• “Not just gaming”: Defining esports as a specific phenomenon
• The evolution and impact of esports in the global economy
• How Australia is travelling in the global esports revolution?
• Outlining the ecosystem:
o Who are the main stakeholders?
o Which publishers are involved?
o How are leagues, tournaments and events being run?

• Determining which industries have the best opportunity in esports
• Pinpointing where your investment will have the greatest impact:
o Live events
o Teams
o Broadcasting/streaming
• What esports organisations and investors need to do to work together
• The crucial role of social media and influencers in esports success

• Navigating the most successful formats for live events
• Determining optimal numbers for both attendance and live streams
• Selecting the best game for live spectating
• Engaging the audience without typecasting

• Who is ovo and what is our strategy as telco / OTT broadcaster?
• Our sports portfolio and how we are leveraging AI to drive fan engagement
• Why we invested in esports, results so far and what we expect in the future

• Why are brands so interested in esports?
• What brand activations are succeeding in esports?
• How can brands target their consumers within esports?
• What metrics are available for brand investment in esports?

Nathan Reay, Group Executive: Head of M&A, Strategy & Partnerships, Nova Entertainment
Russ Prendergast, Head of Brand, LG Australia
Darryn Wallace, Director of Marketing and Innovation: Dairy and Drinks, Lion

• Breaking down current and future revenue models for esports investment
• Understanding the costs involved in esports investment and scaling appropriately
• Ensuring a sustainable investment by understanding esports orgs and the people who run them
• What can orgs and investors do to mitigate the risks of esports investment?

• What have been the biggest challenges to date?
• How do you manage player reputation in an anonymous environment?
• What are the best strategies for retaining talent?
• How are you managing changing expectations in player salaries?
• Does increased investment change your organisation, its people and its values?
• What does the next 5 years hold?

Chris Derrick, Chief Executive Officer, Order Esports
Frank Li, Chief Executive Officer, Chiefs Esports
Nash Hawnt, Chief Executive Officer, Justice Esports
Wesley Collier, CEO, AVANT Gaming *PENDING CONFIRMATION*

• An overview of the current governance landscape
• What an appropriate and accountable governance framework would look like
• The role of publishers in esports governance
• Ensuring a central esports body reaches all stakeholders

• How traditional sports organisations can bring value to esports
• Which organisations are best placed to expand into esports:
o Clubs
o Leagues
o Broadcast partners
• Applying a traditional sports operating model to a completely new market

• Capitalising on an endemic presence in the gaming landscape
• Working with the publisher to realise an expansion into esports
• Applying the principles of traditional sports management to esports

• What have we learned so far?
• Are traditional sports looking at opportunities in esports?
• How should traditional sports change the message to engage a new audience?
• Is there a lack of credibility in traditional sports running competitions in unrelated games?
• Does traditional sports’ player/tournament/competition/gameday experience matter?
• Could esports pose a risk for brand integrity?

Darren Birch, GM Growth, Digital and Audience, AFL
Danny Townsend, Chief Executive Officer, Sydney FC
Dominic Remond, Chief Executive Officer, Gfinity Esports

• Lessons learned from the event
• Next steps beyond proof of concept:
o Growing attendance
o Boosting engagement
• Leveraging existing corporate partnerships to grow further investment
• Understanding crucial differences in game day logistics

• Building a grassroots esports engagement model
• Why the Adelaide Crows invested in school programs
• Takeaways from launching the High School E-Sports League
• Building a sustainable growth model for grassroots esports

• Quantifying the value-add of an esports program for the university:
o Recruitment
o Retention
o Student engagement and performance
o Career pathways and industry links
• Running an esports team in a university environment
• The case for esports business programs in Australian universities

• Why esports are good for students:
o Teamwork, strategy, communication
o Participation and inclusion
• Forming teams and running school tournaments
• Forging partnerships with esports organisations to add greater value
• Ensuring a safe environment for students in esports

• The female representation paradox:
o Why don’t the strong viewing numbers match up with athlete representation?
o Does gender stereotyping have a role?
o Do the publishers need to take action?
• Driving a safe space for athletes and casual gamers
• Widening the demographic to include more diverse cultures and age groups

• How to build from grassroots and grow existing communities
• Providing genuine pathways for players, production staff and volunteers
• The key opportunity in esports for sponsors today with home grown live events
• Connecting with global leagues and bringing international opportunities to ANZ

Commercialising esports: Opportunities and strategies for investment
The hype around esports is massive, and with hype comes opportunity. Australian organisations from various industries are already exploiting opportunities in esports, some with greater success than others. Crucial to this success is a sound and practical strategy, realistic expectations, viable partnerships and cracking the elusive youth demographic. This interactive workshop will give you the tools to do it.

This workshop will cover:
• Overview of the esports business landscape
• Navigating the opportunities for investment and return
• Developing a relevant and effective commercialisation strategy
• Cracking an elusive youth demographic
• Realistic timelines for the generation of a return

Workshop facilitator: Craig Green, Esports Consultant, 360 DMG

Esports will not grow in Australia without an expansion of leagues, tournaments and teams. Regardless of scope, form grassroots community and education initiatives to major professional competitions, all programs need to start somewhere. This workshop will show you what you need to do when setting up an esports program.
This workshop will cover:
• The benefits of esports programs for players and communities
• Games, formats, tournaments and leagues
• Privacy, consent, and safely engaging with players on the Internet
• Navigating intellectual property concerns with game publishers
• Commercialising your esports program
• Social media, streaming and engagement strategies to grow your program

Workshop facilitator: Paul Taylor, STEAM Teacher, Hazel Glen College