About
Regulatory scrutiny is intensifying, transactions are increasingly contested, and the outlook for M&A in Australia and globally is shifting.
The M&A Conference 2026 is the destination for dealmaking conversations in Australia – three days built for the people shaping today’s transactions.
Now in its ninth year, the conference is hosted by Allens, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and Mallesons, in partnership with the Australian Financial Review, and brings together Australia’s most influential dealmakers, business leaders, bankers and advisers. The program blends virtual sessions with exclusive in-person events in Sydney and Perth, offering a rare opportunity to hear directly, and candidly, from the people running the deals defining the M&A market.
This year’s program dives into the regulatory agenda and global M&A dynamics are shaping transactions. It features a live recording of the AFR’s Chanticleer podcast, taking stock of merger reform one year on – how the ACCC is shaping the strategy, timing and execution of Australian dealmaking.
Across investment banking, corporates, private equity and regulation, the conference is designed to move past the headlines and into the detail that actually determines how deals get done.
The Program
The M&A Conference 2026 brings together some of Australia’s most influential dealmakers, business leaders, bankers and advisers for three days of insight, analysis and connection.
Now in its ninth year, the program blends headline virtual sessions with invitation only experiences in Sydney and Perth. Expect candid conversations, behind-the-scenes deal insights and live Q&As with leaders across investment banking, boards and regulation.
Session 1
MONDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2026
Join Charles Ashton, Partner, Allens, and Nicole Pedler, Partner, HSF Kramer, for an exclusive conversation with Anu Aiyengar, Global Chair of Investment Banking, J.P.Morgan, exploring the global forces shaping the future of M&A. Drawing on her unique perspective at the intersection of global capital, markets and corporate activity, Anu will share her insights on the outlook for global dealmaking, the emergence of new sources of capital, and the structural trends influencing investment and transaction activity around the world.
The discussion will examine how sovereign investors, private credit and alternative capital providers are reshaping the M&A landscape, alongside the impact of geopolitical change, economic security, demographic shifts and technology-led transformation. The session will also explore where capital is being deployed today, from AI and digital infrastructure to energy, critical minerals and supply chain resilience, before considering what these developments mean for Australian and broader APAC M&A opportunities in the years ahead.
LED BY:
Charles Ashton, Partner, Allens
Nicole Pedler, Partner, HSF Kramer
With Special Guests:
Anu Aiyengar
Global Chair of Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan
Session 2
MONDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2026
Conversation with special guest Sarah Court, ASIC Chair
Join James Thomson, Senior Chanticleer Columnist at The Australian Financial Review, for an exclusive fireside chat with ASIC Chair, Sarah Court. Drawing on her experience as both Deputy Chair and Chair, Sarah will discuss the regulatory and market developments shaping Australia’s corporate and M&A landscape, including public and private markets, market integrity, and ASIC’s approach to supporting growth, innovation, and investor confidence. The conversation will provide valuable insights for boards, investors, advisers, and dealmakers navigating an increasingly complex environment.
LED BY: James Thomson, Senior Chanticleer Columnist, AFR
With Special Guests:
Sarah Court
ASIC Chair
Session 3
MONDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2026
What’s really happening in M&A? The deals you see and the deals you don’t
Australia’s M&A market is proving more active than the headlines suggest. Drawing on what corporate M&A lawyers are seeing behind the scenes, this session delves into how dealmakers are navigating the new ACCC merger reforms, what’s driving and stalling PE exits, the use of ‘best and final’ statements and other deal tactics, and the emerging divide between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ between traditional software and AI or digital infrastructure. Hear firsthand insights from those advising on the deals you see and the ones you don’t.
Join M&A partners from leading law firms Allens, HSF Kramer and Mallesons for a live recording of the AFR’s Chanticleer podcast, hosted by Anthony Macdonald and James Thomson, as they unpack the forces driving Australian dealmaking in 2026.
LED BY: James Thomson and Anthony Macdonald, AFR Chanticleer Columnists
SPEAKERS:
- Elise Blume, Partner, Allens
- Jason Jordan, Partner, HSF Kramer
- Anthony Boogert, Partner, Mallesons
Donate
Help us support a great cause
A key objective of the conference is the support the Black Dog Institute and we are proud of our fundraising efforts.
The Black Dog Institute is a global leader in mental health research, and the only medical research institute in Australia to investigate mental health across the lifespan. Today their focus has expanded to address new challenges and opportunities in mental health with a focus on suicide prevention, digital mental health, workplace mental health, new treatments, lived experience and youth mental health.
Join us in supporting the Black Dog Institute. Together, we can contribute to a mentally healthier world.
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Experience the energy of our past in-person conferences. These snapshots filled with dynamic discussions and vibrant interactions, are a testament to our history.
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Don’t miss out on your opportunity to hear from lead dealmakers from Australian and international shores unpacking global trends and local implications shaping the market in these power-packed webinars.
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