Excellence and wellbeing – reshaping your HR toolkit
Explore the ways in which we can lift HR practice to the next level and add more value within organisations.
Day 1 – Thursday 13 June
8:15am
Coffee and networking
9:00am
opening comments
Rod Francisco FCPHR · QLD State President · Australian HR Institute
9:15am
KEYNOTE: Leadership in a crisis
Major General Jake Ellwood (Rtd) is the Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, the lead state agency for disaster recovery and resilience. He shares his leadership style with stories and insights from his extensive and distinguished Australian Defence Force (ADF) career, which has seen him serve as State Recovery Coordinator for the 2021-22 Southern Queensland Floods; Commander of 1st Division (Brisbane); Deputy Chief of Army; and ADF National Coordinator Black Summer Bushfires 2019-20. He has served in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and East Timor.
10:10am
KEYNOTE 2: When a crisis makes us think that we might not have it right and its impact on workplace wellness
As is often the case, until it becomes a crisis, nothing happens.
When crisis hits, it often makes us question if we truly have it right – are our processes, values and approaches effective and sustainable? This is often an uncomfortable period of time for an organisation. Quite often, the first reaction is to just fix it. Quite often, the first solution does nothing to address the issue holistically.
This presentation explores how one crisis was the catalyst for a cultural change program where employee’s wellness was an unexpected winner.
11:00am
Morning tea, expo, networking
11:30am
SESSION 3: Developing a Sustainable and Affordable AI Strategy
In the rapidly changing landscape of AI, HR is confronted by uncertainty. Blind adoption of AI holds risks, emphasising the need for informed decisions to build an affordable and sustainable AI strategy. Understanding AI and the changing Web3 HR technology environment makes strategic planning even more difficult. This session simplifies AI complexity and explains conventional, generative, and predictive AI types. It highlights data’s pivotal role in AI solutions and its’ importance when establishing trust in AI models. To emphasise the importance, we look at Gartner’s AI Hype Cycle and the positioning of AI Data Labelling and Annotation as the cycle moves towards the “Plateau of Productivity” in less than two years. The session introduces new AI data annotation roles in HR to ensure data quality. Automation tools enhance these roles, aligning with evolving work patterns and encouraging knowledge retention. Employing inexperienced annotators on low wages from developing nations was once acceptable to rapidly build generative AI products, but the practice no longer fits enterprise AI models.
12:20pm
SESSION 4: The true cost of HR performance minimalisation versus HR compliance excellence
Excellence is a standard that HR professionals strive for but, regrettably, is a target that is often missed. This can be because of constraints in time and resources, or even in skills, but can also be driven by a need to ‘toe the line’ for senior management. Getting by with doing the bare minimum may look good on the balance sheet, and taking action to please superiors can of course avoid internal friction. However, prioritising these considerations often falls into the category of a taking a short term ‘win’ without a proper understanding that longer term time, cost and even professional reputation may be being sacrificed on that altar. In this session, Cameron will discuss what excellence looks like and the importance of taking the longer-term view when considering the legal and other downsides that can play out if things go wrong by not putting excellence at the forefront of HR decision making.
1:10pm
Lunch, expo and networking
2:00pm
SESSION 5: What’s Next for Employer Branding
Employer Branding has always been a powerful tool to attract, retain and engage the people you need to be successful. However, the world is changing at a greater pace than ever, presenting challenges and opportunities for how we communicate our ‘why work here’ messages. Employer Branding is adapting and evolving to this new world of work and effective Employee Value Propositions (EVPs) are more critical than ever to a coherent, people & culture strategy.
In this session we explore how major changes across three key areas- technology, society and the economy- are changing how organisations think about employer branding and how it can help them achieve their goals.
You’ll walk away with clear and actionable knowledge and insights that you can use straight away in your organisations, no matter the size or sector.
2:50pm
SESSION 6: HR in the tropics: Does place shape HR practice?
In this interactive presentation, Dr Leigh-Ann Onnis will delve into her recent research on HR practices in Tropics.
Exploring the narrative that “HR is different up here!”, Leigh-Ann’s research has uncovered support for the notion that place influences HR practice. The HR professionals who participated in the research, study provided insights the aspects of living and working in the Tropics that shape their understanding of how, and why, places influence HR practice.
Taking these findings to the next level, this interactive session will consider how who we are, and what we do, is shaped by where we do it!
3:40pm
Afternoon Tea, expo and networking
4:05pm
SESSION 7: Coaching – how to bring out your best in a HR team
When you get it right, the balance and synergy within your team flows effortlessly. But get it wrong, and it can produce a toxic environment that’ll hinder the growth of your group. To bring out the best in your team is to first identify each individual’s strength and how best they can contribute to the group. From there we can clearly define roles which establishes order and builds team chemistry. Team chemistry is the launch pad for success, and more success brings sustained success. I will draw from my own personal experiences when we got this right, but also reference the times we got it wrong and the early warning signs we can identify to avoid these small issues from becoming big ones.
