The Volunteering NSW State Conference is the primary forum in NSW where leaders and practitioners come together to build knowledge, leadership and best practice in volunteering.
The Conference has been developed for volunteer coordinators and managers in the not-for-profit and community sectors, bringing together experts, academics and industry leaders to allow delegates the opportunity to advance their knowledge, develop skills and grow their networks.
About the 2026 Volunteering NSW State Conference
The theme for this year’s conference, to be held on Monday 25 May is:
Leadership that Transforms Communities
Key focus areas are:
- Empowerment & Capacity Building
- Innovation & Adaptability
- Inclusive Leadership for Diverse Communities
The conference will explore how to best manage the significant challenges we face, to build knowledge, leadership and best practice in volunteering.
Regional Hybrid Conferences (Broken Hill, Griffith or Tamworth)
Register to attend the 2026 Volunteering NSW State Conference at these regional centres – either Broken Hill, Griffith or Tamworth.
Keynote Speakers
Shaun Christie-David – Keynote Speaker
As the Founder & CEO of Plate It Forward, Shaun has built a hospitality group that fosters economic and social inclusion for marginalised communities through comprehensive training, employment opportunities, and career development. He owns four vibrant restaurants—Colombo Social, Kyiv Social, Kabul Social, and Kolkata Social—where he employs refugees, immigrants, and underrepresented individuals, totalling over 250 staff, with 80% being migrant women.
During COVID, Shaun launched a meal donation program that now feeds over 3,000 people weekly, donating 650,000 meals to combat food insecurity across Sydney and the globe, to date.
His focus on employment training has empowered his team, generating $5.6 million in wages that have been redirected from social benefits, and breaking cycles of disadvantage.
He shows how one meal or one job can transform lives, proving that impact starts with an open heart.
Shaun was featured on ABC’s Australian Story.
Click to watch on iview:
Daniel Murray – Keynote Speaker
Across our workplaces, communities and volunteer organisations, leaders are facing greater complexity, higher expectations and increasingly interrelated challenges. In this powerful keynote, Daniel Murray explores how transformational leaders go beyond the everyday management realm to lift capability, foster innovation and build inclusive environments where people feel empowered and committed to contribute their best.
Daniel unpacks the core pillars of community-focused leadership:
• Empowerment & Capacity Building – enabling people to grow their capability, confidence and ownership.
• Innovation & Adaptability – helping teams navigate uncertainty with creativity, curiosity and resilience.
• Inclusive Leadership for Diverse Communities – building cultures where every voice is heard, valued and fuels collective success.
With compelling real-world examples and practical frameworks, Daniel challenges leaders to rethink how they mobilise their people, strengthen community bonds and create environments where purpose and performance thrive. You’ll walk away inspired and equipped to lead in ways that transform not just your organisation, but the communities you serve.
Watch Daniel outline his conference session.
2026 Volunteering NSW State Conference Sponsors
