At Saxton Live Sydney 2026, one idea came through clearly: there is no substitute for seeing a speaker live.
For event organisers, that matters more than ever. On the day of an event, the people responsible for bringing it all together are usually behind the scenes managing run sheets, speakers, suppliers and last-minute changes. They are not always in the room long enough to fully experience the impact a speaker is having on their audience. Saxton Live gives them that opportunity.
More than a preview
One of the most valuable parts of Saxton Live is that it gives clients a real sense of what a speaker can do in the room.
A profile, showreel or topic summary can only tell you so much. What event organisers really need to know is how a speaker connects, how they hold attention, how their ideas land and how their energy fits the kind of experience they want to create.
That came through strongly in the feedback from the day. Attendees spoke about how useful it was to see short excerpts from each speaker and start imagining where they could fit across different types of events and objectives.
That is exactly the point. A live showcase does not just help clients decide whether they like a speaker. It helps them picture where that speaker fits, whether as a keynote, a facilitator, a host, or part of a broader event experience.
A room full of ideas about what comes next and the sessions that stayed with people
This year’s Sydney event gave attendees the chance to experience a lineup that explored some of the biggest questions facing organisations right now, especially around future-proofing, leadership, communication and the impact of AI.
Several attendees commented that the format felt fresh and energetic. It may not be every audience’s default style, but in the room it helped keep complex ideas accessible, light and moving.
That kind of response is useful because it reflects the reality of event planning. Clients are not just choosing topics. They are choosing formats, personalities and ways of engaging an audience.
Katja Forbes challenged the room to think differently about AI and what is already unfolding around us. Her presentation did more than inform. It shifted perspective.
Attendees described her ideas as mind-opening, particularly because she spoke about technology that is already in use and the mindset shifts that come with it. That sense of being stretched, surprised and made to think differently is one of the clearest signs of a strong event experience.
Osher Günsberg brought a different kind of impact. For many in the room, his message about speaking up and finding courage in a single breath was one of the most memorable moments of the afternoon.
It is a good reminder that the moments people carry with them are not always the biggest or loudest ones. Often they are the ideas delivered with clarity, warmth and perfect timing.
Matt Formston’s session landed with similar strength, particularly around trust and resilience. Guests responded to the way his talk balanced future-focused thinking with a message that felt timeless, especially the idea that staying relevant sometimes means letting go of old skills as much as building new one.
Curating the full event experience
Another strong takeaway from the day was the importance of curating an experience, not just booking a speaker to fill a slot.
Today’s audiences expect more from events. They want relevance, connection and ideas that stay with them after they leave the room. The right speaker can do far more than deliver a polished keynote. They can set the tone, open up new thinking, reinforce strategy and create moments that shape how the whole event is remembered.
That came through clearly in attendee feedback. People spoke about the role speakers can play across the full event experience, not just in a headline session, but in helping create something more cohesive and more meaningful for the audience.
This is one of the reasons we continue to believe in high-touch, live experiences like Saxton Live. They help event organisers make better decisions because they can feel a speaker’s stage presence, style and impact firsthand.
Just as importantly, the day created space for industry connection. Attendees spoke about the value of being in the room with peers, experiencing the speakers together and getting a personal sense of how each speaker’s presence might translate to their own event.
What we took away
If there was one message that stayed with us after Saxton Live Sydney 2026, it is this: the right speaker does more than deliver content; they help shape the entire experience of an event.
Seeing that live gives organisers a level of confidence and clarity that is hard to get any other way. If you are planning an event and want to think more intentionally about the role a speaker can play, we would love to help you find the right fit.
