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emerging leaders in multinationals summit 2025

14 May 2025
8am - 5:30pm
allianz stadium, sydney
sold out
Australia's only summit exclusively designed to supercharge CEOs & emerging leaders in foreign-owned companies. Secure your tickets today!
book now
12% of executives say their organisations have a strong leadership bench*
6% of organisations feel that they are "very ready" to develop their global leaders*
83% of global leaders say they feel they are unprepared to step up*

the opportunity

Developing and retaining top talent is a key challenge for multinational leaders. Many emerging leaders have the potential to step up but need the skills, mindset, and network to navigate the complexities of senior leadership in a global environment.

ELM 2025 is an opportunity to fast-track leadership growth, well-being, and career success. This year, we'll unpack the science of high performance with elite athletes, top CEOs, and leadership experts.

why

Strong leadership pipelines don’t build themselves. CEOs need leaders who can navigate complexity and drive results, while emerging leaders need the right opportunities to step up. Recognising, rewarding, retaining, and developing top talent is key to sustaining high performance in multinationals.

what

ELM is a high-impact, full-day summit featuring world-class thought leaders, multinational CEOs, and peer-driven learning. Designed to develop leadership capability and confidence, it equips leaders with the insights, skills, and networks to excel in global organisations.

who

For emerging leaders one or two levels below the country leadership team looking to accelerate their growth and build their network. For CEOs and senior leaders seeking to connect at a deeper level with top talent, strengthening engagement, retention, and leadership succession

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theme

Today’s emerging multinational leaders face relentless pressure, rapid change, and high expectations. Just as elite athletes train for sustained excellence, global leaders must master energy, resilience, and adaptability to perform at their best. ELM 2025 will explore what it takes to lead like a corporate athlete - optimising energy, making high-stakes decisions, and sustaining long-term success. And what better backdrop than Allianz Stadium?

  • master the energy & mindset of high performers

    Learn how top leaders and elite athletes manage focus, resilience, and recovery to sustain peak performance.

  • make smarter decisions under pressure

    Gain insights into how CEOs and global leaders navigate uncertainty, high-stakes choices, and complex challenges.

  • lead like a coach, not a commander

    Discover how the best leaders empower, develop, and inspire their teams for long-term success.

partners

A big thank you to our valued summit partners for supporting this year’s ELM summit. Interested in partnering with us? Explore partnership opportunities in the FAQ below.

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headline speakers

World-class executives, leadership experts, and top athletes. Learn directly from proven leaders who have excelled in high-performance environments. These speakers bring real-world experience, practical insights, and strategies to help you lead with impact.

Steve Vamos
TOUCH
Steve Vamos Former CEO of Xero, Microsoft Aus, & Apple APAC

With over 40 years of leadership experience, TEDx speaker, & author of Through Shifts and Shocks, Steve shares leadership lessons from transforming organisations & working alongside Steve Jobs & Bill Gates. He offers insights on innovation, growth, & purpose-driven leadership in times of change.

Read full bio
Steve Vamos Former CEO of Xero, Microsoft Aus, & Apple APAC
Cynthia Scott
TOUCH
Cynthia Scott Group CEO & Managing Director of Zip CoCynthia leads Zip’s financial performance & strategy across ANZ & the US. Previously, she was Group Executive International & New Business at Telstra and CEO of Barclays Australia/New Zealand. With extensive experience in strategy, business development, and global leadership, Cynthia brings deep insights into high-performance leadership and transformation.Read full bio
Cynthia Scott Group CEO & Managing Director of Zip Co
Andrew May
TOUCH
Andrew May Speaker, Author, Performance Coach, Researcher, PodcasterA high-performance and mental resilience expert, Andrew May has worked with elite athletes, CEOs, and teams for over 20 years. He is the Mental Skills Coach for the Manly Sea Eagles and former Physical Performance Manager for the Australian Cricket Team. Andrew is also the author of MatchFit and a regular contributor on ABC News Breakfast.Read full bio
Andrew May Speaker, Author, Performance Coach, Researcher, Podcaster
Chelsea Pottenger
TOUCH
Chelsea Pottenger Founder of EQ Minds, author, a leading authority on mental health
Chelsea has worked with some of the world’s most recognised brands, Google, Johnson and Johnson & CBA, helping teams enhance their well-being & performance. Combining science-backed research with personal storytelling, she delivers practical tools that empower individuals to build a positive, high-performance mindset.
Read full bio
Chelsea Pottenger Founder of EQ Minds, author, a leading authority on mental health
Matt Hall
TOUCH
Matt Hall Red Bull Air Race World Champion, Former Top Gun Fighter PilotMatt Hall is a Red Bull Air Race World Champion, former Top Gun fighter pilot, and decorated combat veteran. From flying F-15s over Iraq to winning on the world stage, he brings powerful lessons from environments where the margin for error is zero. At ELM, he’ll share high-stakes stories and practical tools to help leaders stay focused, resilient, and ready to perform under pressure.
Read full bio
Matt Hall Red Bull Air Race World Champion, Former Top Gun Fighter Pilot

