Agenda


  • Registration opens 
  • Opening remarks from the Chairperson
    Kylie Speer
    Kylie Speer

    Host
    Key Media

  • Welcome remarks from the Event Partner
    Sarah McInerney
    Sarah McInerney

    General Manager, People & Culture
    Origin Energy

  • OPENING KEYNOTE: To hell and back – A journey across a frozen wasteland

    Blizzards, crevasses, frostbite, extreme starvation – what does it take to complete the longest unsupported polar expedition of all time – skiing from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole and back without assistance? In this inspirational keynote presentation, Jonesy unpacks the lessons he’s learnt from the past 20 years of adventure and the ‘expedition mindset’ needed to focus, adapt, overcome and achieve under extreme stress situations. This is a story of resilience, determination, competition and the human spirit in the most hostile environment in the world; Antarctica.

    Justin “Jonesy” Jones
    Justin “Jonesy” Jones

    Australia’s pre-eminent Explorer, keynote speaker & adventure thinker

  • PANEL: Strategic recruitment – How to attract and hire top employees

    As the talent shortage continues, how are HR teams ensuring they are securing the best employees in the market? Hear how top Australian companies are attracting and finding the right talent. 

    • Examples of creative, targeted solutions for recruiting employees 
    • Determining recruitment spend on a reduced budget 
    • How to boost talent acquisition initiatives in a lean HR team 
    • Leveraging automation, AI and other emerging technology to source the best candidates effectively 
    Moderator
    Kylie Speer
    Kylie Speer

    Host
    Key Media

    Panellists
    Daniel Cavedon
    Daniel Cavedon

    General Manager People & Culture
    MYER

    Hanan El-Sheikh
    Hanan El-Sheikh

    Director of Human Resources
    The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne

    Jamila Malkoun
    Jamila Malkoun

    Talent Acquisition Lead
    HESTA

  • Morning tea and refreshments break
  • CASE STUDY: How to successfully retain employees

    With initiatives ranging from inclusive hybrid work arrangements to career development programs, companies are rethinking their retention strategies to ensure their employees thrive and flourish in their roles. In this session, hear how Judo Bank retains their employees in this competitive market. 

    • Aligning reward and recognition strategies to the company’s employee value proposition (EVP) and values 
    • Creative incentives and non-monetary benefits that require minimal budget investment  
    • Designing career and growth opportunities to engage and motivate employees 
    Jessica Lantieri
    Jessica Lantieri

    Chief People & Culture Officer
    Judo Bank

  • How to drive employee engagement further

    In today’s competitive job market, it can be a struggle to attract and retain top talent. This session explores the strategic alignment of employee values with corporate engagement initiatives. In this session you’ll learn about:

    • Origin’s approach to a value-led employee engagement strategy
    • Striking a balance between trends and listening to your people
    • Utilising employee benefits to their full potential
    Sarah McInerney
    Sarah McInerney

    General Manager, People & Culture
    Origin Energy

  • Networking lunch
  • CASE STUDY: Leadership and employee engagement in the future of work

    Employees are less engaged than ever, turning to leaders for more and more support, causing leaders to burnout. What does leadership need to look like to manage this complex issue? In this session, Marnie will unpack the engagement crisis and how to enable leaders to develop their skillsets to drive engagement and lead with agility to thrive in the changing world of work.    

    • Identifying the key leadership issues to solve in the future of work   
    • Understanding leadership impact on employee engagement  
    • Relational leadership and agility as key leadership skills  
    • A practical exercise to help your leaders develop greater agility  
    Dr Marnie Gibson
    Dr Marnie Gibson

    Global Director People
    T2 Tea

  • LEGAL UPDATE: What does the Industrial Relations Revolution mean for you?

    Feeling overwhelmed by the new world of industrial relations? You will walk away from this session with a clear understanding of your priorities when it comes to the reforms.     

