Professional TrailBuilders Conference || Oceania Edition
Derby, Tasmania
December 9-11, 2025
This is PTBA’s inaugural conference in Australia and represents a major milestone for the international trade association. PTBA’s annual conference has been based in the US for decades, bringing together hundreds of trail professionals for 3 days of education, networking, and hands-on training.
The 2025 conference will be capped at 200 attendees, and we anticipate selling out. Anyone who works in the trail industry is invited to register for the conference; it is not limited to PTBA members.
About the Conference
Who: Land managers and trail professionals from the private, public, and non-profit sectors
What: 2.5 days of technical training, collaborative education, international networking, field-based learning, and trail exploration
Where: Derby, Tasmania is world-renowned trail community and provides an amazing outdoor classroom
Why: To facilitate international information sharing to advance the trail industry in Oceania and worldwide
The plenary sessions will focus on the trail industry trends such as best practices, workforce development, and industry standards
Concurrent sessions, roundtable discussions, and hands-on learning will focus on technical skills and best practices in all phases of trail development
Sessions will be curated through a call for presentations and targeted speaker invitations
There will be ample networking opportunities throughout the event for international information sharing and learning
On the trail learning experiences will include group rides, walk-and-talks, and demonstrations
Technical Skills +
Best Practices
Schedule-at-a-Glance
Tuesday, December 9
7:30 - 8:30 am: Registration;
Coffee and light breakfast
8:30 - 11:30 am: Plenary sessions
12:00 - 1:30 pm: Lunch
2:00 - 3:00 pm: Concurrent sessions
3:30 - 4:30 pm: Concurrent sessions
5:00 - 7:00 pm: On the trail (group rides, hikes, demos)
7:00 - 9:00 pm: Dinner in the Marquis (included)
Wednesday, December 10
7:30 - 8:30 am: Coffee and light breakfast
9:00 - 10:00 am: Concurrent sessions
10:30 - 11:30 am: Concurrent sessions
12:00 - 1:30 pm: Lunch
2:00 - 3:00 pm: Concurrent sessions
3:30 - 5:00 pm: On the trail (group rides, hikes, demos)
5:30 - 7:00 pm: Happy Hour
Dinner on your own
Thursday, December 11
7:30 - 8:30 am: Coffee and light breakfast
9:00 - 10:00 am: Concurrent sessions
10:30 - 11:30 am: Closing session
12:00 - 1:30 pm: Lunch on your own
2:00 - 4:00 pm: Group rides
2:00 - 5:00 pm: Post-Conference workshops (optional)
Dinner on your own
Friday, December 12
Post-Conference workshops (optional)
Registration
Registration will be capped at 200 attendees to match facilities and to promote meaningful discussion and networking.
Registration will be $450 USD (~$690 AUD depending on exchange rate).
Registration will open in January 2025.
Pre-Registration
You can sign-up through the pre-registration form to be the first group notified when registration is open (and before it is publicized).
Signing up for pre-registration does not guarantee or commit you to registration, which will be first come first served.
Our Venue: Derby, Tasmania
Once a thriving mining town with the richest tin mine in the world and one of the last remaining wilderness areas, Derby is now home to one of the world’s premier mountain bike networks located in Tasmania, Australia. Encompassing over 125km/77 miles of purpose built mountain bike trails with options to suit all skill levels.
PTBA selected Derby, Tasmania as our conference venue so that attendees can experience and be inspired by this world-renowned trail town first hand, learning in the classroom, on the trail, in the community, and from each other.
Plan your trip
The closest airport to Derby, Tasmania is Launceston Airport. Virgin Australia, Jetstar, and Qantas all have regular flights to and from Launceston, including direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne. It is then a 105 km/60 mile drive to Derby - you can rent a car or book a shuttle.
Another option is by boat on the Spirit of Tasmania which sails between Melbourne and Devonport (Tasmania).
There is a diverse range of accommodation options to choose from your stay in Derby and surrounding towns (Scottsdale, Weldborough, Bridport, Branxholm and more).
From cabins, lodges, eco pods, holiday houses, camping and more. There’s something to suit everyone and every budget. Accommodation in Derby fills fast in peak periods, so it’s best to book in advance.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Demonstrate that your company or organization is a leader in the trail industry with your support of PTBA’s first international conference!
Presenting Sponsorship
$10,000 USD/ $15,200 AUD
The presenting sponsorship offers a high-profile speaking opportunity and acknowledgement in addition to premier signage throughout the conference. There is only one presenting sponsorship, and it includes 5 conference registrations, logo on all attendee lanyards, prominent logo placement on the conference website, social media, email marketing, and printed materials, and a banner in the main conference space behind the speakers, and attendee list and email addresses (with consent).
Special Event
$5,000 USD/ $7,600 AUD
Be the exclusive sponsor of Happy Hour on Tuesday or Wednesday! Includes 3 conference registrations, a banner and 2 easel signs during the event, acknowledgement during the event, prominent logo placement on the conference website, social media, email marketing, and printed materials, and attendee list and email addresses (with consent).
Meal Sponsor
$3,000 USD/ $4,560 AUD
Sponsor a conference meal - A La Carte Breakfast on Tuesday and Wednesday or lunch on Tuesday or Wednesday. Includes 2 conference registrations, 2 easel signs during the meal, logo placement on the conference website, social media, email marketing, and printed materials, and attendee list and email addresses (with consent).
Supporting Sponsor $1,500 USD/ $2,280 AUD
Show your support for Professional TrailBuilders Conference! Includes 1 conference registration and logo placement on the conference website, social media, email marketing, and printed materials, and attendee list and email addresses (with consent). Supporting sponsorships can be directed towards scholarships!
PTBA Conferences
PTBA’s annual conference has been based in the US for decades, bringing together hundreds of land managers and trail professionals from the government, non-profit and private sector for 3 days of technical training, collaborative education, international networking, and field-based learning.
We are applying this time-tested model for the Derby conference in partnership with the Blue Derby Foundation and our amazing network of Australian PTBA member companies.
