Your essential guide to the Illawarra’s top networking events for May-June 2026
The dates you can't afford to miss
Check out our curated guide of the top business networking events in the Illawarra for May and June 2026.
These are the dates you don’t want to miss. But if we have overlooked your special event, put us right - get in touch. Please email gayle@pulseillawarra.com.au or janine@pulseillawarra.com.au
June’s a bit light on, but keep coming back, we’ll update it.
And don’t stop at the diary either, keep scrolling for all the details of the key networking groups in the Illawarra.
May
Wednesday, May 6: UOW has organised What’s Brewing? Career Conversations at Five Barrel Brewing, 318 Keira Street, Wollongong, 6pm-8pm. Tickets are $5 and include a drink on arrival, food, and the opportunity to chat with industry leaders about everything from work/life balance, interview tips and the impacts of AI. More details: alumni@uow.edu.au. Registration by Tuesday, May 5, essential. Do it here
Wednesday, May 6: Invite-only to Business Illawarra’s CEO Connect Dinner at the Harbourfront Restaurant.
Thursday, May 7: 2026 UOW STEM Careers Expo, 10am-1pm, at Wollongong Campus Unihall. This event is open to students in the Faculties of Engineering and Information Sciences and Science. Register to attend here
Friday, May 8: Illawarra Aged Care Investment & Development Workshop at iAccelerate, Squires Way, North Wollongong, from 9am-1.30pm. RDA Illawarra Shoalhaven invites you to a practical, solutions-focused workshop designed to unlock new aged care development across the region. Free. Register here
Tuesday, May 12: Age Care Symposium at Shellharbour Civic Centre, 10.30am-3.30pm. The Community Industry Group brings together in‑home aged care and community organisations from the Illawarra, Inner Sydney, Western Sydney, and the Central Coast. Includes a local presentation from Kathy Eagar AM. Details here.
Friday, May 15: Business Illawarra hosts a Federal budget and Future Economy Briefing at The Grange, 10 Kembla Grange Pl, Kembla Grange, from 8am-noon. The budget and the housing lens: Implications for the Illawarra, South Coast and Southern Highlands, with keynote speaker, housing market analyst Eliza Owen. Tickets here
Tuesday, May 19: Screen Illawarra presents its first Screen Guilds Showcase, from 6pm at Headlands Hotel, Austinmer. Free for members and non-members. RSVP essential. Do that here here. It’s a chance for guild and education representatives to connect directly with regional practitioners.
Wednesday, May 20: Courageous Conversations with Nicki Bowman, thanks to Community Industry Group, 9.30am-12.30pm, at Wollongong Salvos, 13 Burelli St. Participants will learn to build the skills and confidence to navigate tough conversations with staff, clients, clients’ families and other stakeholders. Tickets: $50 members, $100 non-members. Book here
Thursday, May 21: Wollongong Industry Roundtable - Transport Supply Chain Industries by Industry Skills Australia, 8am-10.30am, at Business Illawarra, 6-8 Regent St, Wollongong. These sessions will provide an opportunity to share your perspectives on workforce pressures, emerging issues, and the practical solutions that can support a stronger, more resilient transport supply chain workforce. Bookings essential
Thursday, May 21: Kiama Business Network’s next business connect event is at The Lodge, Jamberoo, 5pm-7.30pm. Members free, guests $25. Tickets on sale soon
Friday, May 22: Illawarra Women in Business Coffee Club at The Yallah Woolshed, 601 Princes Hwy, Yallah, 9.30am-11.30am. A relaxed and informal environment – networking over a cuppa. Members $12, non-members $20. Book here
Monday, May 25: Career Accelerator Day, free, 10am-noon at Wollongong Salvos, 13 Burelli St, Wollongong. Connect with industry professionals, hand your resume directly to employers, ask questions, and grow your network. More details
Wednesday, May 27: Visitor Economy Symposium 2026, organised by Destination Sydney Surrounds South, at Kiama Pavilion, 8.30am-4.30pm. Among the features of the day Rob Pennicott from Pennicott Wilderness Journeys shares how he took his business to the global stage, and the practical lessons that helped him get there. Tickets $30, available here
Thursday,May 28: An event by iAccelerate - Fueling Growth: Opportunities for Illawarra Business & Start-Ups, noon-2pm, at iAccelerate, 239 Squires Way, Wollongong. Join Monique Donaldson from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, and Rob Little from AusIndustry for a focused 30-minute briefing on the advisory services and support pathways available to businesses looking to innovate, scale, and commercialise. More details available here. Spots are limited.
JUNE
Tuesday, June 2: Cereal Entrepreneurs, hosted by iAccelerate at Squires Way, North Wollongong, from 7am-8.30am-ish. Grab some brekkie, meet like minded doers and lock in for an hour of power to move forward on your startup or project. Places limited, register here
Wednesday, June 3: Port Kembla Hydrogen Hub brings the National Electric Aviation Summit to Albion Park, 9am-4pm, free. Held at Aviation Museum Australian (aka HARS) you’ll join industry leaders, innovators, policymakers and investors. Reserve your place here
Thursday, June 4: The Property Council of NSW hosts From Fields to Precincts | Building Vibrant Sports & Entertainment Destinations at WIN Entertainment Centre, noon-2pm. Special guest speaker is St George-Illawarra CEO Tim Watsford. Tickets $140 member, $210 non-member. Details here
Thursday, June 11: Head to iAccelerate for the June tour and information session, noon-1pm, free, at the Innovation Campus, Squires Way, North Wollongong. If you’re starting or scaling a business? Join iAccelerate to fast track your success. Register here
Friday, June 12: Illawarra Women in Business networking lunch, at Centro CBD, 28 Stewart St, Wollongong, noon-2.15pm. Members $80, non-members $99. The panel includes Steph Pase, Orlane Mortime, and Bianca Hunt. Book here
Thursday, June 18: Colliers Wollongong will host its 2026 Wollongong Apartment Report at a breakfast event. The presentation will predict the performance of Illawarra apartments over the next five years. Contact leanne.connor@collierswgong.com.au for details.
Friday, June 19: The Cancer Council welcome back Stars of Wollongong in 2026 for their 11th Annual Community Gala Event, 6.30pm-10.30pm, WIN Entertainment Centre. Tickets here
Wednesday, June 14: Business Illawarra’s Business After Hours, 5pm-7pm. More details to come
Wednesday, June 24.: Test Your Business Idea Wollongong, by iAcclerate at Squires Way, Wollongong, 9:30am-11:30am. A workshop designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage founders evaluate and validate their business concepts. spaces are limited. Book here
Thursday, June 26: Friends of Industry networking event, at the Illawarra Hotel, 5.30pm-9pm, free. Whether you’re a seasoned industry veteran or just starting out, this event is perfect for making new connections and fostering existing relationships.
Looking for a network?
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