THE 2026 Australian Automotive Dealer Association Convention and Expo has confirmed that the popular Expo Live Stage will return to this year’s exhibition show floor. 

Releasing more details on the event taking place from July 29-30 at the International Convention Centre Sydney, convention director, Patrick Tessier OAM said: “The Expo Live Stage format gives delegates another way to engage with practical content while remaining close to the energy of the Expo”.

Patrick Tessier

“The Main Stage sessions provide the big-picture conversations, while the Workshop and Live Stage programs give delegates the opportunity to explore specific issues in more detail,” he said.    

“These sessions are practical, commercially relevant and closely aligned with the challenges dealers are dealing with every day.”

Mr Tessier said the AADA Pentana Solutions Live Stage Series is a program of ‘’short, focused presentations designed to be easy for delegates to access between exhibitor visits, meetings and networking opportunities”.

Toby Simmons

The AADA 2026 Expo Live Stage Series program begins on Day One with youX’s executive chairman Toby Simmons exploring how dealers and lenders can increase finance penetration, reduce risk, and adapt in real time in the presentation “Increase profit. Reduce risk. Stay ahead of change”.

Daniel King

Next on the live stage, Daniel King from Uber for Business presents “Elevate customer service and control costs with Uber for Business ”. He will show how flexible transport solutions can complement or replace taxis, loan vehicles and shuttles. This with help dealers improve cost control, gain real-time ride visibility and deliver a more premium customer experience.

Shaun Janks

John Mahkoul

Shaun Janks and John Mahkoul of DingGo Crash Management discuss “DingGo Crash Intelligence – Turning Damage into Dollars”. He will outline how to turn vehicle damage into revenue streams using proprietary AI technology and data to turn photos of vehicle body damage into instant repair cost estimates.

Rory Sutherland

Ed Tapley

Next, Infomedia’s Rory Sutherland with Podium’s Ed Tapley inform on “The Modern Service Playbook” and will unpack the real growth lever hiding in the service drive and define how leading operators systematically win back lost revenue and empower advisors to sell more effectively.

Phil Meyer

Steve Raw

Phil Meyer and Steve Raw of Platinum Technology will conclude this session by discussing  “Driving Growth Through Smart Migration, Security and AI Choices”. They will discuss commercial IT governance and how smart cloud migration, data protection, and AI choices drive business growth.

Brian Anderson

Harry Gillam

On the morning of Day Two, the Expo Live Stage starts with Brian Anderson and Harry Gillam from Taurus Motor Finance presenting “Taurus Finance – Achieving Growth Through Partnerships”. They will share how Taurus Finance has achieved growth through sustainable partnerships and teach how relationship-based lending can maximise results whilst ensuring longevity for all within the automotive industry.

Damien Chadwick

Damian Chadwick of Sovereign Insurance Australia follows to explore “Quoting Insurance in the Modern Dealership”. Mr Chadwick will outline how quoting insurance products can enhance transparency, improve customer experience, and create stronger value for both dealers and customers. He will showcase the systems and processes Sovereign has developed to support a seamless, compliant, and scalable approach to insurance in the dealership environment.

Dobek Bociarski

Next, Dobek Bociarski from GoTo Connect addresses “Stop Missing Calls. Start Capturing Revenue” to demonstrate how GoTo Connect for Auto helps dealerships eliminate communication gaps, convert more enquiries, and improve service retention.

Jeff Norris

Jeff Norris of Blink Systems rounds out the session presenting “Moving Cars, Moving Forward: Making Transport a Dealership Competitive Advantage”. He will explore how greater visibility across vehicle transport, reduces delays, lowers costs, and improves cash flow.

Read more:

Workshops examine critical business issues 

AADA Convention approaches