New Sydney Catalyst conference backs MSP peer lessons

A consortium of Australian channel organisations has launched Catalyst, a new conference for managed service providers, IT service providers and IT leaders. The event will debut in Sydney, with all ticket sales donated to charity.

The organisers are Evergreen, Hosted Network, One Little Seed, SherpaTech, Morphability, Xeneth, ISO365 and dijitalteam. They describe Catalyst as a peer-led forum focused on operational lessons from MSP founders and industry specialists, rather than vendor presentations.

Ben Town, chief executive of Hosted Network and a spokesperson for the event, said the format is designed to fill a gap left by established industry gatherings.

"MSPs get a lot of data thrown at them at the big conferences, but not enough actionable takeaways," Town said. "Catalyst flips that. It gives MSPs the voice, not the vendors. It's peer-to-peer, it's relatable, and it's built around real stories of what's actually working in the field."

The speaker line-up includes Daniel Butt, director at Danet Technology; Alex Kerti, corporate and strategic partnership manager at Emergence Insurance; Louie Kouvelas, managing director at Infocomm Software; Natalia Scheidegger, chief executive at 3rdmil; Mark McLean, managing director at Quorum; Andrew Morrell, managing director at niss.au; Milan Rajkovic, founder and chief executive at Otto IT; Natalie Brown, chief financial officer at Medem; and Clinton Shiels, technical director at A1 Technologies.

Drew Arthursen, chief operating officer of the Sydney Swans, will deliver the keynote on cultural multipliers and the idea that collective progress can lift standards across a sector.

Practical focus

The agenda will address issues many small and mid-sized IT services firms face as they grow. Topics include reducing dependence on a founder, offshoring, the role of MSPs in 2026 and cyber insurance claims after a breach.

Jason Maricchiolo, managing director of ISO365 and a Catalyst spokesperson, said the organisers want the programme to be useful across the IT services market.

"It's about giving attendees something practical. Clear thinking, honest conversations, and ideas they can take straight back into their business," Maricchiolo said. "While primarily focusing on MSPs, the event is aimed at anyone building, running, or scaling an IT services business."

The event reflects a broader trend in the Australian technology channel, where managed service providers are seeking more discussion of business operations, staffing, customer retention and risk management alongside supplier product updates. In recent years, MSPs have had to respond to tighter cyber security requirements, more complex client demands and pressure on margins, driving stronger interest in peer networks and operational advice.

No sales pitches

Kristal Jamieson, founder of One Little Seed, said the organisers intend to keep the content focused on customer experience and shared lessons from across the sector.

"It's a big no to product demos, vendor-led content, and sales pitches. Many MSPs are dealing with the same challenges - and going it alone," Jamieson said. "Recognising that we're all in the same boat, Catalyst will create a space for our community to openly share their experiences to the benefit of all."

That positioning sets Catalyst apart from many channel events, which are often sponsored and shaped by software, hardware or cyber security vendors. Instead, the organisers are presenting it as a forum for direct discussion between operators facing similar management and growth challenges.

Charity element

All ticket revenue will go to Plate It Forward, a charity that provides meals for people in need and creates employment opportunities for those facing barriers to work. The organisers said 100 per cent of ticket sales will be donated.

The conference will be held at the Sydney Swans headquarters at the Royal Hall of Industries in Moore Park. The venue links the programme to the keynote's focus on culture and team performance as business priorities for the technology services sector.

Catalyst enters a market where MSPs have become a larger part of the technology economy, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses that outsource infrastructure, cyber security, support and cloud management. As competition increases, many providers are reassessing how to differentiate themselves and scale without weakening service quality.

Against that backdrop, the organisers are betting that frank peer discussion will resonate with a sector increasingly focused on execution. As Town put it: "It's peer-to-peer, it's relatable, and it's built around real stories of what's actually working in the field."