masterclass access

As part of their ticket, emerging leaders who attend the summit will gain exclusive access to four post-summit masterclasses with global thought leaders, designed to accelerate career growth. These interactive sessions offer the chance to learn, engage, and ask questions, driving real impact beyond the summit. 

Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez
Zeynep Ton
Eduardo Briceño
Henrik Bresman

the investment

Don’t sit on the sideline. It’s time to get in the game.
Choose your path below: solo transformation or team-level momentum.

solo growth

$2,590+GST pp
1 x summit ticket
Individual growth
High-impact networking
Exclusive insights, resources & recordings
Access to 4 x masterclasses for emerging leaders (post-summit)
Deeper connection between CEO & team
Reserved table for enhanced team engagement
Stronger team alignment & collaboration
Bigger savings with a bundled table price
secure your seat

team acceleration

$2,190+GST pp (save $400 pp)*
8 x summit tickets
Team growth & development
High-impact networking
Exclusive insights, resources & recordings
Access to 4 x masterclasses for emerging leaders (post-summit)
Deeper connection between CEO and team
Reserved table for enhanced team engagement
Stronger team alignment & collaboration
Bigger savings with a bundled table price
*Total table investment is $17,520+GST. Saving based on standard individual seat pricing. Don’t wait – you can confirm your team closer to the Summit.
secure your table

attendees

Leaders from 50+ global multinationals will be joining this year. Will you be there to connect and learn with them?

agenda

A one-day opportunity to fast-track learning with a content rich program delivered by top class speakers.

Dani Matthews

Co-Founder at Abundium

leading for sustainable high performance

  • What is a corporate athlete, and why is this so relevant to multinationals?
  • Why the rules of multinational leadership are changing exponentially.
  • Who is winning in today’s global business landscape?

Chelsea Pottenger

Founder of EQ Minds, author & leading authority on mental health

mastering the inner game of multinational leadership

  • The role of mindfulness in high performance.
  • Top tips to address the unique challenges facing leaders in multinationals.
  • How to manage overwhelm, avoid burnout, and amplify impact.

Panel

Geetha Srinivasa, Vice President & Market Head ANZ, Ecolab
Liz Selby, Country Lead & Head of Pharma ANZ, Sanofi
Chris Parsons, Global Partner, Q5
Áine McKay, Global Chief Product Officer, AutogenAI
 

current leaders in multinationals

  • What these leaders wish they knew when they were emerging as multinational leaders.
  • The best and worst of being a country or regional leader in a multinational.
  • The most critical capabilities for a great career in multinationals today.

Matt Hall

Red Bull Air Race World Champion & Former Top Gun Fighter Pilot 
Interviewed by Dani Matthews

top gun strategies for multinational success

  • How to keep your sh#t together at the speed of sound.
  • Making smart and fast decisions under fire.
  • How top guns think and behave differently.

Steve Vamos

Former CEO of Xero, Microsoft Aus & Apple APAC
 

making change your superpower

  • How to lead when the future is increasingly uncertain.
  • Where most leaders get it wrong, and how to stand out.
  • Insights from icons – Jobs, Gates, Ballmer, Nadella, and Packer.

Cynthia Scott

Group CEO & Managing Director, Zip Co, Former Barclays CEO ANZ, Foxtel Chair, Strategy & BD at Scentre
Interviewed by Rich Hirst

global ceo success secrets

  • Lessons learned climbing the multinational corporate ladder.
  • The career pros and cons of foreign (versus locally) owned enterprises.
  • What a global CEO wants from emerging leaders today.

Andrew May

Founder of Performance Intelligence, Speaker, Author, Performance Coach 

the multinational corporate athlete

  • Lessons from world-class sporting teams for emerging leaders.
  • How to develop ‘performance intelligence’ for a sustainable multinational career.
  • The critical role of recovery and how the best corporate athletes prioritise it.

