Main Conference Speakers

Nikita Agarwal

Executive Manager, HR – Technology
Commonwealth Bank

Nikita’s career has been a mix of consulting at professional services and HR. Nikita has worked in 4 countries. Nikita enjoys learning about new cultures through travel and learning to cook local cuisines.

Helen Anderson

Former Global Head of Talent and Capability
Telstra

Helen Anderson is a dynamic HR Executive and visionary leader, reshaping how organizations and individuals thrive in the ever-evolving world of work. Renowned for her ability to craft strategies that drive sustainable success, Helen champions the power of ‘capability as currency,’ empowering businesses to pivot dynamically in fast-changing markets. By integrating AI and systemic approaches, she has delivered transformative results that unlock hidden potential and foster adaptability across entire workforces. 

With a career spanning Executive roles in Talent, Leadership, DEI, Learning, and Capability at leading organizations such as Telstra, KPMG, ANZ Bank and Merck Sharpe Dohme, Helen brings a wealth of cross-industry expertise. At Telstra, she spearheaded the development of an AI-enabled open talent marketplace, revolutionizing career transparency and fostering adaptive capacity for employees while optimizing organizational resources. 

Helen is passionate about creating equitable workplace cultures where every individual is empowered to own their career, develop future-ready skills, and embrace continuous growth resulting in businesses achieving their greatest potential – moving dynamically and adapting;  ready for the future whatever it brings. 

Julian Arndt

Director
Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors

Julian is a Director at Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors, a workplace and employment law firm that only acts for employers and employer associations.

His expertise focuses on bargaining, union disputes and employee claims, and with his varied experience acting for peak employer associations he has been involved in large scale industrial test cases and, more recently, in consulting with Government regarding legislative change.

Over the past nine years, Julian has acted as the lead employer advocate in a range of prominent test cases including the Family and Domestic Violence Leave Test cases, the Family Friendly (s 65) award test case, the Paid Pandemic Leave case, the Childcare Industry case, the Retail Industry junior rates case, the casual and part-time test case and the Casual review 2021. Julian was also in the team involved in the well-known ‘penalty rates case’.

His experience ranges across a wide variety of industries including aged care, labour hire, horticulture, early childhood education and care, retail, health and transport.

In 2023 he co-authored the first book on Owner-Driver Law in Australia and has been recognized by Doyles as a Rising Star in Employment law.

Jessica Campbell

Market HR Lead, Australia & New Zealand
Google

Jess leads Google’s People strategy across Australia and New Zealand, where she’s building a workplace that continues to attract and empower some of the world’s top talent. She champions diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, fosters organisational health, and ensures Google remains a leader in the dynamic Aussie and Kiwi tech landscape. 

With over 20 years of HR experience across diverse industries—from consumer goods and airlines to tech—Jess has partnered with teams ranging from sales and customer service to pilots and engineers. Her decade at Qantas sharpened her strategic thinking, particularly in navigating complex agreements and leading through major organisational change. 

Jess is passionate about driving positive change, developing future leaders, and creating inclusive environments where everyone can thrive. She’s a firm believer in understanding what motivates her team and fostering a culture of belonging. 

Outside of Google, you’ll find Jess exploring new destinations, immersing herself in music, and enjoying quality time with her husband, kids, and friends. 

Nidhi Chopra

Director HR Business Partner
Adobe

Nidhi Chopra is a passionate leader with over a decade of experience in HR, known for thoughtful risk-taking and strategic partnerships. Nearly fifteen years at Adobe, Nidhi has excelled in various HR roles, including business partnering, org design, employee relations and leadership coaching. Currently, Nidhi leads the HR Business Partnership Center of Excellence across APAC. Outside of work, Nidhi co-authored a children’s e-book series and is a certified Leadership and Life Coach. Recognised as an Excellence Awardee for Australian HR Director of the Year 2024, Nidhi is dedicated to elevating capability and maximising outcomes for those around her. 

