On November 4, our 2027 Directors’ Conference hosts, Tracey Flynn (AGSM @ UNSW Business School) and Magnus Gittins (Melbourne Business School), ran the first Travel Q&A for members planning the trip to Australia. Here is the recording, a summary of what they shared, and answers to the questions members are asking most.
Still have questions? Ask the hosts live
The second Travel Q&A is on Tuesday, November 10: 8am UK, 4pm Singapore, 7pm Melbourne. Or go straight to registration.
A first for UNICON: two cities, two host schools
This is the first time the Directors’ Conference comes to Australia, and the first time it is hosted by two business schools in two cities. The conference opens in Sydney at AGSM’s new campus in the central business district and closes in Melbourne at Melbourne Business School. The theme is Leading Through Transformational Times.
Getting to Australia
Plan to fly into Sydney and home from Melbourne. From North America, the journey usually takes 14 to 17 hours; a direct flight from Los Angeles is about 14 hours. Direct services run from San Francisco, Los Angeles and Dallas-Fort Worth, and they typically land between 6am and 10am. From the East Coast or the Midwest you will usually connect once or twice, and there is now a New York service via Auckland.
The hosts recommend arriving at least a day early, ideally two, so you can adjust to the time difference before the conference starts. If you want to make a holiday of it, come early to explore New South Wales, or stay on after the conference in Victoria or elsewhere in Australia.
What happens in Sydney (May 4-5)
The conference starts around midday on May 4 with a day of cultural immersion that showcases the heritage and 60,000-year-old culture of Australia’s Aboriginal peoples. The evening includes a harbor cruise with Tribal Warrior, an Indigenous-owned organization, and dinner at a revolving restaurant with views across the city.
On May 5 the business program begins. Professor Richard Holden, economist at UNSW Business School, will speak on the strategic and geopolitical climate in the Asia-Pacific region. Sessions will also look at how Australian universities operate in their market, and at systems thinking and adaptive leadership. Toward the end of the Sydney leg, each participant starts working on a challenge they bring from their own business.
Sydney to Melbourne, and what happens there (May 6-7)
The hosts arrange the move between cities: bus transfers to and from the airports and the flight from Sydney to Melbourne, all included in the fee. Participants travel on a couple of flights within 15 minutes of each other, arriving in Melbourne mid to late morning.
In Melbourne, the program picks up participants’ challenges through three lenses: digital and AI, people transformation, and processes and systems, with streamed sessions so you can choose your own path. Thursday includes visits to iconic Melbourne locations and dinner at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the largest stadium in Australia, with a tour of the ground. On Friday, participants share feedback and present their work on their challenges. The final session closes at 4:30pm on Friday, May 7.
Fee and accommodation
The conference fee is A$2,850 per participant (about US$2,000). It includes the conference program and the host-arranged travel from Sydney to Melbourne. As usual, accommodation is booked separately. In Sydney, the recommended hotels are close to the AGSM campus and range from about US$200 to about US$370 a night. Melbourne options are similar or slightly cheaper. The full list of hotels is on the conference agenda page.
What you will take away
The four days follow one thread: connection, understanding, experimenting and applying new thinking. The program moves from the current context, to leading through complexity, to leadership practice and transformation, and finally to AI and transformation. Because you bring a real challenge from your own business and work on it throughout, the hosts’ aim is that you leave with ideas you can put to use as soon as you are back.
Frequently asked questions
When and where is the UNICON 2027 Directors’ Conference?
May 4-7, 2027. It opens in Sydney with AGSM @ UNSW Business School on May 4-5 and closes in Melbourne with Melbourne Business School on May 6-7.
How much is the conference fee, and what does it include?
A$2,850 per participant, about US$2,000. The fee includes the conference program and the host-arranged travel from Sydney to Melbourne, including airport transfers and the flight. Accommodation is not included.
Which airport should I fly into, and which should I fly home from?
Fly into Sydney and home from Melbourne. The hosts take you from Sydney to Melbourne during the conference, but not back to Sydney afterwards.
How long is the flight from North America?
Usually 14 to 17 hours. Direct flights leave from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas-Fort Worth and generally arrive in Australia between 6am and 10am. From the East Coast or the Midwest, expect one or two connections.
When should I arrive?
At least the day before, and ideally two days before, so you can adjust to the time zone. The conference starts around midday on May 4.
Do I need a visa to travel to Australia?
Most international visitors need a visa or electronic travel authority. Check the requirements for your passport on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website. If you need a letter supporting your attendance, contact Tracey Flynn (tracey.flynn@agsm.edu.au), Magnus Gittins (m.gittins@mbs.edu) or Danielle Macedo at UNICON (daniellemacedo@uniconexed.org); a letter is ready to go.
Can my partner or spouse travel with me?
Yes. Let the hosts know and they will put your partner on the same transfers and the same Sydney to Melbourne flight. The registration form will capture this.
What will the weather be like?
May is late autumn in Australia. Expect mild days with highs of about 68 to 72°F (20 to 22°C) and cooler evenings. The dates also fall after the Australian school holidays, Easter and Anzac Day (April 25), so flights and hotels are less busy.
Where should I stay?
The hosts have recommended hotels close to both venues, from about US$200 to about US$370 a night in Sydney, with Melbourne similar or slightly cheaper. See the full agenda and hotel list.
Is the session recording available?
Yes, the presentation from the November 4 session is at the top of this page and on UNICON’s YouTube channel. You can also join the second live Q&A on November 10 to ask your own questions.
Who can I contact with questions?
Get in touch with the hosts in Sydney and Melbourne, or with UNICON:
Tracey Flynn
Magnus Gittins
Danielle MacedoSee you in Sydney and Melbourne
Ask the hosts your questions live on November 10, or secure your place at the conference now.