14 July 2021, Crown Melbourne
Note: You can choose to join us either in person or via online streaming sessions. Select ‘VIRTUAL workshop’ if you’d like to register for the online experience.
Opening remarks from the chairperson

Sonya Law
Founder, SL Human Resources Consulting
Workshop 1: Early intervention for mental health problems in the workplace
Mental health problems contribute to absenteeism, presenteeism and workers compensation claims costing Australian businesses billions of dollars each year. The good news is that for every dollar spent on mental health initiative, like Mental Health First Aid training, there is an average return on investment of $2.30.
This workshop will:
- Introduce participants to the concepts of mental health problems in the workplace and Mental Health First Aid
- Highlight the signs a colleague might notice in a person experiencing a mental health problem
- Present how Mental Health First Aid can contribute to a mentally healthy workplace

Dr. Kathy Bond
Workplace Engagement Manager, Mental Health First Aid Australia
Workshop 2: Narrowing Talent Pool, Widening Skills Gap: Solving Scarcity
The past year has accelerated the development of remote and global teams. As we experience an economic upturn, there are fewer individuals who are unemployed and job-seeking which allows candidates to be selective, testing the employer’s capacity and interest in supporting remote work. As the talent pool narrows, we are seeing a skill shortage or lower supply than demand in certain professions. How can we overcome the fear of hiring in other jurisdictions? In this session, we’ll discuss how leaders can reap the team quality and bottom-line benefits of tapping into the global talent pool.

Craig Goldblatt
VP Partners & Alliances, Globalization Partners
Workshop 3: How disability employment can bridge Australia’s skills and innovation gap.
Employing people with disability means accessing a talent pool that is productive, safe and reliable. In turn, drawing long-term economic and innovation dividends for businesses.
Yet, people with disability are twice as likely to be unemployed as those without disability. How can Australian workplaces unlock this untapped potential to bridge the gap?
The session will highlight:
- The business case for a diverse and inclusive workplace, offering low risk, improved productivity, and high return
- Practical strategies to build disability confidence and develop inclusive practices
- The range of free and expert disability employment supports provided by the Australian Government through JobAccess

Karla Fernee
Leader, JobAccess Employer Engagement (NDRC), JobAccess
Workshop 4: What do companies need to succeed? Why it’s time to redefine the employee and employer relationship
If 2020 was the year of crisis, then 2021 is the year for change. A key driver of change for employers is the shifting expectations of an increasingly competitive talent market. If we want to continue developing effective teams and powering innovation, it’s time to revisit – and revolutionise – our tools and methods for attracting, inspiring and supporting our people.
Join us to discover how leading organisations from multiple industries are preparing for the new world of work by adopting a different approach to building their Employee Value Proposition. Discover:
- What Australian employees are looking for in top employers now that businesses are redefining what “business as usual” looks like
- The key qualities that leaders need to improve productivity, innovation and adaptability within their teams
- How to increase digital fluency to nurture employee connection, belonging and wellbeing across dispersed and hybrid workforces
- Tools and strategies that build loyalty to your employer brand and create culture ambassadors now and into the future

Joy Adan
Content Journalist, Reward Gateway
Workshop 5: The Unified Theory of Everything People: Practical people strategies for the post-pandemic world
The Unified Theory of Everything People is a holistic, practical model based on reverse engineering over 5,000 exit interviews and two decades of extensive research with some of the world's most innovative companies. It will give you simple solutions to help you update your people practices for the post-pandemic world.

Kim Seeling Smith
CEO, Ignite Global
Workshop 6: Mind to Plate: Key strategies to help you change the way you eat and associate with food
A poor relationship with food has been seen as a barrier for people in achieving their long term health goals. Mindful eating is one of the most important ways to counter workplace stress and improve the overall wellbeing of the workforce. A nourished body leads to a healthy mind and soul, improving your concentrations and critical thinking abilities.
- Understand the disease burden
- Discover your mindset about food
- How to create a healthy mindset
- Learn about mindful eating and meal planning

Purva Gulyani
Director and Senior Dietitian, Diet Yumm
Workshop 7: Recognition strategies to ensure your program is widely used and delivers ROI for your business
HR leaders and company executives are well aware of the benefits of employee recognition: stronger employee engagement, retention, and productivity to name a few. Research suggests that 90% of companies have some kind of recognition program yet 1 in 3 employees report they don’t feel recognised. According to a recent Achievers research, managers are off the mark by 2x when it comes to understanding if their staff feel recognised. Managers estimate only 13%, while actually 30% of staff don’t feel recognised in Australia. A big miss for managers and one that could prove costly! In this session, Emma Harvie will share best practice strategies on how you can shift the needle on your recognition program to deliver frequent recognition for your employees, and deliver on your organisation’s objectives.
- Understand why high frequency is key to your employee recognition program’s success
- Leveraging social recognition to create meaningful relationships
- Rethinking recognition to truly move the dial on engagement and culture

