McConacon 2026: Thriving Through Change, Together

Stepping away from our everyday routines creates space to connect, learn and see challenges from a fresh perspective. On 14 October 2026, our McConachie Stedman teams travelled from our Toowoomba, Clayfield, Redcliffe and Kingaroy offices to the Porters Plainland Hotel function room for McConacon, our annual team conference.

This year’s theme, Thriving Through Change, reflected the changing environment we navigate alongside our clients. From legislative changes to incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into the way we work, adapting takes more than technical knowledge. It takes curiosity, clear communication and a willingness to keep learning. McConacon brought these ideas into focus, giving us time to learn from one another, strengthen our connections and reflect on how we can continue supporting our clients with care and integrity.

Finding courage in moments of change

Keynote speaker Nadine Champion explored our theme through her 10 Seconds of Courage presentation across two sessions. An undefeated martial arts fighter, professional speaker and sensei with more than 30 years of experience, Nadine draws on her own story and the lessons of martial arts to help people rethink how they approach life’s challenges.

Her message encouraged us to recognise and embrace the moments that can change our direction, even when taking the first step feels difficult. Rather than waiting for uncertainty to disappear, we can choose how we respond to it. As Nadine put it: “Often the only thing you can control in a hard situation is your reaction to it.” That message came to life when Nadine guided one of our team members to find the courage to break a wooden board with her hand. With her encouragement and guidance, the team member was able to break through it, prompting the room to cheer in celebration of the accomplishment.

Another thought-provoking question was: “How good are your worst day abilities?” It reminded us that doing our best is not just about the days when everything runs smoothly, but developing the skills and mindset to respond thoughtfully when things become difficult. Her reminder to “Treat yourself with the respect you deserve” also encouraged us to extend the same care to ourselves that we often offer to others.

Putting collaboration into practice

After lunch, the day’s learning took a hands-on turn with The Pitch, hosted by Pinnacle Team Events. Teams were challenged to develop a creative product or service idea and present it to a panel of judges, aiming to secure a hypothetical $250,000 investment. Both the strength of the idea and its delivery counted towards the winning pitch.

With some friendly competition in the mix, the activity created opportunities to practise communication, leadership, time management and public speaking, while exploring creative thinking and building AI skills. Working together meant listening to different perspectives, making decisions as a team and turning individual ideas into a shared pitch.

Celebrating years of service

McConacon also gave us time to celebrate team members reaching 10, 20 and 30 years of service, recognising their contributions over the years.

These anniversaries mark important chapters in our firm’s story. Celebrating them together makes room to acknowledge the people behind that history and the connections built over the years.

We also celebrated Client Services Manager, Helen as the winner of this year's MCS Excellence Award, an award that recognises those living our core values.

Taking the learning back to our clients

We hold McConacon each year because time together matters. It gives our teams space to build relationships across locations, learn new skills, celebrate milestones and reconnect with the values that guide our work and our shared vision of ‘Building Better Futures’.

What we learn at McConacon also helps us support our clients. Sharing insights across the firm allows us to draw on one another’s experience, while approaching new challenges and tools thoughtfully keeps us focused on asking the right questions and staying accountable for the advice and service we provide.

Thriving Through Change is not about having every answer immediately. It is about being willing to learn, supporting one another and responding with care and purpose. McConacon 2026 gave us time to strengthen those foundations so we can continue striving for excellence in the way we support our clients.

See McConacon in action! Visit our Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn social media channels to view photos and catch a recap of the day.

General Advice Warning
The information provided in this article is for general information purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute formal taxation, financial or accounting advice. McConachie Stedman does not give any guarantee, warranty or make any representation that the information is fit for a particular purpose. As such, you should not make any investment or other financial decision in reliance upon the information set out in this correspondence and should seek professional advice on the financial, legal and taxation implications before making any such decisions.