Conor Donoghue

Head of People, Culture & Talent – ANZ
Zip Co

Conor leads the People & Culture at Zip and is based in Sydney. Zip is an Australian founded digital financial services company offering access to point-of-sale credit and digital payment services. Zip has operations in AU, NZ and US. Conor has been with the org for 4 years and prior to that spent 7 years with Commbank with his last role leading Tech, Analytics, Operations and product TA for CommBank.

Heather Flynn

Director Workforce & Organisational Development People and Culture
Albury Wodonga Health

Heather Flynn is a dynamic HR leader with over 15 years of executive experience across energy, hospitality, and public health sectors. Currently serving as the Director of Talent Acquisition and Organisational Capability at Albury Wodonga Health, Heather has been instrumental in workforce planning, talent acquisition, diversity and inclusion, and HR transformation.

A recipient of the 2024 New Horizons Pioneer Award for excellence in international recruitment, Heather has successfully led large-scale workforce strategies, organisational change initiatives, and executive HR partnering. Her expertise spans corporate governance, strategic workforce planning, leadership development, and digital HR transformation, with a proven track record in delivering high-impact results.

Heather is an AHRI member, a Non-Executive Board Member, and an active contributor to industry HR networks. With an MBA and certifications in PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, and organisational coaching, she is passionate about fostering inclusive workplace cultures and driving HR innovation.

At this event, Heather will share insights on workforce challenges, HR technology integration, and leadership capability development, offering practical strategies for HR professionals to navigate the evolving world of work.

Jessica Fox OAM

3 x Olympic Gold Medallist and 10 x Canoe Slalom World Champion

There aren’t many athletes who can lay claim to being the greatest of all time in their sport by the age of 27. If she weren’t so humble, Jess Fox OAM could do just that.

Jess is one of our all-time great Olympians. She now has six individual Olympic medals including three gold, one silver and two bronze, more than any Australian in history.

The most successful paddler (male or female) in history, Jess has a long list of achievements including 51 World Cup gold medals, 10 World Championship titles, and 3 Olympic gold medals (a total of 6 Olympic medals across four Games).

Born in Marseille, France, Jess moved to Australia at age four. With an elite paddling pedigree, her parents, both accomplished paddlers, inspired her passion for the sport. Coached by her mother, Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi, a bronze medallist in K1 at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Jess quickly rose through the ranks, joining the national junior team in 2009. Her early career was marked by four junior World Championship titles, eight under-23 world titles, and a Youth Olympics gold medal.

Jess made her Olympic debut at 18, winning silver in K1 at the London 2012 Olympics. Four years later, she secured a bronze in K1 at the Rio 2016 Olympics. However, it was at the Tokyo 2020 Games where Fox underlined her greatness when she won gold to become the C1 Olympic Champion. Earning the headline ‘Australia’s Golden Girl’ Fox also won the heart of the nation. Her technically flawless performance, without a single-time penalty, led to what was hailed as one of Australia’s greatest Olympic moments.

In July 2024, Jess cemented her legacy at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games leading the Australian Olympic Team as Flagbearer and claiming double Olympic gold. First up was the K1 event. In an exhilarating final, racing in eighth position out of twelve finalists, Jess maintained the fastest time (96.08) as she waited to watch seven athletes proceeding her.

After chasing gold at the previous three Olympic Games, Jess had finally secured that elusive K1 gold in Paris and became the only Australian to win four consecutive medals in the same event. Just days later, she defended her 2020 title, to again become C1 Olympic Champion.

These achievements bring Jess’s tally to a historic six individual Olympic medals, propelling her into the upper echelon of Australia’s most successful athletes of all time. To finish off her most successful Olympic Games, Jess was one of four athletes globally to be elected to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Athletes’ Commission where she will serve an eight-year term leading into the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

In addition to her athletic achievements, Jess has completed a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science Psychology and is currently studying her Master of Business Administration through Griffith University.

