YEAQ Executive Breakfast 2026

The 2026 YEAQ Executive Breakfast is a flagship annual event that brings together emerging engineers and industry executives for a morning of insight, connection and leadership exchange. Designed to foster meaningful cross-generational dialogue, the event explores the big ideas shaping the future of the engineering profession.   This year’s theme, Engineering Tomorrow, focuses on the technologies and industry shifts redefining the engineering profession. From AI and automation to the energy transition and advanced manufacturing, these trends are rapidly reshaping industries and creating new opportunities across the sector. For young engineers, this represents one of the most significant periods of career opportunity and industry transformation the profession has seen in decades.   The event will explore where the industry is heading, which sectors are evolving fastest, and what engineers can do today to stay ahead. Attendees will gain practical insights from industry leaders, expand their professional network and leave better equipped to position themselves for the next wave of engineering innovation.

Learning outcomes

Understand which industries and technologies are creating the biggest engineering opportunities in Australia over the next decade.

Gain insight into Australia’s engineering skills gap and the opportunity this creates for the next generation of engineers.

Learn how emerging technologies are reshaping the skills, roles, and career pathways engineers will need to succeed.

Hear directly from industry leaders on implementing new technologies, navigating disruption, and shaping the future of engineering.

Walk away with practical ideas and actionable ways to use emerging tools and technologies to accelerate your career and stay ahead of industry change.

Build connections with executives who have navigated pivotal career inflection points and are willing to share what they have learned and feel motivated to foster these connections post the event.

Program timeline

​6.30 am AEST: Registration and networking ​

6.45 am AEST: Seating guests

7.00 am AEST: Welcome address

7.05 am AEST: Keynote from Chief Engineer of Engineers Australia, Katherine Richards AM CSC

7.20 am AEST: Breakfast served

​7.40 am AEST: Overview of panel discussion

7.45 am AEST: Panel discussion

8.25 am AEST: Lucky door prize

​8.30 am AEST: Networking and photography

​9.00 am AEST: Event ends

Pay it Forward

The Pay It Forward initiative returns in 2026, giving attendees, supporters and organisations the chance to purchase a ticket for a future engineer. Sponsors can nominate someone within their network or allow Engineers Australia to gift the ticket to an aspiring participant. 

This initiative strengthens community impact and opens doors for emerging engineers to benefit from the inspiration and opportunities that YEAQ Executive Breakfast Provides.

Group bookings

Group bookings are welcome; however, in keeping with the networking focus of this event, seating will be allocated at random to encourage engagement with a diverse range of attendees. As such, group members will not be seated together