The Latrobe City Business Festival returns in 2025 for a two-week celebration dedicated to empowering local businesses and fostering economic growth across the region.
Running from Tuesday 2 to Thursday 18 September 2025, the Festival offers a dynamic program of events designed to inspire, educate and connect the business community.
The Festivals main headline is an evening with bestselling author and Go-To skincare founder Zoë Foster Blake in an exclusive conversation with journalist Bridget Hustwaite at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre.
Mayor of Latrobe City Council, Councillor Dale Harriman said that it is fantastic to bring global skincare founder Zoë Foster Blake to the region.
“Bringing Zoë Foster Blake to Latrobe City is a real coup for our local business community,” said the Mayor.
“Her experience in building a brand from the ground up is inspiring. Bringing someone of Zoë’s calibre to the region reflects our commitment to offering bold, engaging and valuable experiences through the Latrobe City Business Festival.
“The Festival offers something for everyone with a range of events that aim to connect and inspire. I’m particularly looking forward to hearing from local business owners who’ve built something from the ground up, real stories from real people as part of the ‘Bring your passion project alive’ – they’re proof that big dreams can start small, right here in Latrobe City.
“With over 4800 businesses operating in Latrobe City, driving economic growth and supporting our local community the Festival is about acknowledging our hardworking local business community, ensuring they continue to thrive, through bringing new opportunities to the region that will have a positive and tangible impact on their lives and aspirations.”
The Festival commences with a ‘Masterclass series for business’, a four-session program at the Morwell Innovation Centre, led by renowned business advisor Aileen Day, one of Australia’s leading business advisors. The program is free to attend, registrations are essential.
‘Bringing your passion project alive’ is part panel, part networking night. The evening will feature candid conversations with local business owners who started with nothing but a dream and now run thriving businesses across beauty, health and wellbeing and hospitality. The panel includes Kade King, Finally Mine Coffee House, Jen Felici, Skin & Tonic, Jaz Flowers, Jaz Flowers Cosmetics and Taylah Willaton, Club Bend.
Following on from the success of last year, ‘C3: City Country Connect’ returns. This unique summit is designed to bridge the gap between metropolitan and regional businesses. This event encourages meaningful connections along the M1 corridor, fostering collaboration and growth. Save the date, Wednesday 17 September, for this business breakfast event.
For more information and to view the full program, please visit: www.latrobecity.com.au/work/businessfestival/