Directors Forum
Registration opens
OPENING KEYNOTE: The Power of Confidence: Unlocking Authentic Leadership
Colleen Callander
Opening remarks from the Chairperson
Welcome remarks from the Event Partner
FIRESIDE CHAT: Ahead of the curve – future-proofing your talent pipeline
How do you prepare your people strategy for challenges you can’t yet see? Hear how one leading organisation is tackling the talent crunch by building a culture of growth, equipping leaders to adapt quickly, and using data to stay ahead of shifting skill needs. Gain practical lessons on securing executive buy-in, embedding workforce planning into everyday decisions, and strengthening engagement and retention to keep your pipeline future-ready.
Morning tea and refreshments break
CASE STUDY: Agentic AI: Transforming HR Operations with Intelligent Automation
Sameer Asher
HR Leaders Unplugged: Discussion Tables
Step away from the theory and engage directly with your peers in candid, leader-to-leader discussions. These sessions focus on the strategic choices, trade-offs, and leadership priorities shaping the HR agenda today.
Interested in facilitating a discussion table? We’re looking for dynamic thought leaders and industry experts to facilitate some of today’s most relevant and thought-provoking conversations in HR. If this sounds like you, we’d love to connect—contact us here.
Networking lunch
Remuneration Reimagined: Designing Pay Strategies for Tough Times
Pay is under scrutiny more than ever—employees want fairness and transparency, while organisations face intense cost pressures. This session will show how HR leaders are rethinking remuneration to strike the right balance: attracting and retaining talent, motivating performance, and staying financially sustainable. Expect fresh approaches and practical ideas to help you reshape pay strategies that work in today’s unpredictable economy.
LEGAL UPDATE: Employment law unpacked – what HR needs to know now
- Including a 15-minute 'Ask the Expert' Q&A where you can get answers to your burning legal questions from a leading employment lawyer.
Afternoon tea and refreshments break
FIRESIDE CHAT: Plug-and-Play to Power Play: AI as a Strategic Engine for Business Growth
Dive into the real-world challenges and breakthroughs of integrating AI into your existing HR technology ecosystem. In this fireside chat, HR and tech leaders share and discuss what it takes to connect new AI tools with legacy systems. Discover practical tips for overcoming compatibility hurdles, ensuring data security, and driving real value from your investments.
Simon Ives
FIRESIDE CHAT: Beyond Burnout: Tackling Psychological Hazards in the Modern Workplace
As psychological injury claims surge and the cost of wellbeing rises, HR leaders are under unprecedented pressure to safeguard both people and the bottom line. In this candid fireside chat, senior HR executives and industry experts will unpack the practical realities of managing psychological hazards—from navigating legal responsibilities to addressing the root causes of stress and burnout. Join us as we explore how to draw the line between organisational duty and individual accountability, how to secure genuine leadership buy-in, and what it takes to embed wellbeing into daily business practice.
Pauly Grant
Belinda Speirs
Chairperson closing remarks
Networking drinks
Day one ends
Registration opens
Opening remarks from the Chairperson
PANEL: Decoding Trust: Human-Centric AI Leadership
Join top HR leaders as they discuss championing responsible AI transformation by embedding ethical standards and aligning technology with organisational values. This session tackles the legal, privacy, and compliance challenges of AI adoption, sharing strategies to foster transparency and protect employee trust. Discover best practices for communicating AI use, data sharing, and decision-making to reinforce trust and accountability throughout the workforce.
CASE STUDY: Workforce by Design: A Data-Driven Approach to Future-Ready
How do you move from dashboards to decisions that matter? This case study shows how a leading organisation is using HR analytics to sharpen workforce planning, shape their talent strategy, and secure buy-in where it counts—the boardroom. Gain practical ideas on turning people data into sustainable workforce planning that meets long-term talent demands.
Sarah Novelli
Morning tea and refreshments break
PANEL: Bridging the Generational Gap – Redefining the Employee Experience
Australia’s workplaces now span four generations, creating both complexity and opportunity for HR leaders. This panel explores how senior HR executives are shaping employee experience strategies that resonate across age groups, drive engagement, and strengthen retention. Hear how leading organisations are aligning generational insights with business priorities, ensuring all voices influence strategy, and building a workforce culture that is inclusive, adaptable, and future-ready.
Celina Cross
Isa Notermans
HR Leaders Unplugged: Discussion Tables
Step away from the theory and engage directly with your peers in candid, leader-to-leader discussions. These sessions focus on the strategic choices, trade-offs, and leadership priorities shaping the HR agenda today.
Interested in facilitating a discussion table? We’re looking for dynamic thought leaders and industry experts to facilitate some of today’s most relevant and thought-provoking conversations in HR. If this sounds like you, we’d love to connect—contact us here.
Networking lunch
WORKSHOP: A Seat at the C-Suite Table – Navigating the Boardroom with Confidence
Closing remarks from the chairperson
CLOSING KEYNOTE
Prize draw announcements
Expo Passport Grand Prize
Collect all exhibitors’ stamps on the Expo Passport for the chance to win a $5,000 cash prize!
Workshops All Star Grand Prize
Attend all workshops for the chance to win a $5,000 cash prize!
Sponsor Prize Draws
Visit the exhibitors to join prize giveaways!

