Exploring possible futures for Australia’s maritime sector.
📅 Friday, 18 September 2026 at the Sydney Showground, NSW, Australia
Only 4 weeks to go!
About the Event
MERC’s Discover Maritime Futures is a half-day conference focusing on how boat design, maritime infrastructure, and vessel crews will be impacted in the future by maritime electrification.
The keynote address from Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker, the Managing Director of the Maritime Battery Forum, will highlight the latest global developments in marine electrification and maritime battery technology, bringing insights from the global maritime battery community to audiences in Sydney.
Three expert panels will then explore the issues of:
Future Boats
Future Wharves
Future Crew
The conference will help answer questions such as:
How do you make sense of an electric future?
What does a wharf look like when we electrify?
What do your crew need to know to run electric?
Can an electric vessel handle open seas?
Key Features
The event will be held at the Sydney Showground on 18 September 2026 alongside the Everything Electric Sydney show.
Earlybird tickets $195 (inc GST) - before 31st July
General admission tickets $275 (inc GST)
Attendees will also receive a free 3-day pass to the Everything Electric Show (value $60).
Date/Time
18 September 2026
8:00 - 13:30
Location
Everything Electric Sydney
Sydney Showground
1 Showground Road
Sydney Olympic Park
NSW 2127
Program
8:00 - 8:30
Registration
Delegates will get early access to the Everything Electric Sydney venue to register for the event, pickup your name badge and get a coffee.
8:30 - 8:35
Welcome - Conference Begins
Kickoff of the formal event proceedings.
8:35 - 8:55
Australian Government Address
Welcome remarks from an Australian Government representative.
8:55 - 9:15
Keynote
A keynote from Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker, the Managing Director of the Maritime Battery Forum, who will be travelling to Sydney from their office in the Netherlands.
This session offers attendees a strategic reading of the maritime electrification landscape - where the market stands today, and how the next phase of growth is likely to unfold, and how industry leaders should prepare as battery technologies mature and expectations shift.
9:15 - 10:15
Future Boats - Panel
Presentations from a panel of expert speakers on the future of boat design in the era of maritime electrification.
Paul Bury, Director, Bury Design
Fiona Bycroft, CEO, Naut
10:15 - 10:30
Morning Tea
10:30 - 10:35
Sponsor Intro
Some brief remarks from one of our event sponsors.
10:35 - 11:35
Future Wharves - Panel
Presentations from a panel of expert speakers on the future of marine infrastructure that supports maritime electrification.
Oliver Davey, Senior Engineer, Arup
Voltron Dwyer, Head of Impact, Hullbot
Liz Yeaman, Managing Director ANZ, CharIn e.V.
11:35 - 11:40
Sponsor Intro
Some brief remarks from one of our event sponsors.
11:40 - 12:25
Future Crew - Panel
Presentations from a panel of expert speakers on the future of crew training and recruitment for businesses embracing maritime electrification.
Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker, Managing Director, Maritime Battery Forum
Adam Chanter, Director, Marine Futures
12:25 - 12:30
Close - Wrapup
Some brief remarks from one of our event sponsors.
12:30 - 13:30
Networking Lunch
A light networking lunch will be put on for delegates.