National Convention & Exhibition 2026
BCEC Brisbane
Brisbane | 4 - 6 August 2026
Program Overview
Our National Convention & Exhibition 2026 program is designed to build courageous leaders who create the conditions for people and organisations to perform and thrive.
8:30 AM
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM (30min)
Official Opening of the 2026 National Convention Exhibition
Welcome to Country and Opening Remarks
9:00 AM
Keynote 1 - Business beyond the Brain: Technology, Consciousness, and Leadership
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Assembly line logic does not apply in an AI world. In the days of Henry Ford, the assembly line was a marvel of efficiency, a testament to the power of incremental innovation and predictable processes. In today’s whirlwind of artificial intelligence and quantum computing, the mind-blowing pace of change demands a radical shift in how we lead and strategize.
Delivered from the intersection of the futures of work, strategy, and leadership Elatia Abate will guide you through an upgrade in your ability to lead yourself, your company, and your teams into a brand-new future through the easily accessible framework: Think / Do / Be.
- Think: Embrace a paradigm-based, emergent approach to strategic planning, moving beyond linear thinking to leverage the interconnected dynamics of today’s markets
- Do: Evolve the practice of business from an intellectual exercise into a holistic approach that encourages leaders to harness the potential of their entire beings
- Be: Define and assume your role as co-creator and architect of the futures of technology, humanity, and the planet
You will leave this session with a renewed sense of optimism, equipped with the tools and insights you need to navigate today’s evolving landscape with confidence.
9:15 AM
9:15 AM – 9:45 AM (30min)
Partner Insights 1 - Your Computer is Trying to Eat You
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How AI is changing work—and why leadership matters more than ever
Artificial Intelligence is transforming the workplace at an unprecedented pace, changing how we work, make decisions and create value. While many organisations are focused on the technology, the real competitive advantage lies in how leaders help their people adapt, learn and thrive. In this engaging and thought-provoking keynote, leadership expert Karlie Cremin explores how AI is reshaping the future of work, the emerging psychosocial risks of rapid technological change, and why human leadership has never been more important.
Key takeaways:
Understand how AI is reshaping work and the opportunities, challenges and psychosocial risks it creates for organisations and their people.
Discover the leadership capabilities that matter most in an AI-powered world, including adaptability, critical thinking, psychological safety and human connection.
Learn practical strategies to build AI-ready teams that embrace change, safeguard wellbeing and use technology to enhance – not replace – human potential.
9:55 AM
9:55 AM – 10:25 AM (30min)
Partner Insights 2 - Adoption by Design: The Playbook for Capability Frameworks That Stick
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Most capability frameworks don’t fail at launch. They fail quietly at month three, when managers stop referencing them, employees can’t see themselves in the language, and the framework fades into a system nobody visits.
Josh Lavulo-Hodges, Director of Customer Success at Acorn, has seen many organisations roll out capability frameworks. In this session, he shares what separates the frameworks that embed from the ones that quietly die.
In this session, you’ll learn:
– Why even well-designed frameworks fail, and the five failure patterns that account for almost every dead rollout
– Why resistance is never irrational, and the one question that turns it from a blocker into a brief
– What good adoption actually looks like at 30 days, 90 days and 12 months, plus three questions to test whether your own framework is embedded or just installed
10:10 AM
10:10 AM – 11:10 AM (60min)
Morning Tea
10:30 AM
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM (30min)
Insights Stage Session 3 - You're responsible. But are you in control?
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HR leaders are expected to have the answers. To be across the legislation, the risks, the people, the process. To be the adult in the room when something goes wrong — even when the thing that went wrong happened three layers down, on a pay run or a roster decision they never saw. It’s a lot to carry. And most of it is invisible to everyone else. In this session, two senior people leaders share candidly about the risks hiding in their own organisations — the things they thought they were across but weren’t, the moments they found out the hard way, and how to get visibility. The conversation will cover ground most HR leaders recognise but rarely say out loud. When underpayment scandals hit the big players, are you certain you’re paying correctly across every employee, every award, every location? When changes like Payday Super come into force, do you have the processes to pivot fast enough? If Fair Work turned up tomorrow, could you prove compliance within hours? And are you in control of your labour costs — one of the biggest cost bases in any business, and one of the least visible? If any of those questions gave you pause, this is the session to be in.
11:00 AM
1a - AI Decisions by Design: Why HR Must be in the Room Where It Happens
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Every organisation in Australia is making decisions about AI right now…. Which use cases to start with, which roles to redesign, how fast to move? These are workforce decisions, culture decisions, decisions about what stays human. And in too many boardrooms, they’re being made without HR at the table.
Dr Kellie Nuttall, former National Lead Partner of Deloitte Australia’s AI Institute and now Executive Director at Future Secure AI, has spent over a decade helping organisations design AI strategies that work. Drawing on her PhD in decision making and nudge psychology, her co-design of the University of Sydney’s AI Fluency for Executives program, and hundreds of enterprise engagements across financial services, transport, retail and government, Kellie brings a sharp perspective: AI adoption is not a technology problem. It is a design problem, a leadership problem, and a people problem, which makes the role of HR leaders more critical than ever before..