Rich Hirst

CEO & Co-Founder, Abundium 

your next two moves

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testimonials

"High calibre inspiring speakers with actionable insights & relevance to our local, regional, & global use cases."
Kate GoodenCountry Manager, Amazon Alexa Australia & New Zealand
"Great speakers, electric energy and fantastic networking."
Brooke HeikkinenHR Business Partner, E2E Supply Chain, Pan Pacific, Colgate-Palmolive
"Great capability building, inspiring and shareable content."
Michael PuglisiCountry Manager ANZ, Perfetti Van Melle
"Had me engaged, intrigued and captivated throughout the entire summit."
Stephen TrioSenior Digital Service Delivery Manager, Serco

benefits

inspiration & learning
Be inspired by world-class executives, leadership experts, and top athletes, including Andrew May, Steve Vamos, and Cynthia Scott, gaining insights on high performance and leadership excellence.
practical & tactical
Walk away with actionable strategies to develop yourself and others, strengthening your organisation’s leadership pipeline and future readiness.
deepening relationships
Build stronger connections with current and emerging leaders in your organisation, including your CEO, fostering ongoing collaboration and growth.
new connections
Expand your network with leaders from other multinational organisations, creating opportunities to exchange ideas and explore new business relationships.
broader perspective
Gaining a broader perspective, feeling recognised by your company, and leaving recharged and energised to lead in 2025 and beyond.

frequently asked questions

We're here to help. Can't find the answer to your question? Get in touch here.

Who can attend ELM 2025?

CEOs, c-suite execs and emerging leaders one or two levels below the local (ANZ)  country leadership team of a foreign owned company.   
I don't work for a multinational, can I attend ELM 2025? To ensure all those attending get a true peer experience, you must work for the local operation (ANZ) of a foreign owned multinational company. 
What defines an ‘emerging leader’?

An ‘Emerging Leader’ is someone who sits below the country leadership team. They have great potential and are key talent to their organisation. 
How should my company choose who attends? We suggest you select one or two people from each of your functions to attend ELM based on those that have expressed their desire to move up
to join the country executive team. This approach promotes cross functional collaboration and relationship building, which is key to the future success as a country leader.
How does ELM 2025 compliment our inhouse programs? ELM provides emerging leaders in multinationals with access to insights & experiences of global thought leaders, multinational CEOs, & peers
outside their company and industry. This diversity of thought & wisdom is key in a rapidly changing world where the solutions to organisational challenges do not always exist within the walls of the company.
What if I only want to come to a few sessions?

ELM is designed as a full day experience, so we encourage you to attend the whole day, however if you need to miss a session that is at your discretion. Tickets are for the full day only. Tickets for individual sessions are not available.  
Will there be an ELM online offering in 2025?

ELM 2025 is a live in person experience to promote knowledge sharing and network building. Attendees will also be invited to join Abundium's digital community platform called Abundihub, enabling them before, during and after the Summit to connect with each other, share content, and access resources including recordings of each session from anywhere at any time on their device.
How can I apply to be an ELM 2025 Partner? We’re so glad you asked! We have 3 partnership tiers available, click here to learn more and email events@abundium.com to sign up.
How can my company or I apply to speak at ELM 2025? You can get in touch with us at events@abundium.com 
Can I get my ticket refunded? We don’t want your ticket to go to waste so emerging leader tickets are transferable to anyone of your choosing as long as they meet the attendee criteria (see ‘who can attend’). Refunds for this event are not available. 
How are you addressing and representing First Nations people at the event?

Abundium acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land where the event will take place. 

We are working to ensure the event recognises and respectfully upholds inclusive cultural protocols. Our program is still being developed and will offer a diverse range of topics, people, and ideas. 
How long has ELM been running for? ELM was an initiative conceived and launched in 2013 by Rich Hirst when he was a Director of the CEO Forum Group. Well over 2,000 people have participated in ELM since then. In 2020 Rich founded Abundium, a knowledge network for the local leaders of foreign owned organisations. The ELM program was relaunched in 2023 for a new audience of emerging leaders. 
How can I learn more about Abundium? The Abundium website is your first stop for information on why we exist, who we are and what we do. Check out this page footer to sign-up for our newsletters. For additional content and highlights, find us on Linkedin and use '@abundium' to mention us. Our event hashtag is #abundiumelm.
Data references: 12% of executives say their organisations have a strong leadership bench (DDI 2023) | 6% feel that they are "very ready" to develop their global leaders (Deloitte 2015) | 83% of global leaders feel unprepared to step up (McKinsey)