival
2026-03-11 08:00 - 17:00 | Pan Pacific Hotel Perth, 207 Adelaide Tce, Perth, WA, 6000, Australia
The BioInnovation Festival is a five-day celebration of Western Australia’s life sciences and innovation ecosystem, featuring flagship events, regional tours, and partner-led activities.
BioInnovation Festival Conference – 11 March 2026
Connecting innovators, industry, and investors to explore the latest breakthroughs in life sciences. The program features over 50 speakers across keynotes, themed streams, and networking designed to spark collaboration and accelerate commercialisation.
Themes:
• Cross-disciplinary innovation
• Medical & Health
• Agriculture, Aquaculture & Life Sciences
• Commercialisation & Investment Readiness
• Partnerships & Ecosystem Growth
Program Highlights:
Morning keynotes, two focused streams, afternoon sessions, a “meeting of the minds,” and a Networking Sundowner. Optional Networking Dinner in the evening.

CERI: Investment Readiness Program Week 1
2026-03-11 17:00 - 19:00 | The Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation (CERI), Level 1, 22 Stirling Highway Nedlands, WA 6009, 6009, Australia
Refine your pitch and prepare your business for investment, with the opportunity to present to angels and venture capital investors.
Dates: 11 March – 20 May and 26 August – 4 November
Schedule: Wednesdays, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Price: $330 for students | $550 for full-time employees
Register: Investment Readiness

Coders for Causes (CFC) Industry Night 2026
2026-03-11 18:30 - 21:00 | EZONE UWA Student Hub, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
2026 CFC Industry Night will be bringing together students, industry professionals, and organisations from across the tech ecosystem for an evening of networking and career insights.
This event provides an opportunity to connect with industry representatives, explore pathways in software development and data, and gain practical advice to support your professional journey.

AIMI: Certified Innovation Professional (CIP) Programme
2026-03-12 08:00 - 12:00 | online, Australia
Certified Innovation Professional (CIP) Programme — Expressions of Interest Now Open
Expressions of Interest are now open for the next intake of the Certified Innovation Professional (CIP) Programme, delivered by the Australian Innovation Management Institute (AIMI) in partnership with the Global Innovation Management Institute (GIMI).
Most organisations do not struggle with ideas. They struggle with execution: unclear decision rights, inconsistent evaluation, and no repeatable system to move from concept → pilot → scale. The CIP Programme is designed to professionalise how innovation gets done—so leaders and teams can deliver outcomes with rigour, pace, and accountability.
Why CIP

Grounded in GIMI’s globally recognised innovation management framework and toolset—widely regarded as global best practice for building repeatable, measurable innovation capability across organisations.
ISO 56001 aligned, supporting capability consistent with the emerging global standard for Innovation Management Systems.

What past participants said (AIMI inaugural cohort, 2025)

“GIMI’s Certified Innovation Professional courses (delivered by AIMI) put participants in an engaging and practical learning environment… You learn and deliver at the same time with others. A brilliant way to learn and to test how the GIMI tools can be applied in a real-world sense for practical outcomes.”— Sean Webb, Manager – Innovation and Partnerships, CBH Group

“I participated… hoping to learn methods to continue my innovation efforts in a consistently scalable and repeatable manner, and the GIMI frameworks provide exactly that… Repeatable and scalable.”— Eric Berrill, Co-Founder & Chief Innovation Officer, núaTECH

Who it’s for

Innovation and transformation leaders and practitioners
Strategy, PMO, product, digital, and operations leaders
Emerging innovation champions who need a solid toolkit and common language

What you’ll get

Practical tools and methods you can apply immediately
A structured approach to building innovation capability (not just running projects)
A globally recognised credential that signals professionalism in innovation

Expressions of Interest are now open. If you’re ready to move beyond innovation activity and build a system that delivers outcomes, register your interest for the next intake.

Regional Innovation Summit
2026-03-12 08:00 - 2026-03-13 17:00 | South West, WA, Australia
The 2026 Regional Innovation Summit is bigger, bolder, and more immersive than ever.

The 2026 Summit will take place on Friday 13 March and will once again deliver a powerful experience connecting investors, innovators, industry leaders, and government stakeholders with the people and ideas shaping the future of regional innovation.

Hosted at the historic Caves House in one of WA’s most breathtaking coastal destinations Yallingup, this year’s Summit is newly designed as a roundtable-style gathering, bringing together regional and national changemakers for an interactive day of keynotes, panels, networking, and startup pitches.

Keynote Speaker – Tim Jarvis AM

Tim Jarvis AM is an Australian environmental scientist, adventurer, author and filmmaker, best known for recreating some of history’s most dangerous polar expeditions to raise awareness about climate change and environmental conservation. At the Summit, Tim will share powerful lessons from the world’s harshest environments — insights into purpose-driven leadership, navigating uncertainty and aligning innovation with sustainability.

Speakers & Panellists:

This year we’ve taken it to the next level. We’ve built immersive experiences into your day where you can taste wine aged on the seafloor, explore ancient bush medicines and ocean innovation, witness autonomous farm technology in action and experience an immersive art light display where biology, data and creativity collide.

Explore the details

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The Regional Innovation Summit is a BioInnovation Festival Satellite Event, supported by City of Busselton, South West Development Commission through the Innovative Industries of the Future (iiF) program, GreenTech Hub, Department of Energy and Economic Diversification through the CONNECT Sustainable Industries program and nbn® Australia. The Caves House Cleanser Sundowner is brought to you by Creative Tech Village.

Founder Open House | Venture UWA
2026-03-12 10:00 - 14:00 | The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
Drop in to get expert advice from Venture UWA Entrepreneur in Residence – Charlie Gunningham & Student Entrepreneur in Residence – Nathan Wipane, and start the journey to bring that idea to life, or grow that business you have been working on.
This event is for any UWA student or alumni seeking advice, supporting you to turn that idea into reality or take the next steps in your business development! Or just come and hang out in our co-working space and see what startup life is all about!