With 92% of CHROs expecting deeper AI integration this year and 80% forecasting blended human-AI teams within five years, the question is no longer whether AI enters the workforce, but who designs how it works alongside people.
This session will cut through the hype and give HR leaders what they actually need: the AI fluency to ask the right questions, a design-led framework for reshaping how humans and AI work together, and the confidence to lead adoption, not just manage the fallout. Because AI with leadership and vision is a game changer. AI without it is just expensive experimentation.
11:00 AM
11:00 AM – 11:50 AM (50min)
1b - Separating Signals from the Noise
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In an environment defined by rapid economic shifts and competing headlines, how can HR leaders confidently interpret what really matters? In this session, Chief Economist Besa Deda will cut through the complexity to unpack the key economic signals shaping the Australian and global landscape.
This timely discussion will translate economic trends into practical insights, exploring what labour market movements, inflation, productivity and policy changes mean for workforce planning, talent strategy and organisational decision-making. You’ll gain a clearer understanding of how to distinguish short-term volatility from long-term trends, and the economic forces influencing business today equipping you to make more informed, strategic decisions in an increasingly uncertain environment.
11:00 AM
11:00 AM – 12:45 PM (105min)
Deep Dive 1c - The Trust Revolution: Rebuilding Human Connection in the Changing World of Work
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In a world defined by disruption, distrust and division, trust has become the new currency of leadership, culture and performance. Yet across industries and institutions, it’s in short supply.
Drawing on over 30 years as a humanitarian lawyer, military officer, global advocate and cultural change strategist, Rabia Siddique invites HR leaders to the frontline of a new revolution: The Trust Revolution, where organisations that thrive will be those that put trust, humanity and purpose at the centre of everything they do.
Rabia will explore:
- The Trust Deficit: what’s eroding trust inside our organisations and how it impacts engagement, retention and innovation.
- The Human Reset: how HR professionals can restore connection and psychological safety in the age of AI, hybrid work and burnout.
- The Trust Framework™: Rabia’s proven model for embedding transparency, resilience, unity, storytelling and transformation into leadership and culture.
- Courage with Conscience: the personal and organisational bravery required to rebuild trust from the inside out.
Backed by stories from war zones to boardrooms, Rabia delivers a masterclass in leading with integrity, empathy and accountability. This keynote will challenge, inspire and equip HR professionals to become the architects of trust in a changing world, where trust isn’t just a value, it’s a strategy for survival and success.
11:30 AM
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM (30min)
Partner Insights 4 - Beyond the border: How leading companies scale their workforce
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When organisations go global, the People function doesn’t just get bigger, it gets complex. Compliance shifts with each border. Payments become intricate. Benefits fragment. And the human connection your teams depend on becomes harder to sustain.
This panel gathers industry leaders who’ve cracked it. They’re transforming how companies scale across borders, not by managing complexity, but by building integrated systems that make global work simple.
Together, they’ll share what actually works:
The partnerships that eliminate friction
The infrastructure that keeps compliance ahead of risk
The mindsets that keep your people thriving
Whether delegates are entering their first new region or leading operations across 50+ countries, they’ll discover the systems and strategies that separate organisations that scale with confidence from those stuck managing chaos.
Expect practical answers on navigating the complexity of distributed teams and keeping people at the centre of every decision.
11:30 AM
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM (30min)
Partner Insights 4 - Beyond the border: How leading companies scale their workforce
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When organisations go global, the People function doesn’t just get bigger, it gets complex. Compliance shifts with each border. Payments become intricate. Benefits fragment. And the human connection your teams depend on becomes harder to sustain.
This panel gathers industry leaders who’ve cracked it. They’re transforming how companies scale across borders, not by managing complexity, but by building integrated systems that make global work simple.
Together, they’ll share what actually works:
The partnerships that eliminate friction
The infrastructure that keeps compliance ahead of risk
The mindsets that keep your people thriving
Whether delegates are entering their first new region or leading operations across 50+ countries, they’ll discover the systems and strategies that separate organisations that scale with confidence from those stuck managing chaos.
Expect practical answers on navigating the complexity of distributed teams and keeping people at the centre of every decision.
2a - Future-Ready Workforces: Rethinking Talent, Skills and Structure
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As workforce pressures intensify across Australia, HR leaders are being called on to rethink how organisations attract, develop and deploy talent in a rapidly changing environment. From persistent skills shortages and shifting workforce expectations to technological disruption and evolving regulatory landscapes, the challenge is no longer just planning for the future, it’s building it.
This forward-focused panel brings together experienced HR practitioners to explore what it takes to create a truly future-ready workforce. Drawing on real-world examples and organisational insights, panellists will examine how workforce planning is evolving, where traditional approaches are falling short, and how HR can respond with greater agility and impact.
