HR Innovation Stage

Step into the HR Innovation Stage—where essential tech meets real-world impact, and the hype gets left at the door. Inspired by the energy and authenticity of SXSW, this is where forward-thinking HR leaders and trailblazing tech innovators collide to share what’s actually working in the world of work. Forget the buzzwords and empty promises; here, you’ll get an inside look at the cutting-edge tools and platforms that are genuinely transforming how organizations attract, engage, and empower their people. Hear candid stories and bold ideas from those who are using technology to drive business results, elevate culture, and create workplaces where everyone can thrive. If you’re ready to cut through the noise and discover the practical innovations shaping the future of HR, the HR Innovation Stage is your front-row seat to what’s next.

Day 1
March 31

8:15 am

Registration opens

8:55 am

Opening remarks from the Chairperson

9:05 am

Welcome remarks from the Event Partner

9:25 am

Smarter learning: Harnessing AI to personalise and accelerate development

AI is changing how organisations approach learning and development, offering new ways to personalise experiences and track outcomes. This session explores how senior L&D leaders are using AI to identify skills gaps, optimise learning pathways, and make development initiatives more impactful. Walk away with practical strategies for integrating AI into your learning programs to strengthen workforce capability and readiness.

10:05 am

PANEL: Bridging the digital divide – aligning tech literacy to future readiness

L&D is at the forefront of building digital skills and confidence across the workforce. This panel explores practical strategies to upskill teams quickly, reduce tech anxiety, and foster a culture of continuous learning. Hear how organisations are aligning digital learning initiatives with business priorities, measuring impact, and creating inclusive programs that help employees thrive in a digital-first world.

10:50 am

Morning tea and refreshments break

11:20 am

Future-proof by design: The skills-based approach to L&D

As disruption accelerates, only skills-first organisations will thrive. This session equips senior L&D leaders with bold, practical strategies to ditch outdated job models and unleash real agility—by mapping, measuring, and mobilising talent at speed. Learn how to build a future-proof skills engine, harness cutting-edge tech, and create learning pathways that keep your workforce ahead of the curve.

11:50 am

CASE STUDY: Levelling up – key lessons unlocked in LMS implementation

When a leading organisation overhauled its learning platform, the stakes were high: adoption, engagement, and measurable business impact all depended on getting it right. This case study shares how they navigated change management, empowered staff with targeted learning, and aligned the LMS with organisational goals. Hear the real-world lessons—what worked, what didn’t, and how continuous feedback drove adoption, improved outcomes, and strengthened their digital learning strategy.

12:25 pm

FIRESIDE CHAT: Evidence-based L&D – do your metrics really prove learning impact?

Discover how data-driven strategies and real-world metrics provide strategic insight into performance, productivity and beyond. This thought-provoking discussion will examine practical strategies for continuous improvement, learner behaviour analysis, and reporting in L&D. Join us to find out how L&D can proactively take the lead on measuring learning impact—one data point at a time.

12:50 pm

Networking lunch

2:00 pm

Reimagining the classroom – next-gen learning design and delivery

Redefine instructional design to solve real business challenges and boost performance where it matters most. Discover cutting-edge micro-learning and on-the-job strategies that drive engagement and retention in today’s fast-paced and diverse workplace. From data-driven tools to personalised experiences, gain insight into making learning more accessible, engaging and inclusive for an increasingly diverse workforce.

2:30 pm

L&D leaders unplugged: Interactive breakout sessions

Engage directly with peers to explore current L&D challenges and share practical strategies. These sessions offer focused discussions designed to deliver actionable insights for senior L&D leaders.

Choose your topic:

Build vs buy – choosing your L&D strategy: How do you determine whether to build programs in-house and when to source external vendors to achieve your L&D objectives?
Building key competencies – How to design and map competency frameworks that drive meaningful capability development.
LMS implementation – Key lessons learned during your LMS journey
Career pathways for L&D professionals – How do you become a strategic partner or transition into other roles?

3:00 pm

Afternoon tea and refreshments break

3:20 pm

PANEL: The future of learning – gamechangers transforming L&D

The learning landscape is being radically reshaped by trends like AI-powered personalisation, skills-based development, immersive digital experiences, and the rise of micro-learning and continuous feedback. Staying ahead means embracing these game-changers now, equipping your teams to thrive in complexity and seize the opportunities of tomorrow. From emerging tech to revolutionary tools, find out what’s changing the game in the learning ecosystem.

4:05 pm

CASE STUDY: Leadership Disrupted – award-winning strategies to amplify leadership impact

Discover how Aurecon co-created Leadership Disrupted, a program that redefines leadership development through mindset growth, real-world experiments, and immersive experiences. Gain insight on designing programs that drive measurable impact, engage senior leaders, and embed transformational learning in the organisation. Learn what made the program successful, key lessons learned, and practical takeaways to elevate your own leadership development initiatives.

4:35pm

Closing remarks from the chairperson

4:40pm

Networking drinks

(located in the Gallery - Level 2)

5:30pm

Day 1