MELBOURNE LUNCHEON: A REBRANING JOURNEY

THURSDAY 18TH JUNE 2026 I  12.00PM - 2.00PM  I  ELEMENT HOTEL, RICHMOND

Join us for this exclusive lunch event to explore the power of rebranding. Hear from Dale Gilson, CEO of Funerals Australia and Darren Taylor, Managing Director of Taylor & Grace, as they share key lessons, outcomes and practical takeaways from Funeral Australia’s recent rebranding transformation.

Guest Speakers


Dale Gilson
CEO, Funerals Australia

Dale is an MBA-qualified Senior Executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in the not-for-profit sector, gained through both professional and voluntary roles. He has held key leadership positions, including CEO and President, across a diverse range of industries such as sporting, environmental, engineering, automotive, and the funeral sector.

Dale brings extensive expertise in advocacy, governance, finance, strategic planning, sponsorship, marketing, and event management. He has successfully led two association rebrands, gaining firsthand insight into both the challenges and opportunities associated with repositioning associations.

Darren Taylor
Managing Director and Head of Strategy, Taylor & Grace

Darren is a visionary brand strategist, keynote speaker and author who has helped hundreds of organisations – from traditional family-run businesses, not-for-profits and social enterprises, to mature multinationals and startups – to develop and grow their brand to compete in a global environment. Some of his clients include national and multinational companies like Hitachi, SAI Global and Alchemy Construct, to ASX listed companies like Tesserent and EMVision to NFPs and associations like Grief Australia, ACRE, Royal College of Pathologists Australasia, Exercise and Sports Science Australia, Funerals Australia, Australian Sports Foundation, Thin Green Line, and visionary startups and scale ups such as Bintracker, Outlandish and Carbon Asset Solutions.

Darren has been consulting to NFP organisations and associations for around 20 years and is passionate about the role that organisations can play to address the wicked social and environmental issues of our time. Darren’s agency, Taylor & Grace, has just achieved its B Corp certification.

Venue:
Element Hotel, Richmond
588 Swan St, Richmond VIC 3121

Cost:
AES Members - $95 pp
Non-Members - $130 pp
(Includes a 2 course lunch and drinks)

Parking & Transport:
Undercover Parking available at $30.00
Free 2 and 4 Hour Street Parking nearby
Easily accessible via public transport, with tram stop, directly opposite.

RSVP:
9th June with any dietary requirements


TERMS & CONDITIONS: 

Eligibility: This event is open exclusively to individuals employed by, or serving as Board members of, not-for-profit organisations. Registrations from commercial, for-profit, or supplier organisations will not be accepted, and AES reserves the right to cancel any registration that does not meet these criteria.

Cancellation Policy: No refund will be given for any cancellations received within 7 days of the event, or for non-attendance on the day. However, a substitute attendee may be nominated - eligibility requirements apply.