This session will explore:
- Emerging workforce trends shaping the Australian labour market
- How organisations are rethinking workforce planning, skills and capability development
- The role of HR in balancing short-term pressures with long-term strategic priorities
- Practical approaches to building adaptable, resilient and future-ready teams
Join us for a candid and practical discussion on how HR can lead the workforce transformation agenda, and ensure organisations are equipped for what’s next.
11:55 AM
11:55 AM – 12:45 PM (50min)
2b - How to network and grow your brand without the ick.
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HR professionals are great at looking after others. But how much are you putting into you? How intentional have you been about growing your network, building your influence and enriching your own career and life journey?
If you’re wincing as you read that, this session’s for you.
Mark Puncher, brand, culture and leadership specialist, says it’s never been more important for HR professionals to make space to reconnect – with their peers, their ‘why’ and their own path. In this invigorating, honest session, he’ll show you why it matters and what makes the difference. Then he’ll give you a crash course on how to build your personal brand and professional network, by leveraging imperfection, authenticity and genuine care.
12:05 AM
12:05 AM – 12:35 PM (30min)
Partner Insights 5 - What Happens When Employee Data Meets AI
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Chelsea Gerrard brings over 8+ years of experience across People & Culture and Sales, where she’s worked closely with leaders navigating the challenge of scaling efficiently while delivering a great employee experience. She’s passionate about technology that streamlines work, supports compliance, and empowers teams — proving that operational excellence and people-first cultures can go hand in hand.
12:45 PM
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM (60min)
Lunch
1:45 PM
3a - Skills That Will Define the Next Decade
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The next decade will challenge how leaders think, decide and act. As competing priorities intensify and the pace of change accelerates, the ability to make sense of what matters, and what doesn’t, will define effective leadership.
In this forward-focused session, Dr Sandra Peter will explore the critical shifts shaping the future of work and leadership. Drawing on insights from more than 150 global leaders she will unpack the “future clashes” HR leaders must navigate, where competing demands require new ways of thinking, balancing and decision-making.
Dr Peter will provide a clear, practical view of the skills that will define leadership over the next decade, and how HR can play a critical role in shaping and enabling these across their organisations.
This discussion will equip you with a sharper understanding of emerging risks and opportunities, along with a practical lens to prioritize capability development and position your organisation for what comes next.
1:45 PM
3b - Let’s Take This Offline – Live!
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Be a part of the conversation as AHRI’s Let’s Take This Offline podcast comes to life on stage at the AHRI Convention. Hosted by Narelle Hooper, award-winning business editor and author, this special live recording will bring together leading voices in HR and business for a candid, unscripted discussion on the issues shaping the profession right now.
1:45 PM
1:45 PM – 3:30 PM (105min)
Deep Dive 3c - ER/IR Unpacked: Your Questions Answered
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Workplace relations are evolving rapidly and HR is at the centre of it. In this interactive session, we put your most pressing employee, and industrial relations questions front and centre. From navigating complex legislation to managing workplace disputes and emerging risks, our panel of experts will respond in real time to the issues that matter most to you. Come ready to ask, challenge and explore practical solutions you can take straight back to your organisation.
1:45 PM – 2:15 PM (30min)
Partner Insights 6 - Learning as a Strategic Lever: How Organisations Build Capability, Engagement and Performance
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Join Magnus Gittins, Chief Executive Education Officer at Melbourne Business School (MBS), and senior leaders from leading organisations as they share how they have partnered with MBS to address some of their critical business challenges through learning. Through a series of practical case studies, our panellists will explore how targeted capability building has strengthened leadership, accelerated strategic priorities, enhanced employee engagement and delivered organisational impact.
2:30 PM
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM (30min)
Partner Insights 7 - From Overwhelmed to Impact: How HR Can Lead AI Transformation
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The HR function has never been asked to do more. From hiring and people strategy to managing risk, keeping employees well, paying employees correctly, managing psychosocial safety – and more – the remit keeps growing while the resources and time don’t. For many HR practitioners, the question isn’t whether to adopt AI, it’s how to do it when you’re already stretched so thin.
In this session, Anne Tosky, Chief People Officer at ELMO Software, shares what it actually looks like to build an AI-enabled HR function from the inside, the experiments, the missteps, and the practical wins. From building AI agents that save hours in a workflow, to reinstating a protected Friday “AI power hour” for the team to experiment, Anne brings a refreshingly honest and relatable perspective on what HR-led AI adoption looks like in practice.
You’ll leave with a clear picture of how to start and why HR, with its change management skills and people-first lens, is uniquely positioned to not just adopt AI, but to lead it across the organisation.
2:40 PM
2:40 PM – 3:30 PM (50min)
4a - Inclusion by Design: Integrating Equity into Core HR Practice
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Embedding inclusion into everyday HR practice requires more than strategy and intent, it demands deliberate design, consistent behaviours and systems that reinforce equity at every touchpoint.
In this panel discussion, senior DEI and HR leaders will share how they are translating inclusion from aspiration into action across core HR functions, including talent, performance, policy design and employee experience.
