Fields and Fortunes 2026 was the Shire of Gnowangerup’s third annual business forum.
This one-day event brought together local business leaders to network and learn from a program of top-quality speakers across various fields of technology.
Project cost
$16,725
The Shire of Gnowangerup contributed $11,000, with the remaining $5,725 covered through ticket sales and a grant from the Great Southern Development Commission.
Project timeframe
The forum took around 4 months to plan and organise.
What was the problem or opportunity being addressed?
The Fields and Fortunes business forum event was originally created in direct response to feedback from the local business community, asking for an opportunity to network and share best practice. The Shire of Gnowangerup is a rural area with a high representation of agricultural and manufacturing businesses, and the strong message from these businesses was to focus this year’s event on the theme of ‘technology’. In particular, the promises and risks of AI were a significant gap in the local industry’s knowledge.
How the project addressed the problem or opportunity
Held under the guiding theme “Smart Business, Strong Communities” – the Fields and Fortunes Regional business forum focused on different aspects of technology such as green tech solutions, connectivity, creative technology, automation and robotics, cyber-security and artificial intelligence. Local consultation was undertaken to ensure best timing of the event around key farming peaks of activity. The forum was timed towards the end of February after harvest was finished but before seeding began.
The Shire welcomed over 100 business leaders, changemakers, and industry professionals from Gnowangerup and surrounding regions. Attendees engaged in a full day of thought-provoking content – featuring dynamic keynote speakers, interactive panels, and valuable networking opportunities.
A bespoke visual identity, including an event logo and brand suite, was developed to promote the forum across print and digital channels. In addition to social media, website stories, and direct emails, early promotion enabled awareness to spread by word-of-mouth – a key avenue for awareness in regional areas.
Ten local businesses and service providers hosted trade booths, giving attendees a chance to engage directly with operators, share knowledge, and discover opportunities that support local enterprise and community development.
A post-event survey was sent to all attendees, gaining insights into what they liked, feedback on timing, suggested themes for future events, and other information to inform future improvements.
Project outcomes
One hundred people attended, and survey results demonstrated extremely positive feedback about the topics, quality of speakers, and usefulness of content.
The Fields and Fortunes Business Forum facilitated valuable connections across agriculture, tourism, trades, and community services – fostering partnerships that will strengthen the region’s resilience and prosperity.
Attendees went away with a much greater appreciation of what AI can do to help them in their business and even in their personal lives, but also a stronger understanding of the need for cybersecurity to mitigate the associated risks.
This event has given the Shire a platform to host more regular business networking events, and indications from the business community are that they would be interested in exploring the creation of a Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Lessons learnt
- Introducing a ticket price in 2026 did not materially affect attendance and generated valuable revenue to help support the event.
- Trade booths were ticketed for the first time, likely contributing to fewer exhibitors; however, the reduced number (10 booths) allowed them to be located within the main reception area, increasing visibility and engagement compared to the previous year.
- Changes based on prior feedback, including shorter speaker sessions with more Q&A and moving the event from Friday to Thursday, resulted in stronger engagement and improved retention throughout the day.
- A shortage of short‑stay accommodation limited the region’s ability to maximise visitation benefits, particularly for interstate and external speakers.
- Early planning proved essential, enabling diaries to be secured well in advance and supporting more effective promotion and word‑of‑mouth.
