AHRI ACT Conference 2025
22 October 2025
Hyatt Hotel Canberra
Wednesday 22 October | 8:15am – 6:00pm
8:15am
ARRIVAL AND NETWORKING
8:40am
OPENING COMMENTS
AHRI ADDRESS
Jacqui Curtis PSM FCPHR · Chief Operating Officer, Australian Taxation Office · Non-executive Director, Australian HR Institute
9:00am
OPENING KEYNOTE
Safe minds, strong teams: Building psychosocial safety for a thriving workforce
This session will explore the foundations of a strong safety culture, with a focus on identifying psychosocial hazards, early intervention, and harm prevention. It will examine the balance between organisational responsibility and individual accountability, and how safety underpins high-performance cultures. This session will also address how HR professionals can protect their own wellbeing while supporting vulnerable employees. Carrie will share Lifeline’s approach, including clinical supervision, innovative wellbeing initiatives, and mental health training for staff.
10:00am
SESSION 2
How to drive pride, connection and change through real conversations and stories
We’re all experiencing navigating our fair share of change and complexity — at work, in life, and across society. So how do we keep our teams connected, supported, and empowered to perform, no matter the circumstances? One of the most impactful strategies is to focus on authentic, strategic culture-building. And the key to bringing that to life? Real storytelling and meaningful conversations.
In this session, Mark Puncher will show you how to do it — and what it can achieve for your people, your organisation, and you. You’ll leave with:
- A clear understanding of what matters most to Australian talent in 2025–2026
- Practical ideas for embedding storytelling and authentic conversations into your organisation
- The inspiration and confidence to take action when you return to work.
10:45am
MORNING TEA, EXPO, NETWORKING
11:15am
SESSION 3 – INDUSTRY EXPERT PANEL
Integrity in practice – examples from HR and industry leaders
Sarah Queenan FCPHR (Facilitator) · Founder and Managing Director · Humanify HR Consulting
Alison Stott FCPHR · Deputy Commissioner and Chief People Officer · Australian Tax Office (ATO)
Benjamin Morris CAHRI · Group General Manager, Human Resources · Mirvac Group
Prof. Deborah Blackman FCPHR · Associate Dean (Life Long Learning) · UNSW Canberra
Mark Puncher · Chief Executive Officer · Employer Branding Australia
Integrity in HR is crucial for building trust, respect, and inclusive work environments, as well as ensuring ethical decision-making. Executives and HR leaders are often expected to be role models in upholding high standards of conduct and integrity in the workplace. But what happens when this isn’t the case? What are the signs that something may not be as it should be?
Foresight and intuition are essential for any HR professional navigating integrity challenges. However, these traits are often developed through having dealt with difficult and unplanned situations in the past — and learning from mistakes.
In this session, our panel of industry experts and HR leaders will explore real-world examples of complex integrity challenges, giving the audience a chance to build their own foresight and intuition — without the need for battle scars.
12:30pm
LUNCH, EXPO, NETWORKING
1:30pm
SESSION 4
DEI in a Trump 2.0 world and beyond
In this session, Dr. Judy Lundy will explore why diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) must remain a top priority for organisations aiming to build trust and foster kinder, more respectful workplaces. Drawing on her research and extensive experience, she will highlight both the business case and the broader societal value of embracing DEI.
Dr. Lundy will also examine the current challenges of advancing inclusive practices in a climate marked by resistance and backlash. She will share practical strategies for embedding DEI into workplace culture in meaningful and lasting ways. Attendees will leave with actionable insights to help create environments where all individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute fully.
2:30pm
SESSION 5 - PANEL
Attracting, recruiting and retaining people with a disability
Delving into the systemic barriers that hinder the employment of people with disabilities, this panel will explore practical strategies HR practitioners can use to improve recruitment, retention, and create inclusive workplaces in Australia.
Despite various policy reforms and increased funding over the past two decades, Australians with disabilities still face significant challenges in gaining and maintaining employment. Research shows that increasing the employment rate of people with disabilities by just 10% could boost Australia’s economic output by $16 billion annually.
The expert panel includes individuals with lived experience of disability and passionate advocates for workforce inclusion. Each panellist will share their unique perspectives and experiences to enrich the discussion.
3:30pm
AFTERNOON TEA, EXPO, NETWORKING
4:00pm
SESSION 6
Leading on inclusive gender equality towards a prosperous, equal and inclusive future
In this session, Elizabeth Broderick AO will share insights from over 15 years of working with CEOs, board leaders, and their teams as part of the Champions of Change Coalition. She will discuss the progress made so far, the significant challenges that remain, and the priorities needed to achieve the bold vision of inclusive gender equality across workplaces within a generation.