Richard White Confirmed as Keynote Speaker at 2026 Consensus Awards
Richard White - Wisetech Global Founder Announced as 2026 Consensus Awards Keynote Speaker
WiseTech Global co-founder Richard White will return to the Consensus Awards stage this November, more than 22 years after his company was recognised by the independent Australian innovation awards program.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — 29 September 2026: Richard White, co-founder of Australian technology success story WiseTech Global, has been confirmed as keynote speaker for the 2026 Consensus Awards and 25th Anniversary Gala, to be held at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney on Wednesday, 11 November.
White will also be recognised with a Consensus Platinum Founders Award, a special 25th anniversary honour celebrating founders behind outstanding Consensus alumni companies.
His return represents a remarkable full-circle moment for one of Australia’s longest-running independent innovation awards programs.
WiseTech was recognised as a Consensus Software Awards winner in 2004, years before the company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2016.
Founded by White and Maree Isaacs in 1994, WiseTech grew from an Australian software business writing code for freight forwarders into an international logistics technology company, with its CargoWise platform used throughout the global logistics industry.
White has previously credited the Consensus Awards with playing a role in the company’s early journey.
“We entered to validate our technology against the knowledge of a large number of industry expert judges and to ensure we were on track in terms of our offering to the market, our go-to-market strategy and our marketing material,” White said of the company’s Consensus experience.
“Winning an Award opened doors for us around the world and put us on a steep growth path.”
Consensus Awards founder Julian Day said White’s return captures exactly what the organisation’s 25th anniversary is intended to celebrate.
“Consensus was established to identify exceptional innovation and commercial potential before that success was obvious to everybody else,” Day said.
“Richard and WiseTech are an extraordinary example of what Australian innovation can become on the world stage.
“To have Richard return, not as an emerging technology founder seeking independent validation but as the founder of one of Australia’s great global technology success stories, is an incredibly fitting way to celebrate 25 years of Consensus.
“It also sends a powerful message to the founders being recognised in 2026: every globally successful company starts somewhere.”
The anniversary comes as Consensus reflects on a quarter-century of identifying Australian and New Zealand businesses that have subsequently achieved significant commercial success.
Since its establishment in 2000, Consensus has conducted more than 1,200 independent evaluations and recognised more than 200 winners, with alumni including some of Australia’s best-known technology success stories.
The 2026 event will bring together previous Consensus winners, this year’s finalists and winners, founders, investors, judges, technology leaders and members of Australia’s innovation community.
Alongside White’s keynote address and Platinum Founders recognition, the evening will feature the presentation of the 2026 Consensus Awards, special recognition of individuals and companies that have shaped the program’s 25-year history, and the launch of the next chapter of Consensus.
For White, the purpose of returning to the event is also firmly focused on the founders coming behind him.
“The purpose of the Consensus Awards is to inspire local tech entrepreneurs to achieve their goals,” White said.
The Consensus Awards 2026 and 25th Anniversary Gala will be held at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney on Wednesday, 11 November 2026.
Tickets are available now.
EVENT DETAILS
Consensus Awards 2026 & 25th Anniversary Gala
Wednesday, 11 November 2026
6.00pm – 11.30pm
The Fullerton Hotel Sydney
Cocktail / Black Tie Optional