    • Steps you should already have in place to minimise risks  
    • Where to prioritise your HR resources 
    • Avoiding penalties in the new world of IR 
    Tamsin Lawrence
    Tamsin Lawrence

    Senior Associate
    Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors

  • ASK THE EXPERT: Managing industrial relations and workplace reforms

    In this interactive session, delegates are invited to ask a top employment lawyer their most pressing questions on industrial relations and their changing obligations. 

    Tamsin Lawrence
    Tamsin Lawrence

    Senior Associate
    Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors

  • Afternoon tea and refreshments break
  • CASE STUDY: Achieving true diversity, inclusion and belonging

    How can we organically embed diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategies across organisations? In this session, Australian HR Awards winner TSA Riley will discuss how they are integrating DEI into every aspect of the company to foster a culture of belonging and inclusion at work.

    • Using feedback to identify gaps, growth opportunities and measure results
    • Implementing a research-backed strategy to drive DEI initiatives
    • Developing strategic partnerships with non-profit organisations to engage with the community

     

    Kimberley Kelly
    Kimberley Kelly

    General Manager, Organisational Effectiveness and Learning
    TSA Riley

    Louise Duffy
    Louise Duffy

    General Manager of Client and Markets
    TSA Riley

  • PANEL: Effective wellbeing strategies for building resilient teams

    As employees continue to face burnout and stress, what preventative measures can companies adopt to take a proactive approach? In this session, hear how top Australian companies are supporting and motivating employees through successful wellbeing initiatives. 

    • Tips for navigating managerial burnout  
    • How to create a psychologically safe workplace 
    • Addressing and managing psychosocial risks at work 
    • How to avoid ‘wellbeing washing’ 
    • Identifying metrics to measure and track wellbeing 
    Moderator
    Kylie Speer
    Kylie Speer

    Host
    Key Media

    Panellists
    Alexia Bryant
    Alexia Bryant

    Chief People Officer
    IPG Mediabrands

    Krista Hunt
    Krista Hunt

    General Manager, People & Culture
    Carlisle Homes

    Mathew Paine
    Mathew Paine

    Executive General Manager – People & Culture
    Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA)

    Steven Zinsli
    Steven Zinsli

    CEO
    HealthNow

  • End of day one 
  • Opening remarks from the Chairperson
    Kylie Speer
    Kylie Speer

    Host
    Key Media

  • PANEL: Developing internal mobility to optimise your workforce

    How are companies leveraging internal mobility initiatives to upskill and improve retention? This session will discuss how companies are rolling out internal mobility plans across their workforces to support business growth, while motivating employees with career opportunities. 

    • Designing new roles and career pathways to drive a skills-based approach 
    • Creating personalised programs to align employees with learning frameworks 
    • Examples of effective leadership development programs to support both new and existing leaders 
    Moderator
    Nadia Taylor
    Nadia Taylor

    Chief Executive Officer
    Mapien

    Panellists
    Andrew Buckland
    Andrew Buckland

    Associate Director, Workforce Strategy & Analytics
    Eastern Health

    Carina Parisella
    Carina Parisella

    Head of Technology Workforce
    ANZ

  • WORKSHOP: Managing the use of AI in your workforce

    It’s essential for HR leaders to ensure employees are using ChatGPT and other AI tools responsibly and effectively to mitigate risks. This session will discuss how to manage the use of AI tools across the organisation and how to create awareness on potential risks.    

    • Drafting robust policies and clear guidelines to manage the use of AI tools 
    • Ethical and legal considerations for mitigating potential risks  
    • Monitoring employee usage of AI tools 
    Hugh Ragg
    Hugh Ragg

    Global Skills Program Director
    Arcadis

  • Morning tea and refreshments break
  • Designing a high-impact HR operating model with AI and a ‘skills first’ approach to talent

    Two-thirds of executives (65%)* say that their organisation needs to be more digital than it is today. Delivering on this vision requires a radical rethink in how organisations are designed and a re-alignment of the HR function to access new skills with a more agile flow-to-work models. This session will discuss how companies are transforming their HR structures, processes and strategies to align their workforce with business objectives.  

