ACT Employee Relations / Industrial Relations Network

In 2025 the employment law landscape will continue to evolve, as the impact of recent industrial relations changes becomes clearer, and potentially with further changes on the horizon. 

The ACT AHRI ER/IR Network is committed to supporting HR practitioners as they navigate the complexity associated with the changing industrial relations environment. 

Join us for this special AHRI event to start your year in 2025, where Humanify HR Consulting Founder Sarah Queenan will moderate a panel of legal experts and senior HR practitioners about how they in practice are working with the ‘Secure Jobs, Better Pay’ and ‘Closing Loopholes’ amendments, along with other industrial and employee relations matters that are impacting our workplaces. 

During the panel, your moderator will explore in an interactive way some of the topics: 

• increased focus on workplace psychosocial hazards and risks, and what employers need to be aware of in relation to recent legal developments in this area; 

• the new wage theft laws; 

• positive duty compliance under the Sex Discrimination Act; 

• enterprise agreements and bargaining trends; 

• the right to disconnect; 

• use of artificial intelligence tools and employee surveillance at work; and 

• trends in workplace investigations. 

Target Audience  

All HR practitioners with responsibility and/or interest in industrial and employee relations, IR/ER practitioners, aspiring HR professionals, HR professionals, HR Business Partners and/or Senior HR practitioners/leaders.

Facilitator: Sarah Queenan – Founder and Managing Director, Humanify HR Consulting 

Sarah is a trusted advisor and consultant working with a diverse range of Australian organisations, helping them navigate Human Resources and Workplace Relations matters more effectively. 
– With experience in senior HR and leadership roles in both private sector and Government, Sarah is a Fellow Certified HR practitioner of the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). She trained as a lawyer and holds a Master of Laws and Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Australian National University (ANU), along with undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Law from the University of Canberra (UC). Sarah is passionate about supporting the development of HR practitioners and regularly volunteers and speaks at various AHRI events in ACT and across Australia, including as a member of the AHRI National ER/IR Advisory Panel. 

Speaker: Jennifer Wyborn – Partner – Canberra, Clayton Utz

Jennifer is a highly regarded employment lawyer and a recognised leader in her field, sought after for her strategic prowess in resolving complex employment and industrial relations issues. With nearly two decades of experience spanning both government and private sectors, she specialises in navigating the complete spectrum of workplace relations, employment, and safety matters.

 
– As an accredited specialist in employment and industrial relations, Jennifer employs a strategic approach to tackle intricate employment and industrial matters for her diverse clientele. She delivers favourable outcomes in diverse legal challenges, from internal employment dispute resolutions to intricate enterprise agreements and litigation within the Fair Work Commission and courts. 

Speaker: Bede Gahan – Partner – Canberra, Norton Rose Fulbright 

Bede is an employment and labour lawyer based in Canberra. Bede has a particular focus on employment and workplace relations matters, covering entitlements, enterprise bargaining, managing ill and injured workers, performance management, complaints and grievances, and employment-related litigation in the Federal courts, the Fair Work Commission and the Human Rights Commissions. 

His clients are large and sophisticated employers operating in complex regulatory environment. This includes the Commonwealth public sector, as well as clients in the education and health care sectors. 

Speaker: Pauline Hugler – Executive Manager Development People and Culture – Goodwin Aged Care Services 

Pauline has over 20 years extensive experience in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Payroll and Project Management roles at both senior executive and operational levels. 

As Executive Manager Development People and Culture, she oversees the company’s strategic initiatives, provides leadership, business support and strategic direction on HR practices, legislation, and policies to ensure the HR strategic framework supports the business objectives and outcomes of the organisation.

Speaker: Belinda Casson – Chief People Officer – Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) 

Belinda has been the Chief People Officer at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade since January 2023. Belinda leads the provision of HR strategy and services to DFAT in Australia and around the world.

Before joining DFAT, Belinda held the role of acting Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer at the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR), and before that was DEWR’s Chief People Officer.

Belinda has held senior HR and corporate roles in the Department of Finance, ATO, Department of Education and Training, and the Department of Health.

Belinda joined the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations as a graduate in 2001 and has extensive experience in workplace relations and work health and safety policy.

Belinda is an active contributor to the APS HR Professional Stream and the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI).

Other Event Information 

You will obtain 2 CPD points for this forum.

Light refreshments will be provided

Parking: Car parking is available within the Realm Precinct. Parking is complimentary at Hotel Realm for the first 60 minutes. Realm Precinct has over 800 car spaces located across Hotel Realm, Burbury Close, 9 & 3 Sydney Avenue and Little National Hotel. Free parking is available Monday – Friday from 4:30 pm – 3 am and all weekend. 

This event is proudly sponsored by Humanify HR Consulting 

Registration Information 

Registration close: Tuesday 18 February

Having trouble registering? Contact Us or phone 1300 811 880.

By confirming your registration you agree to AHRI’s Event Terms & Conditions.