Burning Man’s Christopher Breedlove Confirmed for 2025 AFIC Keynote

Burning Man’s Christopher Breedlove leads the latest wave of speakers for the 2025 Australian Festival Industry Conference (AFIC), to be presented September 8th-9th in Brisbane.

Breedlove serves as director of civic activation at the iconic annual American fest.

At AFIC, he’ll deliver a keynote address on the future of festivals, and explore Burning Man’s unique model, from its “gift culture” to “leave no trace” policy.

He will also address how the desert event continues to evolve in response to tech advancements in waste management and energy production; how it has responded to weather events; and outline the opportunities for festivals across the globe, through the lens of post-pandemic changes in consumer and ticket-buying behaviour and other issues.

Burning Man is one of the great destination events on the festivals calendar, a place where dance music, art installations and alternative-types collide. Established in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada back in 1986, Burning Man typically attracts 70,000 to 80,000 “Burners”.

“I’m honoured to be joining AFIC and sharing stories from Burning Man, and our global community,” he comments in a statement. “For nearly four decades, Black Rock City (our event) has served as a living laboratory — challenged by shifting climate, evolving technology and changing cultural currents like post-pandemic behaviours.”

Through it all, “Burning Man’s 10 Principles have offered a compass, helping us not just adapt, but reimagine what we can be,” he adds. “I’m looking forward to connecting with fellow producers and creators in Australia and exploring this conversation.”

Stephen Wray

Also joining the lineup of speakers is Stephen Wray, director of music and director of the arts, office of arts, who will talk on what support is available for music festivals; and Lauren Penny, chair of Major Events Business Group – Queensland (MEBG-Q), who will introduce the newly formed industry membership body that she chairs. MEBG-Q has been established with the specific aim of advocating for Queensland-based suppliers in preparation for the 2032 Olympics and beyond.

Lauren Penny

They join previously announced speakers, John Graham MLC, NSW minister for music, the night-time economy and the arts; Victoria Scott, culture, entertainment and destination events director, Tourism & Events Queensland; Christen Cornell, research fellow and manager, research partnerships, Creative Australia; Peter Noble, festival director, Bluesfest Byron Bay and others.

John Rostron, CEO of the UK’s Association for Independent Festivals (AIF), is the first keynote speaker.

With today’s announcement, the 2025 program is complete, says Carlina Ericson, founder and event director of AFIC.

Now in its fifth year, AFIC is the Asia Pacific’s leading industry event for festival management professionals, showcasing music, arts & culture, food & drink, ideas, and sporting festivals.

For the first time, the conference will be presented at Rivershed, Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane.

Early-bird tickets are available until Monday, June 30th. Visit australianfestivalconference.com.au for more.