West Tech Next: 2026 Youth Committee
In 2026, we’re building an even stronger pathway for emerging leaders (18–25) to help shape and deliver the festival from the inside.
West Tech Fest is a globally connected platform that brings together founders, builders and investors through a week-long celebration of entrepreneurship, innovation, technology and investment across Western Australia.
In 2026, we’re building an even stronger pathway for emerging leaders (18–25) to help shape and deliver the festival from the inside.
Join WEST TECH NEXT – our new Youth Committee
We are recruiting 4–6 paid committee members, aged 18–25, who want hands-on experience in delivering one of WA’s most visible innovation festivals.
This is not a resume-padding committee. It’s a delivery team, you’ll work closely with the core West Tech Fest team, including the Founders to support planning, marketing, community energy, and on-the-ground execution.
Stipend: $1,500 per committee member (paid as a stipend for your contribution).
Global opportunity: 1-2 committee members will be selected to attend Slush (Helsinki) or Panathēnea (Athens) as part of our global innovation festival network (selection criteria and logistics will be shared with shortlisted candidates).
Curtin students: Opportunity to have this formally recognised as part of your studies
What you’ll do (real impact)
West Tech Next members will contribute advice to support and attract more young people to West Tech Fest. Members will also design and deliver an event as part of WTF 2026 targeted at 18-25 year olds inclusive of the full suite of event design and execution such as sponsorship, marketing, community engagement, and operations, post event wrap.
Members will also provide the following support to the West Tech Fest team;
- Help plan and deliver youth-facing or emerging-talent experiences during festival week
- Assist with volunteer coordination and attendee experience
- Create and/or coordinate social content (short-form video, stories, posts)
- Help amplify program announcements and community moments
- Support outreach to student, founder, and young professional networks
- Bring fresh ideas that make the festival feel more inclusive, accessible, and exciting
- Support relationship-building with youth-aligned ecosystem partners
- Contribute to debriefs: what worked, what didn’t, and what to improve
Exact focus areas will be shaped around each member’s strengths, and the festival’s priorities
Skillsets we’re looking for
We don’t expect you to have done everything, we want drive and passion for events and the startup ecosystem. Useful skillsets include:
- Event operations, logistics
- Marketing, social media, content creation, storytelling
- Community building, partnerships, outreach, stakeholder engagement
- Design skills (Canva, Adobe), basic video editing
- Project coordination
- Confidence communicating with diverse audiences (founders, students, sponsors, government, community)
Who should apply
You should apply if you’re:
- Aged 18–25
- Excited by innovation, startups, venture/investment, technology, or the future of industry
- Keen to contribute to something bigger than yourself and learn by doing
- Reliable, proactive, and comfortable working in a small team with deadlines
- Passionate about helping WA’s innovation community grow (and making it more inclusive)
What you’ll gain
- Behind-the-scenes festival delivery experience
- Mentorship and exposure to founders, investors, operators and ecosystem leaders
- A strong reference and portfolio of work (content, events, projects delivered)
- Potential international festival attendance via Slush or Panathēnea
APPLICATION PROCESS
How selection works
Shortlisted applicants may be invited to a quick interview and/or asked to complete a short practical task. We’ll select a cohort that’s diverse in strengths (ops + marketing + community) and aligned on values.
How to submit your EOI
Submit your responses to the questions here, along with:
- Your CV or LinkedIn profile
- Links to anything you’ve built (optional but encouraged): content, events, projects, volunteering, startups, portfolios.
Applications close 5pm Tuesday 24 March