Raising the Bar 2024: A night of ideas, inspiration and community

Held on Tuesday 6 August 2024, the annual event transformed pubs, hotels, bars and cellar doors across the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters into an open learning campus for one night only.

Nineteen talks from inspiring educators, visionaries and thought leaders captivated record crowds, with more than 900 people attending across ten venues including The Robin Hood Hotel, The Colonist, Maylands Hotel, Ferg’s Stepney, Reform Distilling, Britannia, The Suburban Brew, Little Bang Brewing, Republic Norwood and The Rising Sun Inn.

Highlights from the night

The skyrocketing popularity of true crime content saw Sean Fewster, The Advertiser’s Chief Court Reporter, and Daniel Panozzo, change management consultant, return to Raising the Bar for another sell-out session.

Their insightful conversation, drawn from their podcast Just Lawful, explored the intricacies of open justice and kept audiences at Little Bang Brewing completely engaged.

Elsewhere in the City, other experts were sparking conversations on relationships, Mediterranean diets, gut health and more.

At The Suburban Brew, Kellie Finlayson and Sophie Edwards delivered one of the evening’s most powerful talks.

Both living with bowel cancer, their candid, at times humorous, and deeply personal discussion shed light on the realities of diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. Importantly, they left their audience better informed about symptoms, prevention and the importance of trusting your instincts when it comes to health.

A global event, hosted locally

Raising the Bar is part of a global event series that began in New York with the aim of making education accessible to all and embedding it within popular culture.

Cities around the world now host their own version of the event, with venues transformed into spaces where education and conversation take centre stage.

The City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters holds exclusive rights to host Raising the Bar in Adelaide, making it the only Council area in South Australia to bring this unique concept to life.

Each year, the event attracts larger audiences and continues to cement itself as a flagship feature on the Council’s calendar.

An inspired, informed community

By creating spaces where experts and everyday people come together, Raising the Bar offers opportunities to broaden perspectives, challenge ideas and spark new passions—all in the comfort of a local bar with a drink in hand.

As the event grows from strength to strength, the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters remains proud to deliver this one-of-a-kind learning experience, positioning the City as a hub for inspired, innovative and accessible lifelong learning.

Find out more: Raising the Bar Adelaide