CEO Summit 2025

Faces and logos have been blurred to maintain anonymity as per our non-disclosure agreement with this client.

As a key part of their strategy, this investment firm needs to maintain their reputation as a leading source of capital, but also support, knowledge and community for startup founders in Australia and New Zealand. This reputation bolsters their position as a preferred venture capital partner, and is a key factor in some of Australia’s most successful new companies partnering with our client.

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The Brief

The client came to us with three major pain points…

1. Their previous event partner was chaotic to work with, mainly through communication, consistency, and a lack of transparency on pricing
2. They would need help raising the bar on 2023’s event, as that trip was rated extremely high (NPS 92.8)
3. Their team was understaffed, and required considerable assistance with logistics, guest RSVP management and overall project delivery

In late 2023, the CEO Summit took around 100 guests to Hayman Island for 3 days of content and networking. We dove into the feedback from that trip, and in partnership with our client (who is not from an events background), built a brief that we could work towards.

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Based on the feedback, and as the destination would dictate so much of the programming - we built a simple brief…

• Provide a unique, money-can’t buy experience for the group that would excite and inspire
• Enable vulnerability and authentic connections throughout the program
• Achieve this through a balance of content, activities, networking and down-time
• Travel no more than 3 hours outside of Sydney

Our remit included…

• End-end project management, from destination evaluation to programming and post-event debriefing
• Support on delegate communications and RSVP management, flights and accommodation
• Managing group flights and accommodation
• Managing transport, logistics, venues and suppliers
• On the ground delivery

We made the most of the significant lead time, evaluating 9 destinations with many key stakeholders within the business to finally settle on Queenstown.

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The Work

While it would provide the perfect backdrop to this experience, Queenstown does have it’s challenges from a programming perspective. Our flights arrived late on day 1, but not late enough to check in directly- plus- the groups from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland all arrived at various times throughout. Not only that, you lose 3 hours as you head back-in-time on the way there!

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So, it took us a while to massage the program into the following…

Day one: 

• Arrival welcome party at the Hilton Queenstown by the water, hosting 1 part of the group for an hour while rooms were prepared
• 1.5 hours at leisure to refresh and recuperate
• Offsite evening content session and welcome dinner at Ayrburn, a stunning new venue in Queenstown

Day two:

• A last-minute pivot in programming due to weather saw us change the order of the program on day zero
• A morning of content at Cargo Brew Hall - transforming the blank space into a lodge-style keynote theatre for sessions featuring speakers from Google and some of Australia’s unicorns
• Heading to Moak Lake for a remote group hike, enhanced with groupings and curated discussions to foster connection and vulnerability
• 1.5 hours at leisure
• Offsite dinner at AJ Hackett Bungy featuring Bungy Roulette, Apres Ski vibes and a very late night!

Day three:

• Jet boats from the Hilton Pier to Queenstown City
• Recovery breakfast and wellness session at the QT Hotel
• Transfers to the airport or personal extensions

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The Outcome

We’ll let the guest feedback speak for itself…

Average overall score = 9.58 / 10.

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“Speakers. Activities. Honestly probably because the event is so well set up, just the wave of positive energy it creates.”

“Time talking with great founders and XXXXX team over drinks / dinner / runs / walks – I can’t think of anything to change, it was perfect.”

“The pace allowed for authentic networking and learning to take place, at no time did the experience feel forced or manufactured. Struggling to come up with a single suggestion. The Team nailed this event from start to finish.”

“Honestly, I enjoyed just having tonnes of opportunities for meaningful conversations.”

"Can't think of anything I'd change. It was perfect!”

"This event set a high benchmark for all to come! Good job to the team that prepped and executed it!"

"You guys really nailed it - I’d take any feedback as tweaking something that was already REALLY good."

"Thanks team - I know is a big lift but think it creates a huge amount of value so thank-you!"

"Seamless experience.. truly.. which is never easy to achieve.. and most valued, just one big flow.. thank you very much for making a unique and founder centric community.. very energising and connective."

"This was fantastic, honestly exceeded expectations. Can't wait til the next one."

"Just an amazing 3 days. It was perfect timing for me. XXXXX and team have done an outstanding job. For the first time in a long time I felt looked after and that the team really cared! XXXXX closing words were very special."

"Really well organised - I and everyone I met felt special and that XXXXX cared about them. This is unique in our market and I am sure this strengthens relationships and the ecosystem as a whole."

"A massive thanks to all who made it happen. It was incredibly well run, which meant at least the planning portion of my brain could actually switch off. Thanks again!!"

"You guys rock. Best one of these kind of events I've been to. Thanks again."