Global Experts at International Talent Identification and Development Conference 2026
World leading coaches, researchers, practitioners, and athletes are set to come together in Canberra and Brisbane to explore the cutting edge of finding and developing the next generation of sporting stars.
World leading coaches, researchers, practitioners, and athletes are set to come together in Canberra and Brisbane to explore the cutting edge of finding and developing the next generation of sporting stars.
Centred on the theme of ‘Best Practice – Next Practice’, the International Talent Identification and Development Conference is co-hosted by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) and delivered over four days from May 4-5 and May 8-9.
Almost 300 delegates from 14 nations will discover insights from athletes including dual sport legend Ellyse Perry and Olympic silver medallist Jaclyn Narracott, and an extensive line-up of Australian and global experts and field leaders.
AIS Director Matti Clements said that talent identification and development was one of the fastest evolving and most competitive areas in all of sport.
“Every sport is looking to find that hidden gem that might be the next champion, which makes talent ID a hotbed of innovation and research,” Clements said.
“This event brings together some of the brightest minds when it comes to identifying and developing high performance talent, along with world-level athletes who will bring some unparalleled insights into their own journey.”
Key themes of the event include:
- Global perspectives: Insights from international talent models and developmental trajectories in different cultural contexts.
- Athlete wellbeing: Integrating wellbeing and engagement metrics into the talent identification process to ensure sustainable careers.
- Inclusion and diversity: Critical discussions on the expansion of Para sport talent identification and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement in sports pathways.
- Real-time insights: Lessons learned from Australian talent ID programs leading up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The conference will feature unmissable keynote addresses and presentations and create practical, future focused conversations that seek to deepen the understanding of talent ID and development, and how to blend the ‘intangibles’ of talent scouting with cutting-edge data and technology.
The program features an extensive line-up of experts and field leaders from Australia, alongside specialists from international institutes and universities in Japan, Canada, Spain, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.