FOR THE
LOVE
OF ____
The Global Impact Summit is coming to Sydney on August 5–6, 2026, bringing together leaders, creators, philanthropists, and changemakers for two days of bold ideas, meaningful connection, and real-world impact.
This year’s theme, For the Love Of ___, is a celebration of what drives us — the causes, communities, and futures we’re committed to building together.
Hosted across Sydney’s most iconic cultural venues — the State Theatre and Walsh Bay Arts Precinct — the Summit will feature inspiring keynote speakers, thought-provoking sessions, and unforgettable moments designed to reimagine what generosity can look like today.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the inaugural Global Impact Summit.
Keynote Speakers 2026
Daniel Flynn
Co-Founder, Thank you.
Daniel Flynn is the co-founder and Managing Director of one of Australia’s most successful start-ups, Thankyou. At 19, driven by a vision to change the world we live in, he co-founded the social enterprise which is now globally recognised for its innovation, disruption, and impact. Daniel’s journey as a founder is marked by grit and unconventionality, pioneering Thankyou to redefine ‘business as usual’, and change the world we live in, forever. To date,
Thankyou has given over $19.34 million to impact partners in the fight against global poverty.
Sam Weidenhofer (@itssozer)
Creator Economy, Entrepreneur & Mental Health Activist.
Samuel Weidenhofer is content creator and mental health activist who is on a mission to prove that kindness, when acted upon, can change lives. From raising $2 million to retire an 88-year-old veteran to creating life-changing moments for terminally ill children, Sam has turned simple acts of compassion into a global movement. In 2025 alone, he raised over $7 million, was named GoFundMe’s No.1 Social Impact Creator, and was featured in more than 200 media outlets worldwide.
With over 15 million followers, Sam continues to inspire action through his 7 Day Kindness Challenge and his growing We Are Kindr movement, empowering individuals, schools, and workplaces to choose kindness every day.
Because for Sam, kindness is not just something we feel. It is something we do. And when we do it together, it becomes unstoppable.
New Speakers Announced Weekly.
We’ve got several other speakers we can’t wait to tell you about and will be releasing speakers, programming and partner updates each week. Public tickets go on sale April 8th but you can register for early-access to an exclusive pre-sale below.
Your Hosts
Chris Sebastian
Artist, Winner of The Voice.
Chris Sebastian is an acclaimed Australian artist, songwriter, and storyteller whose music sits at the intersection of soul, faith, and lived experience. Known for his powerful vocals and deeply personal songwriting, Chris has built a career defined not just by talent, but by authenticity — using music as a vehicle for connection, healing, and hope.
As part of the Sebastian Foundation, Chris is actively engaged in supporting mental health initiatives and creating spaces for young people to feel seen, heard, and supported. His work extends beyond the stage, reflecting a belief that music has the power to reach people in ways few other mediums can.
As the House Band for the Global Impact Summit, Chris will help shape the emotional rhythm of the event — creating moments that move beyond conversation and into something felt. Because sometimes, the most powerful ideas aren’t just heard. They’re experienced.
Ashani Dante
Women’s Leadership Speaker & Brand Ambassador
A passionate thought leader, dynamic speaker, creator, visionary, and Founder of The Flourish Journey (previously known as Flourish Girl). With a background in pediatric speech pathology, she’s a powerful advocate for youth mental health, facilitation, and communication.
Over the past 9 years, Ashani has impacted 30,000+ teenage girls lives across 100+ schools through The Flourish Journey. Recognised among Australia’s 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian Australians, her mission is simple: “gifting people access to their own inner power and intuition.”
Ashani is also the co-host of Mamamia’s most popular self-development and mental health podcast, But Are You Happy?, where she brings raw honesty, humour, and heart to conversations that help women feel seen, understood, and empowered.
Beyond her work in the impact and charity space, Ashani empowers women to embrace their uniqueness and champions cultural diversity and inclusion.
As a renowned voice, she has collaborated with Sportsgirl, Lancôme, MECCA, T2, Endota (so much more!) to inspire positive change. Ashani Dante is a trailblazer, guiding women back to their authentic power and potential.
James Kozina
Philanthropy Leader & Relationship Strategist
A relationship-driven leader with over 20 years’ experience across the not-for-profit and education sectors, James brings a people-first approach to philanthropy, partnership building, and large-scale impact. His work centres on connecting individuals, ideas, and opportunities in ways that create meaningful, lasting outcomes.
With a background spanning creative direction and the design of large-scale events, James has a strong ability to shape experiences that bring people together with purpose. He is particularly focused on facilitating high-trust philanthropic relationships, helping align values, vision, and opportunity between donors, organisations, and communities.
Currently working within higher education, James supports research and innovation initiatives spanning areas such as climate solutions, robotics and AI, and medical technologies. His role sits at the intersection of emerging ideas and the people who can help bring them to life.
Register for access to our early-bird ticket sale.
We will be releasing an allocation of heavily discounted tickets for people registered to our exclusive pre-sale list. Simply put in your name and email address and stay tuned for details.
THE ICONIC
STATE THEATRE & WALSH BAY ART PRECINCT