Drawing on real-world examples and case studies, panellists will explore what works in practice, where organisations often fall short, and how to navigate the tension between ambition and operational reality.
This session will provide practical insight into how inclusion can be embedded into decision-making, processes and leadership behaviours, not as a standalone initiative, but as a core component of effective and ethical HR practice.
2:40 PM
4b - The Hidden Human Costs of AI at Work: A New Reality of Change
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As organisations accelerate AI adoption, the conversation has largely focused on capability, efficiency and innovation. But beneath the surface, a different story is emerging one defined by disruption to identity, increased pressure on workers, and a growing toll on mental health.
This panel brings together future-focused thought leaders to explore the less visible impacts of AI in the workplace. Moving beyond the hype, panellists will challenge common assumptions including why AI adoption may be the wrong target, why training initiatives often fall short, and how the rise of AI agents is fundamentally reshaping expectations of talent.
The discussion will delve into the human experience of this transformation from burnout, psychosocial risks and declining civility to a more subtle but significant shift: employees who are silently grieving the loss of familiar roles, career pathways and professional identity. Drawing on emerging research and real-world insights, the panel will unpack what this means for performance, engagement and organisational health.
Importantly, this session will also focus on what leaders and HR practitioners can do now. From redefining the role of HR in navigating change, to supporting new and emerging roles in AI-enabled workplaces, attendees will gain practical perspectives on how to respond with both strategic intent and human insight. This discussion will offer a candid, thought-provoking exploration of the future of work not just as a technology story, but as a human one.
3:30 PM
3:30 PM – 4:10 PM (40min)
Afternoon tea
3:35 PM
3:35 PM – 4:05 PM (30min)
Partner Insights 8 - Delivering Workforce Intelligence to Power Your Enterprise AI
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We all know Generative AI is fundamentally reshaping how organisations work, and HR is central to this story. Leaders now expect instant, intelligent answers, and accurate workforce data must be on tap today. This session explores how HR leaders can build a workforce intelligence capability that delivers governed, role-appropriate data at speed, turning AI ambition into decisions leaders can act on with confidence.
4:10 PM
4:10 PM – 5:00 PM (50min)
Keynote 2 - Into the Storm: Leading in Uncertainty
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The future is increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous and full of doubt. Many think that the way to handle this is to artificially impose stability, certainty, simplicity, clarity and conviction. This is the domestication of leadership; something that only serves in stable, unchanging domains.
But true leadership lives in the wild. We must learn to thrive amidst change.
Dr. Jason Fox will unpack key emerging trends in this time of accelerated change and showcases the sensibilities that allow for coordination amidst complexity at scale. You will be both vexed and inspired to lead (without permission).
5:30 PM
5:30 PM – 10:30 PM (300min)
Gala Dinner
8:45 AM
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM (15min)
Opening
9:00 AM
9:10 AM – 10:10 AM (70min)
Keynote 3 - The New Rules of Change
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The old change playbook is broken. You know this to be true.
You’ve watched smart people create expensive disasters. Organisational change isn’t just faster and more relentless, it’s fundamentally different.
Yet we’re still using yesterday’s map.
In this session, you’ll discover
- why you need to master two completely different spheres of change
- why Easy Change tactics make Hard Change worse; and
- the four foundational truths everyone tries to sidestep.
This isn’t theory. It’s practical wisdom from thirty years in the trenches of organizational change.
Michael Bungay Stanier has spent three decades figuring out what actually works in organizational change. He hosts Change Signal, the podcast that cuts through the noise to find the good stuff. He’s also written eight books, including The Coaching Habit — the best-selling coaching book of this century.
10:10 AM
10:10 AM – 11:00 AM (50min)
Morning tea
10:30 AM
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM (30min)
Partner Insights 11 - What workers are actually experiencing – the psychology behind the data
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We’ve been looking at mental health data from Q1 2026, and what struck us wasn’t the headline number, it was the feeling underneath. People are stuck. Not in crisis, but tired. The data shows us what’s driving this, and more importantly, what’s actually possible. When people feel psychologically safe, they lose 25 fewer days of productivity per year. When they feel unsupported, they leave. In this session, we’ll explore what this experience feels like from the inside, share the psychology behind it, and offer practical ideas for creating conditions where people can thrive.
You’ll leave with: The data, the story, and next steps.
11:00 AM
5a - Culture by Design: Leading Engagement from the Top
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Organisational culture and employee engagement are no longer abstract concepts, they are critical drivers of performance, retention and organisational resilience. But in an environment shaped by constant change, rising expectations and increasing complexity, how can HR leaders intentionally shape cultures that truly engage their people?
In this panel discussion, experienced HR leaders will share how they are defining, embedding and evolving culture within their organisations. Moving beyond theory, the conversation will explore the practical realities of aligning culture with strategy, measuring and sustaining engagement, and navigating the tension between performance, flexibility and employee experience.