Emma Harvie
Manager Client Services, Achievers
Workshop 8: Engaging and Influencing your audience
Now, more than ever, the art of communication is vital to the way we work both in person and online. Being able to engage an audience is a huge personal asset. Discover the practical tools and techniques that can strengthen your connection and influence others. We will take you on a journey exploring the pleasure and potential of making every communication an opportunity to tell your story effectively .
- Enhanced physical and vocal presence
- Techniques to engage and influence your audience
- Communication dynamics - face to face and online

Andrew Martin
Tutor, NIDA Corporate
Workshop 9: FAST TRUST – How team leaders can foster accountable, connected teams
The pandemic has been a game-changer in how we trust at work. According to research, individuals on teams with high trust generate more revenue, are less likely to leave, and are more productive. And it all starts with leaders. In this informative session, renowned presenter, Marie-Claire Ross shares insights from working with both leadership and project teams to improve how people work and collaborate together. In this session, you will discover:
- Three roadblocks that stop trust being built in teams
- The link between psychological safety and accountability in teams
- A three step formula to help leaders build trust sustainably

Marie-Claire Ross
Speaker | Trainer | Coach, Trustologie
Workshop 10: People analytics, automation and human-centred design – bringing about the Future of Work
Data can provide significant insights into the Future of Work. How can you effectively leverage data to support the development of new ways of working?
• Current trends in people analytics
• Multiplying your analytics through automation, human-centred design and agility
• What you need to build a future-ready people analytics capability

Justin Sterns
Head of People Technology and Analytics, Head of Learning and Development, Allens
Opening remarks from the chairperson

Sonya Law
Founder, SL Human Resources Consulting
Workshop 11: Delivering constructive performance feedback virtually
In high performance cultures, feedback is a habit that everyone adopts and the benefits are clear: feedback gives us greater clarity on what we need to work on, it improves our performance and it strengthens our working relationships. Employees are relying more on feedback today than they did before the COVID-19 crisis, yet many of us still find feedback uncomfortable - particularly in a virtual setting. Join in as we step through some strategies for strengthening your feedback culture and some practical tips for sharing sensitive feedback while working remotely.

Matthew Smith
Product Owner, Performance Squad, ANZ
Workshop 12: Has workplace conflict changed? Resolving workplace conflict in 2021
- The role of HR in workplace conflict
- The options, benefits and drawbacks of getting conflicting parties together
- Skills, strategies and mindset tips for HR
- Embracing and normalising workplace conflict

Zandy Fell
Director, The ZALT Group
Workshop 13: Reconciliation: Practical steps to support diversity, inclusion, and equity
The conversation of diversity and inclusion have never been more important than it is today. With important questions relating to race, privilege, and discrimination, how can you as an individual change your understanding and behaviours through reconciliation?
- 5 steps towards reconciliation
- Finding opportunities for change at an individual and organisational level
- Understanding how our current actions and behaviour can contribute or support the issue

Nicola Harrison
Director, Talent & Inclusion, RMIT University and Founder, Therefore Talent
Workshop 14: Developing optimism to enhance your organisational culture
Optimism could just be the 'super power' that businesses need, now more than ever. The good news is that optimism can be learnt, even if you’re not a natural optimist. In this session, we will discuss what it means to be optimistic and how to develop this in your company culture.
• Why you should be optimistic and the science that supports it
• Identifying what makes a person optimistic
• Understanding the habits of an optimist and how to embed them in ourselves and in your organisation

Noirin Mosley
Director, Educate to Elevate, Project Optimism

Victor Perton
Chief Optimism Officer, The Centre for Optimism and Director, Project Optimism
Expo Passport winner is announced
*To enter the draw to win the $2,000 cash prize giveaway, make sure you collect ALL stamps from the sponsors! The Expo Passports will be available at the registration desk.
Workshop 15: Character vs Competency – Which team are you on?
In this session, discover the way leaders can inspire, measure and improve culture and performance through meaningful and authentic human connections using science and technology.
- What creates culture in organisations?
- How can you measure and improve culture in alignment to your values?
- How leaders can create cultures where people feel valued and perform best?
- Understanding the components of leadership and culture and the journey to thriving

Steven Farrugia
Founder & CEO, ShareTree