4:55pm
Closing comments
Rod Francisco FCPHR · QLD State President · Australian HR Institute
5:00pm
Networking drinks
6:00pm
Networking drinks concludes
Day 2 – Friday 14 June
8:30am
Coffee and networking
9:00am
opening comments
Rod Francisco FCPHR · QLD State President · Australian HR Institute
9:20am
KEYNOTE: Developing Northern Australia – in designing the future of work in the regions, matching economic prosperity and organisational wellness cannot be ignored
The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) is a key government pillar in the development of northern Australia. With seven years of experience in project finance, and headquartered in Cairns, NAIF works closely with local government and state jurisdiction partners to unlock the full potential of northern Australia while ensuring long-term sustainability.
As we look ahead, NAIF will reflect on the organisation’s journey, from commencement to building a key agency ready to help deliver the Australian Government’s ambitious agenda for the north.
10:15am
SESSION 2: A neuroscience perspective on psychosocial safety
The human brain is an intrinsically social organ and directs immense resources to the task of keeping us safe in our social environments. The brain fundamentally operates in either state of trust or a state of threat, and that, in environments of social threat, exposure to even subtle patterns of incivility will shrink our brain’s glucose, oxygen, energy and essential ability to participate effectively at work.
The Code of Practice for managing psychosocial hazards at work covers a range of hazards across organisational, experiential and relational aspects of work. An understanding of the social brain at work can help us increase safety across these factors.
In this session, Leanne will explain why only an approach that integrates psychosocial and psychological safety will be effective in increasing wellbeing, safety and performance in the workplace. The session will propose an integrated model and provide tools and insights to help you implement it in your workplace.
11:05am
Morning tea, expo, networking
11:30am
SESSION 3: Let's Talk Culture - The Conversations You Need to Create The Team You Want
Culture is your unseen competitive advantage. It’s the intangible quality that sets top-performing teams apart. But what role do your people leaders on the front-line play in building and shaping it?
Backed by research of over 1,000 front line managers exploring their contribution to building and shaping culture through the lens of communication, Shane explores the essential role these leaders play in shaping a team culture by design. In “Let’s Talk Culture”, you’ll finally get a practical and clear framework for creating a team culture by choice. You’ll also learn how to use culture conversations as a tool to re-establish or strengthen trust in the new world of work.
By the end of this session, you’ll walk away with five practical conversations to design your team’s culture and elevate your role in shaping the future of your organisation. Whether you’re a seasoned HR leader or new to the game, this session will equip you with the tools you need to become a culture champion in your organisation.
12:20pm
SESSION 4: Building a Culture of Wellbeing and Investing in your Growth
In today’s competitive workplace, fostering a culture of wellbeing is no longer a nicety, it’s a necessity.
This session, designed for HR professionals, will explore how to create a work environment that prioritises employee wellbeing and growth.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand the link between employee wellbeing, engagement, and productivity.
- Learn practical strategies to build a culture of wellbeing in your organisation. What worked for us, and what clearly didn’t.
- Discover effective methods to invest in employee growth and development.
- Audience Participation: This interactive session will incorporate polls, group discussions, and case studies, allowing HR professionals to share best practices and develop actionable strategies for their workplaces.
1:10pm
Lunch, expo and networking
2:00pm
SESSION 5: How Family Friendly Workplaces shape socially responsible employers
Peggy Vosloo · Client Advisory Director · Parents At Work / Family Friendly Workplaces
Eloise Kirkwood · Head of Talent · QIC
Designed to deepen your understanding and capability on how to be a socially responsible employer, this session will explore the impact of Family Friendly Workplaces on workplace inclusion, gender equality and work-life wellbeing.
Using the findings of the 2024 National Working Families Survey, we’ll learn about the challenges working families face in balancing work and family commitments and why it’s important for employers to take action. Bridging the work and care divide improves wellbeing outcomes for employees and their families, workplace culture and the ability to attract top talent.
This session will provide insights, tools and strategies to enable evidence-based, family-inclusive practices. We will hear from QIC about their experience becoming a certified family-friendly workplace and how it has impacted their workplace culture and DEI goals. Finally, we’ll consider how implementing more family-friendly policies and practices can contribute to broader societal goals.
Call to action – to make the most of this session, we encourage attendees to assess their HR/DEI policies against the National Work & Family Standards by completing the free Benchmarking Assessment prior to the session (15 minutes).
2:50pm
SESSION 6: Making HR a little less complicated, reluctant, alarming and painful
Join our panel of State Councillors as we round out the Conference program with a fun and lighthearted session on those Complicated, Reluctant, Alarming and Painful moments in HR! This session isn’t about focussing on the negatives though – it will be an opportunity to share experiences, gain insights, and collaborate on ways to make HR better for everyone!
3:40pm
Closing comments
Rod Francisco FCPHR · QLD State President · Australian HR Institute
Ready to reshape your HR toolkit?
Join us for an insightful two-day conference to discover practical toolkits, reshaping your future HR excellence and create organisational wellness