11:00 AM
11:00 AM – 11:50 AM (50min)
5b - Well Leaders Lead Well: A Strategic Blueprint for HR
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Most organisations focus on what leaders do. This session led by Chartered Coaching and Occupational Psychologist Audrey McGibbon will focus on what makes it possible for them to do it and determines the quality of every decision, conversation and act of leadership.
“Wellbeing” discussions often fall into one of two traps: too personal (tips for resilience, stress management and healthy habits) or too compliance-heavy (upholding psychosocial risk obligations). This discussion will do neither. It’s not a session about burnout or self-care. It is a strategic, practical reframe for HR leaders who want to bring something fresh, evidence-based and genuinely actionable to their wellbeing, leadership and change agenda in 2026.
This session repositions leader wellbeing as a determinant of leadership effectiveness, and the foundation from which every other capability is built… or broken. That reframe has direct, practical implications for how HR designs, measures and positions its leadership agenda.
Drawing on GLWS® benchmark data from over 10,000 leaders and professionals, independently validated by the University of Melbourne, Audrey explains the powerful and practical but often invisible ways a leader’s personal wellbeing cascades through their teams, culture and organisational results.
Attendees will leave with:
- A reframe of wellbeing as both an outcome to measure AND a leading indicator of the outcomes organisations care most about, not the one thing strategy, competency frameworks and L&D programmes routinely overlook.
- A new concept – the Leadership Wellbeing Shadow – and a practical framework with immediately usable language to bring this conversation to their boards and executive teams.
- A two-part strategic framework offering a practical distinction between Wellbeing of Leaders (individual) + Leadership of Wellbeing (systemic), and why HR needs both and how to enable those conversations.
- Practical case-studies, ROI data, and benchmark evidence to bolster the business case for acting now
- Clear first steps for HR to (re)position leader wellbeing as a strategic asset, not a welfare concern
- Quality takeaway resource for follow-up and deployment, personally and professionally.
11:00 AM
11:00 AM – 12:45 PM (105min)
Deep Dive 5c - From Awareness to Implementation: Designing NeuroInclusive Workplace Systems
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Many organisations recognise the importance of neurodiversity but struggle to translate awareness into practical change. This deeper session explores how HR professionals can move from awareness to implementation by designing systems that support neurodivergent employees while strengthening organisational outcomes.
What we will cover
- Inclusive recruitment and interview design
- Supporting managers with confidence
- Psychological safety within teams
- Reducing escalation pressure on HR
- Creating effective onboarding experiences
What you will gain:
- A practical implementation framework
- Strategies for supporting managers
- Ideas for strengthening recruitment and onboarding processes
- An approach for introducing neuroinclusive practices across their organisation
11:30 AM
Partner Insights 12 - Rethinking Talent Acquisition: Strategies for today's market
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Today’s talent market demands a more strategic approach to attracting and engaging candidates. This session will explore how organisations are evolving their talent acquisition strategies by strengthening their employer value proposition, expanding sourcing channels, leveraging technology to enhance the candidate experience, and building more effective talent communities. Join us as we discuss practical approaches to creating stronger talent pipelines, re-engaging existing networks, and engaging candidates earlier in the hiring journey to drive better recruitment outcomes.
11:55 AM
11:55 AM – 12:45 PM (50min)
6a - Beyond Compliance: Rethinking Psychosocial Risk in the Workplace
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Psychosocial risk is now firmly on the agenda for HR and workplace leaders, but navigating it effectively requires more than compliance alone. It demands a deeper understanding of both legal obligations and human behaviour.
In this lively moderated discussion,’Judgemental Podcast’ collaborators psychologist Kate Connors and lawyer Greg Smith come together to unpack the real-world challenges of managing psychosocial hazards such as workplace investigations, bullying and interpersonal conflict.
These hazards are common causes of psychological injury and create significant burden on HR resources and systems. Drawing on case law, research and frontline experience, they explore where common approaches fall short, and what organisations often get wrong. This session will provide practical insights to help HR leaders interpret their obligations, avoid unintended harm, and take a more informed, integrated approach to creating psychologically safe workplaces.
11:55 AM
11:55 AM – 12:45 PM (50min)
6b - Future-Ready Public Service: Skills, Systems and Workforce Expectations
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Belinda Casson MAHRI
Chief People Officer,
Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
Catherine McLachlan FCPHR
Acting First Assistant Secretary,
Federal Department of Finance
Jasna Blackwell CPHR
Chief People Officer and Chief Risk Officer,
Department of Education
Tim Abrahams CPHR
Assistant Secretary, People Branch,
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM (60min)
Lunch
1:45 PM
1:45 PM – 2:35 PM (50min)
7a - Optimising AI Benefits through Smart Work Design
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Increasingly leaders are discovering AI systems frequently do not deliver their expected benefits, whilst in the meantime workers take on an extra burden of change and uncertainty.
In this session, world-leading researcher on the topic of job design, Professor Sharon K. Parker will advocate for the importance of considering work design when designing, implementing, and evaluating the use of AI systems.
