CRN Australia officially launches Xchange and Channel Awards at After Hours event
Hosted at The International, Sydney Australia, bringing together vendors and distributors in the region.
Last week CRN Australia hosted its inaugural After Hours event bringing together many vendors and distributors in the local market to launch its 2026 events program.
The first event held in 2026 calendar by the CRN Australia brand was a chance for channel leaders to network and meet senior executives at the publication’s parent company, The Channel Company.
Executives from the US and the United Kingdom visited Sydney for this event including The Channel Company CEO, Matt Yorke; Chief Content Officer, Stuart Sumner; and Chief Media Officer, Alan Loader.
Held at the iconic The International restaurant in the heart of Sydney, attendees heard from Yorke, Loader, Sumner and CRN Australia editor Athina Mallis on the company’s plans for 2026, the upcoming events and the additional offerings they bring to the market.
Yorke said The Channel Company’s entry as an owned and operated business into the Aussie market is “very deliberate”.
“We see an innovative, entrepreneurial market with strong growth rates. As we continue to enter new markets across the broader ASEAN region, Australia is an anchor market to The Channel Company,” he said.
“The After Hours event was a wonderful opportunity to meet so many of the key industry leaders. It also wonderfully reinforced the community dynamic. I am so excited for CRN and TCC to participate and serve the community.”
This event was an opportunity to formally announce two global flagship events coming to the Australian market: XChange and the Channel Awards.
Xchange Australia will bring together senior solution providers and technology partners for a hosted, high‑impact experience designed around real conversations and real outcomes.
The CRN Australia Channel Awards recognise the vendors, distributors, MSPs and solution providers driving excellence, innovation and impact across the Australian IT channel.
Discussing the success of the After Hours event, Sumner told CRN Australia, “We were thrilled by the support from the Australian channel, with so many choosing to give up their time to network and hear from CRN.
“We’re looking forward to informing and connecting such a vibrant community through the site and our events later in 2026.”
Loader said that there has never been a more exciting time to be in the channel.
“It was so incredible to hear how ANZ partners are grasping this once-in-a-generation opportunity. The energy, urgency, and dynamism that we heard about over the last week was hugely inspiring,” he said.
CRN Xchange Australia will be hosted on September 16 2026, and the Channel Awards will be the day after on September 17, 2026, both in Sydney.
Apply for the CRN Australia Channel Awards here.