Illawarra's top networking events for October-November 2025
Essential dates, venues & contact details for the region's key business groups
Check out our curated guide of the top business networking events in the Illawarra for October and November 2025.
These are the dates you don’t want to miss. But if we have overlooked your special event, don’t be shy - get in touch. Email janine@pulseillawarra.com.au
And don’t stop at the diary either, keep scrolling for all the details of the key networking groups in the Illawarra.
Dates for your diary
Wednesday, October 8: BNI Seacliff Business Networking’s weekly event. At Novotel Wollongong Northbeach from 6.45am-8.30am. Details here
Friday, October 17: Illawarra Women in Business networking lunch at The Vue Room, Wollongong Golf Club, 151 -161 Corrimal Street Wollongong. The Foye Legal-sponsored event includes a panel discussion between local award-winning businesswomen. Starts at noon, finishes 2.15pm. More details
Saturday, October 18: Illawarra Festival of Architecture & Design presents a Celebration of Colour, Light & Wellbeing — Wombarra House Tour & Talk. From 11am-12.30pm. More here
Sunday, October 19: Illawarra Festival of Architecture & Design presents Panel Talks. From noon -5pm at UOW’s Sustainable Buildings Research Centre, Squires Way, North Wollongong. Ticket details here
October 22: Wollongong Women: Lunch & Learn at Hotel TOTTO Wollongong from noon-2pm. Guest Speaker is Samantha from The Good Numbers. More details here
Wednesday, October 22: Business Illawarra presents Business After Hours, supported by HowSafe. From 5pm-7pm at Novotel Wollongong Northbeach. Tickets here
Thursday, October 23: Business Illawarra presents the latest in The Up & Coming Lunch Leadership Series. This session, led by Carey McIntyre, explores how fearless collaboration can transform leadership, culture and outcomes in organisations. From noon-2pm at The Grange, Princes Highway. More here
Wednesday, October 29: Mentor Walks Wollongong. An hour walk and talk mentoring session and networking opportunity in Wollongong for women. From 6.30am-7.45am. Details here
Thursday, October 30: UOW’s Networking Untapped. At First Light Brewing, Building D/30 Miller St, Coniston, from 5.30pm-7.30pm. An employability networking event by WUPA and the Careers and Employability Team. More here
Friday, October 31: The Talk2mebro Cup Wollongong at Wollongong Golf Club. Supported by Team O’Connor, The Agency, it’s the perfect opportunity to spend a day on the course while backing mental health and suicide prevention. Registration at 7.30am. All the details here
Friday, October 31: Illawarra Indigenous Business Expo at the Novotel Wollongong North Beach from 11am-2pm. Find over 60 Indigenous businesses showcasing their products, services, and expertise. More here
Friday, October 31: Wollongong Community Disability Expo at Wests Illawarra, Unanderra. From 10am - 1pm. Designed to connect people living with disabilities, their families, guardians, support workers and disability providers. More info here
Wednesday, November 5: Dapto Jobs Drive, presented by Illawarra South Coast Local Jobs Program. From 10am-2pm at the Dapto Ribbonwood Centre. More details
Friday, November 7: Boss Woman Breakfast at Shellharbour’s Georgia Rose hosted by Wollongong. Women. From 9am-10.30am. More here
Sunday, November 9: TechWalking - Wollongong is a networking event for tech professionals. Meet any The Boathouse North Wollongong, 1A Cliff Rd and walk 4km to Flagstaff Point Lighthouse and back. Starts at 9.30am sharp. More details
Friday, November 14: 2025 International Men’s Day Lunch by Healthier Illawarra Men. From 11.30am-3.30pm at University Hall, University of Wollongong. Dubbed ‘An Audience with Lord Ian Botham’, tickets for the lunch, which includes Karl Stefanovic and men’s health advocate Gus Worland. Tickets here (maybe)
Saturday, November 15: The University of Wollongong’s 50th Birthday Party. An unforgettable day filled with live music, delicious food, vibrant market stalls, and fun activities for all ages. It’s free but there’s a chance to win something here.
Tuesday, November 18: i3net, in partnership with BAE Systems Australia, deliver the Navigating Defence workshop to equip participants with the expertise needed to navigate the more complex aspects of supplying to the defence sector. The Wollongong event goes from 11am-5pm. More details here
Thursday, November 20: iAccelerate presents Test Your Business Idea Wollongong. From 9.30am-1.30pm. An engaging, hands-on workshop designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage founders evaluate and validate their business concepts. More here
Thursday, November 23: Business Illawarra presents the latest in The Up & Coming Lunch Leadership Series. From noon-2pm at The Grange, Princes Highway.
Friday, November 28: IWIB Lunch with Jelena Dokic. Former world number 4 tennis player, Jelena Dokic, embodies resilience and triumph. Details here.
1. Business Illawarra
As the region’s peak business organisation, Business Illawarra supports over 27,000 businesses across the Illawarra-Shoalhaven, South Coast, and Capital regions. They offer a comprehensive events program, including networking, educational, and executive-level events, connecting members with key decision-makers and providing valuable insights. More on Business Illawarra here
2. i3net (Illawarra Innovative Industry Network)
i3net is a network of advanced manufacturers and industrial innovators in the Illawarra. They host events like the Industry Breakfast, providing opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing, and exploring real work opportunities. More on i3nethere
3. Illawarra Women in Business (IWIB)
IWIB is a vibrant network dedicated to supporting and connecting women in business. They host regular networking lunches, coffee clubs, and an annual Businesswomen’s Awards, providing a platform for collaboration and professional growth. More on IWIB here
4. The Illawarra Connection
This exclusive organisation brings together business and community leaders to foster connections, inspire collaboration, and drive innovation in the region. They also partner with RDA Illawarra and the Sydney Business School to deliver the Leadership Illawarra Program. Read more about the Illawarra Connection here.
5. Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce (NICC)
NICC supports local businesses in the northern Illawarra region through events like business breakfasts and networking evenings, fostering community building and collaboration among professionals. More in the NICC here