Influencing Live returns to explore how technology is reshaping PR and journalism

Sydney, Australia - Influencing, a multi-channel news platform, will host Influencing Live, Australia's only media relations conference, at the Wesley Conference Centre in Sydney on Tuesday 20 October 2026.

The one-day conference brings together more than 40 journalists, editors, analysts and platform leaders to share how they want to work with PR professionals, as well as the latest technology and tools reshaping the media landscape.

"Journalism is going through a profound transformation," said Phil Sim, CEO and Founder of Influencing. "That, in turn, fundamentally changes media relations."

"We invite the communications sector to spend a day with Australia's media community so as to better understand how technology is impacting journalism, and in turn, appreciate how that might change the media relations work they do."

The program opens with a keynote from Lauren Sams, Editor, of Fin Magazine and Deputy Editor, of The Australian Financial Review Magazine on the intersection of commerce, creativity and communication. Eleni Paneras, Head of National Vision at News Corp Australia, will follow with a session on the video age.

After lunch, Billi FitzSimons, Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Aus, will present on how the outlet built its audience by proving that young Australians do care about the news.

Sim will also announce Influencing Open Intelligence, which will open the Influencing platform to PR practitioners with professional credentials without requiring a paid subscription. Once verified, users will gain access to Influencing's media database, the PRWire newswire and the call-out service at no additional cost.

Delegates will choose between four streams, Consumer, Business, Innovation and Media, featuring sessions on pitching everything from radio broadcasts to financial results, AI storytelling and the trade press.

In the Media stream, Professor Peter Greste will make the case for an Australian media freedom bill, and Duncan McNab will examine the pressures facing investigative journalism. Workshops include media law essentials with LegalVision, launching and monetising a Substack, and a session from Coping Inc on turning a podcast into a community.

All delegates receive an Influencing Open Intelligence subscription, including access to the Influencing media database following a demonstration. Existing professional Influencing subscribers and journalists attend for free.

Influencing Live 2026 takes place on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 at the Wesley Conference Centre, 220 Pitt Street, Sydney. Passes start at $450 plus GST, with Duo and Team options available.

Passes can be purchased at Influencing Live.

About Influencing

Influencing is a leading multi-channel news platform connecting journalists, PR professionals and experts. Built video-first and enhanced by AI, Influencing streamlines how newsmakers discover sources, share stories, and collaborate across the media ecosystem. The platform provides tools for media distribution, expert discovery, newsroom insights and event engagement, including the IT Journalism Awards (Lizzies), TechLeaders and Influencing Live.

Media Contact

Ayla Fitzgibbon 
Chief of Staff and Director of Communications 
E: ayla@influencing.com
M: 0431 104 817

Influencing Live Speakers 2026:

• Alex Adams, Founder, Eat Drink Play and Secret Foodies
• Alice Griffin, Co-Founder and Podcast Host, Coping Inc
• Amanda Yeo, Assistant Editor, Mashable
• Andrew Birmingham, Editor, Mi3 Australia
• Andrew Fox, Advisor, IBRS
• Annabelle Russell, Head of Partnerships, Australia and New Zealand, Substack
• Anthony Segaert, Parramatta Bureau Chief, The Sydney Morning Herald
• Athina Mallis, Editor, CRN Australia
• Billi FitzSimons, Editor-in-Chief, The Daily Aus
• Briana Domjen, Senior Reporter, The Sunday Telegraph
• Caitlin Fitzsimmons, Environment and Climate Reporter, The Sydney Morning Herald
• Cathy Wagstaff, Founder and Editorial Director, Luxus Report
• Cec Busby, Editor, Business Builders and Flying Solo
• Christopher Parker, Senior Lawyer, LegalVision
• Craig Baty, Principal Analyst, DataDriven
• Duncan McNab, Media Adviser
• Eleni Paneras, Head of National Vision, News Corp Australia
• Eliza Bavin, Editor (Interim), Financial Standard
• Hal Crawford, Editorial Director, Mumbrella
• Jake Nelson, News Editor, Australian Aviation
• James Hennessy, Ideas Editor, Capital Brief
• Jannah Anderson, Co-Founder and Podcast Host, Coping Inc
• Jens Butler, Principal, MagnifIQ
• Joseph Brookes, Senior Reporter, InnovationAus
• Julia Talevski, Editor, ARN and Reseller News
• Juliette Saly, News Director, ausbiz TV
• Kim Berry, Managing Editor, Food & Drink Business and Australian Bartender
• Laura Masia, Digital Editor, TV Week
• Lauren Sams, Editor, Fin Magazine, and Deputy Editor, The Australian Financial Review Magazine
• Leigh Stark, Founder and Editor, Pickr, and Commentator, ABC Melbourne and Sydney
• Marc Dodd, Editor, Nine.com.au
• Mark Serrels, Co-Founder and Editorial Director, CONTINUE and CHOICE Australia
• Melissa Woodley, Editor, Time Out Australia
• Michelle Stephenson, National Audio News Editor and National Drive Newsreader, Nova
• Naomi Jackson, Video Editor and Video Game Reviewer, SIFTER, IGN and ABC News
• Natasha Lee, Editor, MediaWeek Australia
• Professor Peter Greste, Journalist, Author and Academic, Alliance for Journalists' Freedom
• Rachael Bolton, Reporter, Tokenised Human
• Rachel Fieldhouse, Reporter, Nature News
• Rosalyn Page, Freelancer, CRN Australia, CSO Online, IN THE BLACK and CIO Online
• Roulla Yiacoumi, Managing Editor, Information Age
• Sean Aylmer, Presenter, Fear & Greed
• Sofia Geraghty, Deputy Editor, Travel Weekly
• Suzan Giuliani, Weekend Investigations Editor, The Saturday and Sunday Telegraph
• William Maher, Editor-in-Chief, techpartner.news