HR Leaders Forum Agenda

09:00 – 09:15
Opening remarks from the Chairperson
Located on the Main Stage in Parkside 1
09:15 - 9:35
The Art of Orchestration
located on the Main Stage in Parkside 1
09:45 – 10:00
Opening remarks from the Chairperson
located in the HR Leaders Forum in Parkside 2
10:15 – 10:45
Fireside Chat: Risky Business – Navigating Governance and Liability in the C-Suite

As regulatory expectations around psychosocial safety sharpen and dual-listed firms navigate conflicting international mandates, effective boardroom governance has never been more critical. In this off-the-record fireside chat, enterprise HRDs share how to proactively audit executive risk, present defensible metrics to the Board, and master multi-jurisdiction compliance without compromising organisational culture. 

10:45 – 11:15
Morning tea and refreshments break
11:15 – 12:00
The Workplace Agenda: What HR Leaders Need on Their Radar for 2027
Knowing the law is only step one; knowing where risk is heading is what drives business strategy. Industrial Relations expert, Nigel Ward from Australian Business Lawyers and Advisor, delivers an executive briefing on the key industrial relations and workplace issues C-suites and Boards will be asking about. Cut through legal complexity to identify risk areas and actionable strategies.
12:00 - 12:15
Ask the Expert: C-Suite Legal & Regulatory Q&A
Following our legal update, one of Australia's leading employment lawyers will be in the hot seat for this unscripted, rapid-fire Q&A. Bring your most pressing compliance, regulatory, and workforce risk questions for immediate, practical clarity. 
12:15 – 13:25
Networking lunch
13:25 – 14:05
Panel: AI Governance at the Top – Moving from Tool Fatigue to Commercial ROI
While junior employees adopt everyday AI, enterprise CPOs must lead top-down strategy alongside the CEO to eliminate "AI slop" and manage accuracy risks. This executive briefing provides a framework for embedding human oversight, navigating workforce pushback, and demonstrating clear financial returns on tech investments to the Board.
14:05 – 14:35
Candid Conversation: When Things Go Wrong – Lessons from the Executive Frontline

When a major crisis hits, standard playbooks rarely survive first contact. In this off-the-record closing session, senior HR leaders pull back the curtain on the high-stakes decisions and unexpected turns from their own frontline experiences. Expect candid lessons on handling board-level heat, protecting team composure, and emerging as a stronger, more resilient executive team.

14:35 – 15:05
Afternoon tea and refreshments break
15:05 – 15:50
Discussion tables: Peer-to-Peer Exchange
  • AI and Job Redesign 

Reshaping roles and daily workflows around AI without losing employee trust or damaging team morale. 

  • Employment Law & Workplace Risk 

Navigating major legal changes and Fair Work rules before they impact your business and board. 

  • Unlocking Middle Managers 

Removing admin heavy-lifting so mid-level leaders can focus on managing people and driving company goals.

  • Executive Succession & Leadership Risk 
Building a dependable leadership pipeline and protecting the company when key executives step down. 
15:50 – 16:35
Keynote: Lessons from the Black Line
located on the Main Stage in Parkside 1

Four Olympic Games. Eight medals. One extraordinary journey. From emigrating from Malawi to reaching the Olympic podium at 16, her journey spans world-record triumphs, health setbacks, and navigating intense competition alongside her sister, Bronte.

In this captivating keynote, Cate shares an unfiltered look at resilience, high-performance leadership, and navigating extreme pressure—offering a powerful lesson in grit, brave leadership, and pushing past perceived boundaries.

Cate Campbell OAM, Olympian

16:40
Day 1 concludes
16:45
Networking drinks
located in the expo hall in the Gallery
9:30 – 9:40
Opening remarks from the chairperson
09:40 – 10:15
Panel: Elevating Talent Retention into a Strategic Advantage

Brand prestige and compensation bumps are no longer sufficient to safeguard top talent or drive organisational agility. Join HR leaders from Australia's award-winning companies to analyse what high-performing enterprises do differently: leveraging internal talent mobility, building genuine capability pipelines, and embedding trust to lower turnover costs and protect market share in a hyper-flexible talent landscape.

10:15 – 10:50
Panel: The Duty of Care Dilemma – Managing Executive Risk
With mandatory psychosocial hazard regulations tightening across Australia, managing workplace mental health has shifted from soft wellness initiatives to core C-suite liability. This panel brings together HR leaders and industry voices to unpack how leaders are auditing systemic workplace risks—from workload design to culture—to build a compliant, duty-of-care framework that stops injury before it occurs.
10:50 – 11:20
Morning tea and refreshments break
11:20 – 12:00
Fireside Chat: Boardroom Ready – The Unspoken Rules of Executive Influence
Climbing to the top HR seat requires far more than mastering people strategy—it demands an entirely different operational mindset when stepping into the boardroom. From crafting executive reports to navigating high-stakes interactions with Board members and Chairs, hear about the unspoken rules of Boardroom readiness.
12:00 – 12:30
The Execution Gap: Why Strategy Isn’t Delivering and How to Fix It
Only 1 in 10 organisations is truly future ready, despite significant investment in transformation. At the same time, 60% of workers are already pivoting careers, creating a workforce that is evolving faster than many organisations can adapt. As leadership alignment falters and managers become stretched between delivery and leadership, execution suffers. This session explores what is driving the strategy-to-execution gap and how HR leaders can strengthen leadership, unlock internal mobility, and build a workforce ready to perform through continuous change. 
12:30 – 13:40
Networking lunch
13:40 – 14:25
Discussion Tables: Peer-to-Peer Exchange
  • AI and Job Redesign 

Reshaping roles and daily workflows around AI without losing employee trust or damaging team morale.

  • Employment Law & Workplace Risk 
Navigating major legal changes and Fair Work rules before they impact your business and board. 
  • Unlocking Middle Managers 
Removing admin heavy-lifting so mid-level leaders can focus on managing people and driving company goals. 
  • Executive Succession & Leadership Risk
Building a dependable leadership pipeline and protecting the company when key executives step down.
14:25 – 15:00
Fireside Chat: The Ultimate Pivot – Transitioning from the CHRO to the CEO Chair

As human capital and culture become the ultimate drivers of enterprise value, Australian Boards are increasingly viewing top HR leaders as prime CEO successors. Hear from executives who have successfully bridged the gap between people strategy and holistic enterprise leadership, exploring the commercial acumen, operational mindset, and strategic moves required to claim the top job. 

15:00 – 15:05
Closing remarks from the chairperson
15:10 pm
Prize draw announcements
located at the Centre stage in the Expo hall
15:15 pm
Event concludes