Announcing the techpartner.news Winter Ball featuring the Impact Awards

This winter, techpartner.news is introducing a new flagship moment for the channel.

On 13 August, the techpartner.news Winter Ball featuring the 2026 Impact Awards - sponsored by NinjaOne - will bring partners, vendors, and distributors together for an industry evening unlike any before it – a black-tie celebration recognising the projects, people, and partnerships shaping the Australian channel.

After a decade of spotlighting excellence through the Impact Awards, 2026 marks the first time the program will stand alone as its own dedicated event. The Winter Ball will be a more immersive industry gathering designed to celebrate achievement while bringing the channel together.

The evening will feature live music, a charity auction, and a curated guest list of channel leaders. It’s an opportunity for the industry to gather in one room – to reconnect, reflect on the year’s achievements and acknowledge the partnerships driving progress across the market.

At the heart of the night are the Impact Awards, now in their 10^th year. Over the past decade, the awards have recognised organisations and individuals delivering impact across the partner landscape – from major transformation projects to the leaders shaping culture, growth and innovation within their businesses.

Partner Project Awards

• Customer Experience Partner of the Year
• Employee Experience Partner of the year
• Social Impact Partner of the Year
• Infrastructure Partner of the Year
• Networking Partner of the Year
• Data Partner of the Year
• AI Partner of the Year
• Enterprise Applications Partner of the Year
• Managed Services Partner of the Year
• Security Partner of the Year
• Project of the Year

Partner People Awards

• Business Leader of the Year
• Sales Leader of the Year
• Marketing Leader of the Year
• Technology Leader of the Year
• Emerging Leader of the Year
• Community Leader of the Year
• Technical Specialist of the Year
• Leader of the Year

Entries are now open here.

Distribution and vendor categories to be announced soon.

Extending the spirit of the evening beyond business, the Winter Ball will also feature a charity auction supporting the Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter. Guests will have the opportunity to bid on exclusive experiences and items, with proceeds contributing directly to programs that support women and families in need – reinforcing the channel’s commitment to community beyond commercial impact.

The Winter Ball featuring the Impact Awards represents a new chapter for the techpartner.news community - one that balances credibility with celebration, and recognition with connection.