The 2026 Global News Forum, hosted by ABC Australia, started this morning in Sydney with a Welcome to Country delivered by an Elder from the Sydney Metropolitan Land Council.

Held at ABC Ultimo in Sydney, Australia, the three-day forum brings together top media and broadcasting leaders and professionals from across the Asia-Pacific for impact-driven discussions on the future of journalism and the media industry.

During the opening session, ABC Head of International Claire Gorman and ABU Secretary-General Ahmed Nadeem delivered their welcome addresses.

In his ABU Welcome Address, Ahmed Nadeem also launched the Building Resilient Media People report, which features contributions and experiences from media professionals across the region and around the world.

“These are [contributed] by our members and these professionals from around the globe and the region… They have used their experiences as a connection to be presented,” he said.

The keynote address by ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks highlighted the importance of keeping journalism’s core purpose at the heart of media organisations.

“Impactful journalism has to remain in the centre of our organisation,” he said.

The opening programme continues with the Super Panel session, “The State of Journalism in the Asia-Pacific,” moderated by ABC journalist Laura Tingle.

The panel features Donna Field from ABC Australia, Md. Shahri Saripan from RTM Malaysia, Chevaan Daniel from MTV Sri Lanka, and Ahmet Görmez from TRT Türkiye.

The 2026 Global News Forum continues throughout the next three days, bringing together media leaders and professionals from across the Asia-Pacific to exchange ideas, share experiences and explore the future of journalism.