Sharon will outline the Smart Work Design model as an underpinning framework then unpack the ways work design can be affected by AI systems, and finally share how HR leaders can bring work design into the process of AI-based change, both to enhance the value of AI for the organisation and to protect and enhance the well-being of workers.
1:45 PM
1:45 PM – 2:35 PM (50min)
7b - Hidden Talent: Unlocking Underutilised Workforce Potential
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Despite ongoing skills shortages and evolving workforce demands, many organisations continue to overlook large segments of available talent.
Findings from the March 2026 AHRI Quarterly Work Outlook highlight a critical challenge, nearly 7 in 10 employers admit to excluding candidates based on certain characteristics, significantly narrowing available talent pools.
This session explores how HR leaders can rethink talent acquisition strategies to better access underutilised talent pools and respond to both capability gaps and shifting labour market dynamics. As organisations become more selective in their hiring, there is a growing risk that systemic exclusion is limiting workforce participation and organisational performance.
Drawing on the latest AHRI data a panel of experts will explore opportunities to unlock these untapped sources of capability to address future workforce needs.
1:45 PM
1:45 PM – 2:35 PM (50min)
7c - Designing HR for What's Next: Structuring Your Team for Future Success
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As business expectations evolve, HR functions are being challenged to rethink how they operate, where they add value, and the capabilities they need for the future. There is no single blueprint for success, but HR leaders across industries are experimenting with new models, structures and ways of working.
In this interactive session, HR leaders will share how their HR operating models are evolving, the changes they are making today, and the lessons they have learned along the way. Through real-world examples, audience polling and practical discussion, the panel will explore the strategic questions every HR team should be asking—from capability building and digital enablement to balancing operational excellence with strategic impact.
Attendees will leave with practical insights, fresh perspectives and tangible ideas to help shape the future design of their own HR function.
2:45 PM
2:45 PM – 3:40 PM (55min)
Keynote 4 - The Future of HR: Leading the Next Generation in a Changing World
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The future of work is not just being reshaped by technology, but by a fundamental shift in the people who power our organisations. As Gen Z and Gen Alpha move from being the workforce of the future to the workforce of now, HR leaders are standing at a critical crossroads. To truly “roar” in this new era, HR professionals must move beyond traditional models to understand the values-driven, digitally fluent, and change-weary generations entering the office.
In this engaging keynote, social researcher and futurist Ashley Fell unpacks the demographic and sociological shifts transforming the intergenerational workplace. Drawing on the latest research, Ashley explores how to balance rapid technological advances like AI with the essential human needs of trust, wellbeing, and connection. This session moves beyond stereotypes to provide evidence-based strategies for attracting, engaging, and retaining emerging talent while building a culture where every generation can thrive.
Key takeaways will include:
- Understanding the New Workforce: Insights into the unique motivations and expectations of Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
- The Multi-Generational Advantage: Practical strategies to unlock the strengths of a five-generation workforce.
- Future-Proofing HR: How to lead with confidence amidst shorter tenures, hybrid work, and shifting leadership styles.
- Human-Centric Tech: Navigating the intersection of AI and automation while keeping human connection at the centre of work.
3:40 PM
3:40 PM – 3:50 PM (5min)
Close
3:45 PM
3:50 PM – 4:45 PM (60min)
Networking Event
8:10 AM – 8:50 AM (40min)
Relax, Nothing Is Under Control: The Science of Sound for Connection, Calm, and Clarity
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This 40-minute experiential workshop explores the science of sound and how it can strengthen team connection and focus. Drawing on her psychological research, Dr Gemma Perry will explain how sound affects the brain and body, as well as guide you through practical, evidence-informed sound techniques that can be integrated into daily life. You will leave with an understanding of how sound practices can enhance connection, reduce stress and support sustained focus, along with a toolbox and digital resources to take back to your teams.
9:00 AM
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (60min)
Masterclass 1 - Part 1 - Build a Career You Love
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The way we work and grow our careers is evolving faster than ever, from short-lived job titles to mosaic careers shaped around purpose, creativity, and resilience. This exclusive masterclass will invite you to rethink career design entirely, from chasing linear ladders to crafting intentional, values-driven pathways that weather disruption and amplify fulfillment.
This course blends visionary frameworks with practical tools to help you confidently navigate and create your next chapter in a world transformed by technology, AI, and exponential change.
You will gain
- A clear framework to design a future-led, mosaic-shaped career that reflects your deepest values and skills — beyond outdated “climb the ladder” models.
- Confidence and clarity to move from fear and inertia to decisive action in your professional life.
Tools for connection and influence — from reshaping your networking mindset to telling your story across industries. - Strategies to thrive amid AI-driven change and technological disruption rather than be disrupted by it.
- A future-ready career roadmap grounded in purpose, adaptability, and long-term fulfillment — no matter market conditions.
9:00 AM
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (60min)
Masterclass 2 - Part 1 - Modern Change Mastery
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If you’re responsible for change, the good news is you’re busy. The average employee experienced 10 planned enterprise changes in 2022, up from two in 2016.
