Wednesday 18 February 2026 | Wembley Golf Course - Ambrose Estate
Independents Day 2026
Independents Day is your annual opportunity to refocus, refresh, and reignite your business journey
Get ready for a powerful day dedicated to Western Australia’s independent commercial communications community.
Join your peers for a day of:
Inspiration from proven business leaders from WA
Interactive, hands-on workshops with industry experts
Meaningful connection and collaboration with fellow independents
Kickstart the year with fresh insights, practical strategies, and the mindset to make 2026 your strongest year yet.
Keynote: Dr Marcus Tan
Built. Broken. Reborn. The Leadership Lessons You Only Learn the Hard Way
Every founder dreams of building something extraordinary, until the moment it all begins to unravel.
In this candid and deeply human keynote, Dr Marcus Tan, founder and former CEO of one of Australia’s most recognised health-tech companies, shares what it really takes to lead through crisis, complexity, and change.
From rapid growth and headline success to moments of real adversity, Marcus explores how values, culture, and character define leadership when control slips away. With raw honesty and hard-won wisdom, he offers a rare look at what it means to rebuild trust, rediscover purpose, and emerge stronger as a company, and as a leader.
This is not a story about failure; it’s a story about becoming the kind of leader who can rise again.
“Kill The Company” Workshop
Facilitated by Taryn Marcus - Reinvention Academy Australia, powered by Modern People
An immersive, in-person workshop designed to challenge assumptions, spark creativity, and build reinvention capability.
Through provocative exercises and collaborative problem-solving, participants will explore the hidden forces that cause even strong companies to stagnate, and uncover new ways to drive adaptability, innovation, and sustained relevance.
Walk away with fresh perspectives, actionable reinvention opportunities, and a renewed sense of leadership agility to future-proof your organisation.
In Conversation with Marty Cunningham
Director of Special Projects at the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport (CITS).
Moderated by Meri Fatin
Join us for an in-depth conversation with Marty Cunningham, Director of Special Projects at the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport (CITS). In this session, Marty will share insights into the Department’s current initiatives, explore how CITS supports innovation and sustainability across Western Australia’s creative sectors, and provide context around how independents can engage with government programs and opportunities.
Guiding the discussion is Meri Fatin, respected journalist, interviewer, and founder of WA Climate Leaders, who will bring her trademark curiosity to unpack the inner workings and ambitions of the Department.
This closing session promises to be both practical and thought-provoking. Offering rare access to the processes and people shaping the future of Western Australia’s creative industries.
Food, Coffee & Connection
Your ticket includes morning tea, light refreshments, coffee, and lunch, all served in the beautiful surrounds of Ambrose Estate at Wembley Golf Course.
After The Program
After the program concludes at 3:00PM, you’re invited to stay on for beverages and further connection! the perfect opportunity to continue conversations, build new relationships, and celebrate the strength of WA’s independent community.