For more than a decade, AV1 has been proud to support the Sohn Hearts & Minds Conference - an event that brings together some of the brightest minds in investment, business and philanthropy to raise funds for Australian medical research.
This year will mark our 11th year of working together, a partnership that has taken us to some of Australia’s most iconic venues, including the Adelaide Festival Centre, Federation Concert Hall and the Sydney Opera House. We are looking forward to continuing that journey when we reunite with the Sohn Hearts & Minds team in Queenstown later this year.
Rob Carlton on stage at the 2026 Sohn Hearts & Minds Conference at Sydney Opera House by Katje Ford
Since 2016, the conference and its unique listed investment company, Hearts and Minds Investments Limited (HM1), have donated more than A$90.5 million to medical research, establishing the organisation as one of Australia’s leading corporate philanthropists.
We spoke to Brianna Miller, Executive Producer at Sohn Hearts & Minds, about the journey through the years, and how AV1 and Sohn Hearts & Minds have made it work for over a decade.
Delegate networking at the 2026 Sohn Hearts & Minds Conference at Sydney Opera House by Katje Ford
What has enabled the partnership between Sohn Hearts & Minds and AV1 to remain strong over the past 11 years?
Communication and trust. Working with AV1 is like having them on your internal team, they are an extension of our core values and are just as passionate (if not more) about kicking every one of our goals. We brief AV1 the minute we have a date in mind for our annual events, well before we've even thought about stage designs or aligned our program, because it gives them time to be proactive in their approach to the audio visual of the event.
In what ways has AV1 made the planning and delivery of the conference easier for your team?
They have a solution to every problem and are very approachable and calm under pressure. It's been great to expand our partnership, for in the last two years we have also had AV1 manage our ancillary events, where we might be contracted to work with an in-house venue AV supplier.
Having them lead has made it so much easier for us and has enhanced the overall experience of the events. We also don't always have time for rehearsals, but even when we do, we still plan a show run-through about a week in advance where we go over every cue and discuss show moments for the stage. This ensures a seamless experience on the day.
How has AV1’s familiarity with the event helped reduce pressure, save time or anticipate challenges?
We never need to start from scratch. We can draw on past experiences and learn from the successes and challenges of previous events to build better experiences year on year. The quality expectation is extremely high for these events, and by having that intimate knowledge from past events, and to draw on what has and hasn't worked in the past, is how we have been able to continue to exceed these expectations.
Hoodoo Gurus performing at the 2026 Sohn Hearts & Minds Conference at Sydney Opera House by Katje Ford
Can you share an example of when AV1 helped solve a complex technical, logistical or operational challenge?
When we're in Sydney, we're usually at the Opera House, working with another resident company's schedule of prominent shows. This means bump-in and bump-out time is highly restricted. AV1 are always well prepared and brief their team perfectly, enabling us to be out of the theatre right on time, which has kept the partnership with the venue and resident company strong. As a charity, these partnerships are critical and at the heart of how we are able to run our events successfully - so it's a non-negotiable to have the best team representing us behind the scenes and off stage too, and why we work with the AV1 team.
How has AV1 contributed to the experience of speakers, partners and attendees across different venues and locations?
They provide feedback on our speaker briefing packs and help ensure they're informative enough to give speakers comfort. They've also been wonderful with last-minute challenges, for example, if a speaker makes a last-minute change to their slides, AV1 accommodate this on the event day while remaining incredibly calm. Again, the experience we've built at the Opera House with bumping out on time is a good example of how strong that partnership has remained. At every venue we've worked at, even with existing in-house AV crews, AV1 are respectful and professional in working alongside them to ensure event delivery is always at its best.
As we look ahead, what are you most excited about continuing to achieve together with AV1?
Every year, our events lift the bar higher and higher. AV1 are always coming up with proactive ideas, despite a swarm of challenges in the lead up to, and on the day. Rich, Tommy and the crew are so friendly, they're an absolute pleasure to work with, and we couldn't imagine doing it with anyone else. This year marks our first international event, which brings even more unknowns and challenges! But knowing Rich and Tommy are leading the charge again gives us real confidence. We know it's going to be the best one yet.
Ready to partner with AV1? Get in touch.