The bad news? The job feels almost impossible.
If it’s not McKinsey telling you there’s a 70% chance of failure, it’s Bain telling you it’s an 88% chance.
If it’s not DDI saying only 8% of execs lead change effectively, it’s Gartner saying that employee support of enterprise change has halved to 38% in less than a decade.
The old models and frameworks (not to mention hopes and dreams) are no longer fit for purpose so if you’re a transformational leader who wants to succeed, you need something new: modern change mastery.
This practical and interactive workshop builds on Michael Bungay Stanier’s The New Rules of Change AHRI Convention keynote.
It will dig deeper into the three core drivers of change and help you recalibrate to the new requirements of leadership, of employees, and of a change team.
We will identify your current strengths, where there’s still work for you to do – and help you realize where you’re both over and under indexing strategies and tactics, so you can refine your approach.
This will be a fun, practical, and interactive session that will be delightfully facilitated and will use the wisdom in the room.
Michael been described as “like Simon Sinek … but funnier.” He’s also been chastised for wearing too-tight trousers in his TEDx talk. So, this could go either way.
9:00 AM
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (60min)
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Public sector expectations are shifting rapidly as citizen needs, service models and enabling technologies continue to evolve. Organisations can no longer rely solely on existing structures, capabilities or ways of working to deliver what citizens increasingly expect or require.
For HR professionals, these changes raise important questions about how work is organised, how capability is built, and how people across the system interact — placing HR at the centre of how public sector organisations evolve.
This session combines a keynote perspective and an interactive workshop to help HR leaders and practitioners make sense of what is emerging and what it means in practice. Victor Dominello (former Minister for Customer Service and Digital, NSW Government) will open the session with insights into the evolving role of service and technology in the public sector, and the large scale trends shaping its relationships and interactions with citizens.
Participants will then be guided through a collaborative workshop exploring what this means for HR in the public sector, how to view their own organisations as dynamic systems, and how they can begin making change within their own context.
Attendees will gain greater clarity about the future of public service, a stronger understanding of HR’s role within complex organisational systems, and practical starting points for shaping public sector organisations that can respond and adapt over time
Masterclass 3 - Part 1 - Citizens, Services and the Evolution of Government: The Role of HR in Building Fit-For-the-Future Public-Sector Organisations
9:00 AM
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (60min)
Masterclass 4 - Part 1 - Stepping-In: Designing your organisations AI fuelled future
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Australia needs more HR strategists that understand how to unlock the full value of a human and AI future.
The ‘Stepping-In’ Masterclasses is designed to give HR Professionals the insights, understanding and practical tools to ensure they can ensure their organisations Ai journey is built on trust, human centricity and productivity.
If you thought AI happening fast, strap in, because it’s about to get so much faster.
The Prime Ministers recent guidance and insight into Australia’s AI journey will ultimately shape your organisations HR and workforce strategy.
The Masterclass will get you ready for the future and prepare you to design your organisations AI transition that is focused on workforce efficiency, effectiveness and employability. It will explore what is happening globally and provide insight into the ‘six HR shifts’ that you must get right to become a powerful HR strategist in the AI era. Specifically, we will explore:
- AI as a capability model not a tool
- Aligning workforce strategy with AI strategy
- Designing a human and AI transition
- AI ethics and the workforce
- Agentic AI management systems and assurance
- Leadership in the AI era
The Masterclass is for HR strategists, and will enable you to design a alternative future for your organisation…and your career.
10:00 AM
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM (30min)
Morning Tea
11:00 AM
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (120min)
Masterclasses Part 2
1:00 PM
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (60min)
Lunch
2:00 PM
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (90min)
Masterclasses Part 3
9:15 AM
Tuesday 4th August
9:15 AM – 9:45 AM (30min)
Partner Insights 1 - Your Computer is Trying to Eat You
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How AI is changing work—and why leadership matters more than ever
Artificial Intelligence is transforming the workplace at an unprecedented pace, changing how we work, make decisions and create value. While many organisations are focused on the technology, the real competitive advantage lies in how leaders help their people adapt, learn and thrive. In this engaging and thought-provoking keynote, leadership expert Karlie Cremin explores how AI is reshaping the future of work, the emerging psychosocial risks of rapid technological change, and why human leadership has never been more important.
Key takeaways:
Understand how AI is reshaping work and the opportunities, challenges and psychosocial risks it creates for organisations and their people.
Discover the leadership capabilities that matter most in an AI-powered world, including adaptability, critical thinking, psychological safety and human connection.
Learn practical strategies to build AI-ready teams that embrace change, safeguard wellbeing and use technology to enhance – not replace – human potential.
9:55 AM
9:55 AM – 10:25 AM (30min)
Partner Insights 2 - Adoption by Design: The Playbook for Capability Frameworks That Stick
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Most capability frameworks don’t fail at launch. They fail quietly at month three, when managers stop referencing them, employees can’t see themselves in the language, and the framework fades into a system nobody visits.
