Legal Disclaimer
The information on this website and at Forward Fest events is provided by Silicon Coast Ltd (ABN 26 624 628 811) for general informational purposes only. We make no warranties about the accuracy or completeness of any content, and your reliance on it is at your own risk.
Content provided by speakers, exhibitors, panellists, and sponsors reflects their own views and does not constitute an endorsement by Silicon Coast Ltd. Nothing on this site or at any event constitutes professional, legal, financial, or investment advice — please seek independent professional guidance.
External links are provided for convenience only. We accept no responsibility for third-party websites, products, or services.

To the maximum extent permitted by law (including the Australian Consumer Law), we exclude liability for any loss or damage arising from your use of this site or attendance at any event. Nothing in this disclaimer excludes rights that cannot be lawfully excluded under Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth).

 
Website Terms of Use
Acceptance
By accessing fwdfest.co you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, please stop using the site. We may update these terms from time to time — continued use constitutes acceptance of any changes.

 

Permitted Use
You may use this site only for lawful purposes. You must not attempt to gain unauthorised access, distribute harmful code, scrape data without consent, or use the site in any way that impairs its functionality or infringes the rights of others.

 

Intellectual Property
All content — including text, graphics, logos, the FWD›››FEST and Silicon Coast marks, images, video, and design — is the property of Silicon Coast Ltd or its licensors and is protected by Australian and international intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or republish any content without prior written consent, except for personal, non-commercial use.

 

Subscriptions & Communications
By subscribing to FWD News or submitting your email, you consent to receiving newsletters, event updates, and promotional communications. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link in each email or by contacting us directly.

 

Event Terms & Conditions
These terms apply to Forward Fest 2026 (20–22 May 2026, Mooloolaba Wharf) and all Forward Fest events. By purchasing a ticket, registering, or attending, you agree to these terms.

 

Tickets
Tickets are non-transferable unless otherwise agreed in writing. Valid tickets (digital or physical) must be presented for entry. Silicon Coast Ltd reserves the right to refuse entry or remove any attendee whose conduct breaches these terms, without refund. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Refunds

• More than 30 days before the event: Full refund

• 14–30 days before the event: 50% refund

• Less than 14 days / no-shows: No refund

Refund requests must be emailed to info@siliconcoast.org.au. If Silicon Coast Ltd cancels the event entirely and does not reschedule within 90 days, a full refund will be provided. Changes to programme, speakers, or format do not entitle attendees to a refund.

Code of Conduct
We are committed to a safe, inclusive environment for all participants regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, or background. Harassment, discrimination, offensive behaviour, disruption of sessions, unauthorised solicitation, and possession of illicit substances are strictly prohibited. Violations may result in removal without refund and referral to authorities.

Assumption of Risk
You attend at your own risk. The event may involve crowded spaces, food allergens, temporary structures, water proximity, and weather exposure. You are responsible for assessing and managing your own health and safety.

Photography & Media
Photography, video, and audio recording may be captured during the event by Silicon Coast Ltd and authorised representatives. These may be used across any medium for promotional, marketing, and archival purposes. If you wish to opt out, please advise the event team on arrival — we will take reasonable steps to accommodate your request, though incidental capture in public areas cannot be guaranteed.
E
vent Changes & Force Majeure
Silicon Coast Ltd reserves the right to modify, postpone, relocate, or cancel any event or session without prior notice. We are not liable for failures caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, pandemics, government orders, severe weather, or industrial action.

Privacy Policy
Silicon Coast Ltd is committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

What We Collect

• Name, email, phone, organisation, and job title

• Event registration details (ticket type, dietary needs, accessibility requirements)

• Payment information (processed securely via third-party gateways — we do not store card numbers)

• Website usage data (IP address, browser, pages visited) via cookies and analytics

• Event participation data including photographs and video

How We Use It
We use your information to process registrations and payments, communicate event updates, send FWD News and promotional content, improve our site and events, respond to enquiries, meet legal and reporting obligations (including ACNC requirements), and conduct analytics. We may share aggregated or anonymised data with sponsors and grant funding bodies.

Cookies
This site uses essential, analytics, and marketing cookies. You can manage preferences through your browser settings — disabling cookies may affect site functionality.

Disclosure & Overseas Transfers
We may share information with service providers (ticketing, payment, email, hosting), professional advisers, government bodies where required by law, and law enforcement where necessary. Some providers operate overseas (including the US and EU). We will not sell your personal information.

Data Retention & Security
We retain information only as long as necessary for its purpose, or as required by law (generally 7 years for financial records). We use SSL/TLS encryption, access controls, and secure hosting, though no system is completely secure.

Your Rights
You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information at any time. You may opt out of marketing communications via the unsubscribe link or by contacting us. We will respond to access and correction requests within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our handling of a complaint, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au or 1300 363 992.

Children
We do not knowingly collect information from children under 16 without parental consent. If you believe we have done so, please contact us immediately.