Inspire. Innovate. Lead. Shaping the Future of Young Entrepreneurs

Sunshine Coast Council is proud to partner with Telstra and Study Sunshine Coast to deliver the Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Masterclass Series

The Masterclass Series aims to engage students in targeted masterclasses led by industry experts, covering essential topics such as leadership, critical & creative thinking and connection to industry.

All Year 8 to 10 Sunshine Coast students are invited to participate in the 2026 Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Masterclass Series

Masterclass One – Future Entrepreneurial Leaders

Hosted by Lachie Smart and closing remarks by Mayor Natoli.

📅 Wednesday, 29th April 2026
📍 Altitude Nine | Sunshine Coast City Hall | South Sea Islander Way, Maroochydore
🕣 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Lunch and Morning Tea Provided

The Future Leaders Workshop is a leadership development experience designed to inspire and guide students in discovering their unique leadership style. The day will be centered around the VESPA framework, a structured approach to helping emerging entrepreneurial leaders develop the mindset and skills they need to succeed.

This exclusive masterclass will be developed and delivered by Lachie Smart, a world record-setting pilot and youth keynote speaker, who at just 18 years old became the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe solo by aircraft. Lachie’s journey is a testament to resilience, innovation, and leadership—qualities he will instill in the students participating in this masterclass.

As this event is limited to 100 students, we encourage all interested students to register interest below to be reminded when the applications open on 17th February 2026. Our panel will carefully select participants based on their enthusiasm, commitment, and genuine interest in this opportunity.

To assist with planning, key dates:

🔹 Expression of Interest: Register today!
🔹 Applications Open: Tuesday 17th February 2026
🔹 Applications Close: Monday 16th March 2026
🔹 Successful Participants Announced: Wednesday 18th March 2026
🔹 Masterclass: Wednesday 29th April 2026

This is a unique opportunity for students in grades 8 to 10 to engage with industry experts, develop their leadership capabilities, and be inspired to think big about their futures. There will be Telstra prizes, goodie bags, and a certificate of attendance for participants.

Register your interest!

Masterclass Two – Future Leaders: IMPACT

📅 Wednesday, 22nd July 2026
📍 Altitude Nine | Sunshine Coast City Hall | South Sea Islander Way, Maroochydore
🕣 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Lunch and Morning Tea Provided

The second workshop in the Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Masterclass Series builds on the foundations of entrepreneurial leadership and turns the focus toward practical influence. Future Leaders: IMPACT is designed to help students understand how their decisions, behaviours and ideas create momentum in teams, communities and emerging ventures. Using the VESPA framework as the backbone, students will deepen their skills in purposeful action, problem framing and communication, guided by real-world insights that translate directly into future study and career pathways.

Led by Lachie Smart, with closing remarks from Mayor Natoli, this session gives Year 8 to 10 students a structured space to test their thinking, strengthen their confidence and apply leadership principles to challenges that matter to them. It is a focused, practical day intended to shift students from learning about leadership to actively shaping the impact they want to make.

reGISTER YOUR INTEREST

Partners

The Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Masterclass Series 2026 are proudly brought to you by:

Sunshine Coast Council’s Economic Development Branch is managing these masterclass series.  This project directly aligns with one of the five critical pathways identified in the Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS) 2013-2033, namely; Investment in Talent and Skills. The Sunshine Coast Council is committed to achieving the economic, social and environmental goals detailed in the REDS, and this project will be another step towards achieving those goals.

In addition, the Knowledge and Professional Services Industry and Investment Plan further highlights the need for all encompassing digital education and connectivity, as well as focusing on collaboration as a key driver in creating the new knowledge-based economy.

Telstra are a world class technology company and Australia’s largest mobile network, providing users with mobile phones, internet plans and packages, home phones & more. The Sunshine Coast Telstra Innovation Masterclass Series builds on Council’s and Telstra’s ambitions for the future and encourages students in our region to start thinking today about the possibilities of tomorrow.

Study Sunshine Coast (SSC), established since 2016, is the official study cluster for the Sunshine Coast region and is supported and funded by Sunshine Coast Council and Trade & Investment Queensland through Study Queensland. SSC plays an important role in supporting the student journey including positioning the Sunshine Coast as a leading Australian study destination for both domestic and international students. SSC also works closely with industry and our education providers to attract, develop and retain talent to support the growth and vision for the region.

Key focus areas:

  • Destination promotion
  • Enhancing the student experience
  • Industry engagement and collaboration to support students

Questions? Get in Touch with Us

For all enquiries related to the Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Masterclass Series 2026, please submit via the form.

Having trouble submitting?

Email hello@studysunshinecoast.com.au for assistance.

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