Josh Lavulo-Hodges, Director of Customer Success at Acorn, has seen many organisations roll out capability frameworks. In this session, he shares what separates the frameworks that embed from the ones that quietly die.
In this session, you’ll learn:
– Why even well-designed frameworks fail, and the five failure patterns that account for almost every dead rollout
– Why resistance is never irrational, and the one question that turns it from a blocker into a brief
– What good adoption actually looks like at 30 days, 90 days and 12 months, plus three questions to test whether your own framework is embedded or just installed
11:30 AM
Tuesday 4th August
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM (30min)
Partner Insights 4 - Beyond the border: How leading companies scale their workforce
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When organisations go global, the People function doesn’t just get bigger, it gets complex. Compliance shifts with each border. Payments become intricate. Benefits fragment. And the human connection your teams depend on becomes harder to sustain.
This panel gathers industry leaders who’ve cracked it. They’re transforming how companies scale across borders, not by managing complexity, but by building integrated systems that make global work simple.
Together, they’ll share what actually works:
The partnerships that eliminate friction
The infrastructure that keeps compliance ahead of risk
The mindsets that keep your people thriving
Whether delegates are entering their first new region or leading operations across 50+ countries, they’ll discover the systems and strategies that separate organisations that scale with confidence from those stuck managing chaos.
Expect practical answers on navigating the complexity of distributed teams and keeping people at the centre of every decision.
12:05 AM
12:05 AM – 12:35 PM (30min)
Partner Insights 5 - What Happens When Employee Data Meets AI
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Chelsea Gerrard brings over 8+ years of experience across People & Culture and Sales, where she’s worked closely with leaders navigating the challenge of scaling efficiently while delivering a great employee experience. She’s passionate about technology that streamlines work, supports compliance, and empowers teams — proving that operational excellence and people-first cultures can go hand in hand.
Tuesday 4th August
1:45 PM – 2:15 PM (30min)
Partner Insights 6 - Learning as a Strategic Lever: How Organisations Build Capability, Engagement and Performance
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Join Magnus Gittins, Chief Executive Education Officer at Melbourne Business School (MBS), and senior leaders from leading organisations as they share how they have partnered with MBS to address some of their critical business challenges through learning. Through a series of practical case studies, our panellists will explore how targeted capability building has strengthened leadership, accelerated strategic priorities, enhanced employee engagement and delivered organisational impact.
2:30 PM
Tuesday 4th August
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM (30min)
Partner Insights 7 - From Overwhelmed to Impact: How HR Can Lead AI Transformation
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The HR function has never been asked to do more. From hiring and people strategy to managing risk, keeping employees well, paying employees correctly, managing psychosocial safety – and more – the remit keeps growing while the resources and time don’t. For many HR practitioners, the question isn’t whether to adopt AI, it’s how to do it when you’re already stretched so thin.
In this session, Anne Tosky, Chief People Officer at ELMO Software, shares what it actually looks like to build an AI-enabled HR function from the inside, the experiments, the missteps, and the practical wins. From building AI agents that save hours in a workflow, to reinstating a protected Friday “AI power hour” for the team to experiment, Anne brings a refreshingly honest and relatable perspective on what HR-led AI adoption looks like in practice.
You’ll leave with a clear picture of how to start and why HR, with its change management skills and people-first lens, is uniquely positioned to not just adopt AI, but to lead it across the organisation.
3:35 PM
Tuesday 4th August
3:35 PM – 4:05 PM (30min)
Partner Insights 8 - Delivering Workforce Intelligence to Power Your Enterprise AI
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We all know Generative AI is fundamentally reshaping how organisations work, and HR is central to this story. Leaders now expect instant, intelligent answers, and accurate workforce data must be on tap today. This session explores how HR leaders can build a workforce intelligence capability that delivers governed, role-appropriate data at speed, turning AI ambition into decisions leaders can act on with confidence.
10:30 AM
Wednesday 5th August
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM (30min)
Partner Insights 11 - What workers are actually experiencing – the psychology behind the data
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We’ve been looking at mental health data from Q1 2026, and what struck us wasn’t the headline number, it was the feeling underneath. People are stuck. Not in crisis, but tired. The data shows us what’s driving this, and more importantly, what’s actually possible. When people feel psychologically safe, they lose 25 fewer days of productivity per year. When they feel unsupported, they leave. In this session, we’ll explore what this experience feels like from the inside, share the psychology behind it, and offer practical ideas for creating conditions where people can thrive.
You’ll leave with: The data, the story, and next steps.
11:30 AM
Partner Insights 12 - Rethinking Talent Acquisition: Strategies for today's market
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Today’s talent market demands a more strategic approach to attracting and engaging candidates. This session will explore how organisations are evolving their talent acquisition strategies by strengthening their employer value proposition, expanding sourcing channels, leveraging technology to enhance the candidate experience, and building more effective talent communities. Join us as we discuss practical approaches to creating stronger talent pipelines, re-engaging existing networks, and engaging candidates earlier in the hiring journey to drive better recruitment outcomes.
