AHRI SA Conference 2025
30 and 31 October, Adelaide Convention Centre
Day Two Program
Friday 31 October | 8:30am – 3:45pm
Day Two offers nationally focused content for HR, IR and legal professionals navigating complex, evolving legislation and workplace regulation.
8:30am
ARRIVAL AND NETWORKING
9:00am
OPENING COMMENTS
9:05am
OPENING KEYNOTE - FIRESIDE CHAT
In conversation with Jodeen Carney, Commissioner for Equal Opportunity SA.
Join us for an insightful conversation with Jodeen Carney, South Australia’s Commissioner for Equal Opportunity. With a background in law and politics — including almost over a decade in the Northern Territory Parliament and experience as Shadow Attorney-General — Jodeen brings deep expertise and perspective to her role.
In this candid conversation, we’ll delve into the values, challenges, and opportunities shaping equity and inclusion in South Australia today. But this won’t just be a one-way conversation — you will have the chance to bring your voice into the discussion as we reflect on leadership, drive systemic change, and explore how equal opportunity principles can become a lived reality for all.
10:00am
MORNING TEA, EXPO, NETWORKING
10:30am
SESSION 2
Building fairer workplaces: Labor's workplace reforms and the future of workplace relations
Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth will discuss the government’s delivery of the most significant suite of workplace relations reforms in more than a decade. She will speak to how building constructive dialogue between government, industry and workers builds fairer and more productive workplaces and the critical role HR professionals play in implementing policy.
11:15am
SESSION 3
A conversation: Insights on the continuum across employment legal practice
and ER/IR operations
Join us for a conversation about the practical interplay between in-house counsel, private practice advisors, and operational ER/IR teams. Through real-world examples and practical insights, we’ll unpack the challenges and opportunities of integrating legal expertise with frontline ER/IR. Whether you’re advising in the boardroom or executive suite or managing issues on the ground, this session will offer strategies to strengthen your ER/IR impact.
12:00pm
LUNCH, EXPO, NETWORKING
12:45pm
SESSION 4
Enhancing the social side of ESG
With organisations facing greater scrutiny over their business practices, HR leaders are uniquely positioned to influence and drive meaningful, values-aligned change. In this session, Rebecca will explore the fundamentals of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), with a focus on the critical role HR professionals play in the social pillar.
This session will expand your knowledge of ESG and provide practical guidance to help you align HR practices with broader sustainability and business goals, including effective communication with key stakeholders.
1:30pm
SESSION 5
A match made in heaven: How HR, IR and WHS create happy, engaged, and psychosocially safe workplaces
This session will cover how to effectively engage Boards and Executives on the importance of psychosocial safety, identify the psychosocial risk landscape, and take practical steps to address it. Martyn will also explore how to disarm the weaponisation of psychosocial risk and explain why senior leaders must become comfortable navigating these complex but critical issues.
2:15pm
AFTERNOON TEA, EXPO, NETWORKING
2:35pm
CLOSING KEYNOTE
HR law triage: Prioritising compliance change like a pro
Amidst the noise from media and industrial bodies, what are the real ‘code red’ compliance issues most deserving of your attention as busy HR practitioners?
In this session, HR law specialist Michael Kay will draw on his practical experience — cutting through the headlines to focus on what matters most. Using his (non)patented Pressure-Metre™, Michael will provide practical guidance on triaging compliance challenges to help you prioritise effectively. The session will conclude with a tailored Q&A to address your most urgent concerns.