    • The right skills and mindset of the HR function for the digital age 
    • Enhancing the employee experience with the HR operating model and work-tech ecosystem  
    • Key lessons learned from organisations succeeding in this transformation journey 
    • Mapping a plan to take HR’s impact to the next level 
    Andrew Lafontaine
    Andrew Lafontaine

    Consulting Services Leader ANZ
    Mercer

  • PANEL: Powerful productivity measures for a remote workforce

    Organisations are working with increasingly dispersed workforces. How can you track productivity in the modern workplace? This session will examine how to measure productivity to improve performance. 

    • What key data and metrics can we use to track productivity? 
    • Measuring output for roles that cannot be measured quantitatively 
    • How can people analytics provide insight into productivity?
    Moderator
    Nadia Taylor
    Nadia Taylor

    Chief Executive Officer
    Mapien

    Panellists
    Kent Cabrera
    Kent Cabrera

    General Manager Talent Enablement, Insights and Partnering
    AIA

    Jennifer Tiffin
    Jennifer Tiffin

    Human Resources Director – APAC
    Bunzl

    Cynthia Wong
    Cynthia Wong

    GM Customer Experience
    Employment Hero

  • Networking lunch 
  • Expo Passport Grand Prize Draw

    Collect all exhibitors’ stamps on the Expo Passport for the chance to win a $1,000 cash prize! 

     

    Workshops All Star Grand Prize

    Attend all workshops for the chance to win a $1,000 cash prize!

     

    Sponsor Prize Draws

    Plus, don’t miss several exciting prize giveaways from our exhibitors! Visit their stand to discover how to enter the draws!

  • ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: Overcoming disconnect – creating culture through meaningful conversations

    This facilitated session will show delegates a simple and effective way to have meaningful discussions naturally without fuss or fear. It will provide them with a shared purpose and give them a practical way to address things that are on their mind through healthy conversations.

     

    Ricky Nowak
    Ricky Nowak

    Leadership Presenter, Executive Coach and Facilitator

  • PANEL: Building a high-performing leadership team

    A high-performing leadership team is critical for organisations to successfully navigate an organisation’s challenges. In this session, Australia’s top companies will discuss the steps they have taken to build and sustain a trusted and high-performing team to lead and implement strategic change. 

    • How to develop psychological safety and trust within a team 
    • Creating a truly diverse and inclusive team to build a strong culture of belonging 
    • How to enhance collaboration and communication among leaders 
    • Developing a team with different skillsets and expertise  
    Moderator
    Nadia Taylor
    Nadia Taylor

    Chief Executive Officer
    Mapien

    Panellists
    Antoinette Battista
    Antoinette Battista

    Executive Director, People & Culture
    Department of Transport and Planning

    Kristen Bugeja
    Kristen Bugeja

    Chief People Officer
    Defence Bank

    Meredith Crowe
    Meredith Crowe

    Senior VP, Global People & Culture
    Telix Pharmaceuticals

    Carl Phillips
    Carl Phillips

    Chief People Officer
    Costa Group

  • CLOSING KEYNOTE: Authentic leadership: Field-tested strategies for success

    Nathan Buckley is one of the greatest players to ever play in the AFL and one of the most revered voices in the game. A Brownlow Medal winner and AFL Hall of Famer, Nathan was a fierce competitor on field, always pushing himself and his team to be the best they could be. Nathan played 280 games at Collingwood where he was a six-time Best and Fairest winner. He then went on to coach Collingwood for 218 games, taking them to the 2018 Grand Final, and finishing his AFL career in 2021. Hear Nathan speak on lessons learnt across his career and how he came to believe that self-awareness is the basis of transformative leadership to get the best out of you and your team.

    Nathan Buckley
    Nathan Buckley

    Former professional AFL football coach, player and commentator

  • Event concludes