Jess is an advocate for women in sport and a firm believer in balance of sport and education, achieving an ATAR of 99.1 while training for the Olympic Games. She is an inspiration to young children and business people around the world.

Mariam Hares

Chief People Officer
Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation

With over a decade in human resources, Mariam is committed to fostering inclusive, high-performing cultures that put people first. As Chief People and Culture Officer at Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation (SCHF), she leads initiatives that align with SCHF’s mission to support children’s health and wellbeing across NSW. Her diverse experience in industries like finance, consumer goods, and real estate informs her people-first strategies, recognised through awards such as HRD Australia’s Best Workplace Flexibility Program 2024. Passionate about meaningful employment and children’s health, Mariam brings both purpose and drive to her role, creating positive change for staff and families alike. 

Alex Hassall

CEO and Co-Founder
Your Financial Wellness

Alex Hassall is the Co-Founder and CEO of Your Financial Wellness, a fintech company dedicated to improving financial literacy and employee wellbeing. YFW partners with banks, super funds, and employers to provide actionable tools and insights that empower individuals to make confident, informed financial decisions – helping build a more engaged, financially resilient workforce.

With a strong focus on data-driven insights, Alex drives the development of innovative financial wellness solutions that support organisations in meaningful and measurable ways.

Last November, YFW was recognised for its impact, winning the Global FinTech Award at the Singapore FinTech Festival after competing against 300 entries from around the globe. As YFW expands its partnerships with employers, Alex remains passionate about the role of financial wellbeing in driving employee engagement, productivity, and retention.

Jane Hawkins

Director, Workforce Planning and Strategy
UNSW

Jane is the Director of Workforce Strategy and Planning at the University of New South Wales.  Throughout her career, she has been a catalyst for transforming large, diverse workforces into high-performing, agile teams that drive strategic outcomes. With a background spanning financial services, professional services, IT consulting, and now the higher education sector, she excels in navigating workforce challenges and aligning talent with organisational goals. Jane creates and executes cutting-edge strategies to close talent gaps, build resilient teams, drive digital transformation and optimise the labour cost profile. Her data-driven approach boosts performance, reduces turnover, and ensures sustainable growth, all while fostering continuous improvement and long-term organisational agility in an increasingly competitive landscape. 

Kate Jolly

Global Head of Talent
Employment Hero

Kate Jolly is the Global Head of Talent acquisition at Employment Hero. Kate has over 10 years experience hiring on a global scale for both start-ups and FTSE100 businesses. She’s worked with candidates from graduate level through to senior leadership and is passionate about building high-performing, high-velocity recruitment teams.

Justin ‘Jonesy’ Jones

Australia's pre-eminent Explorer,
keynote speaker & adventure thinker

Justin Jones – otherwise affectionately known as Jonesy, is Australia’s pre-eminent Explorer, keynote speaker, adventure thinker and storyteller.

His expeditions have taken him to the very corners of the world. From the depths of blizzards in Antarctica, to the terror of 10 metre waves towering above – in a storm at sea and the suffocating heat in the heart of the Outback. He currently holds two Guinness World Record and a place as one of Australia’s 50 Greatest Explorers of all time.

Jonesy is a passionate story teller. Over the past 18 years he has made a career of undertaking huge, epic, record setting expeditions around the world and sharing these on the stage and the screen.

A humble, charismatic and inspiring character…he is the perfect example of how determination, detailed planning and foresight can enable the most ‘normal’ of us to undertake the most extraordinary feats.

Michael Kim

Head of HR JAPAC & SAMEA
Spotify

Michael is a highly accomplished global Human Resources leader with over 20 years of experience in strategising and implementing global talent initiatives that drive business results and improves both employee and company performance. He is a trusted business partner to C-level and executive management teams with an extensive record of executing high-impact global talent solutions.  
 
Michael currently serves as Spotify’s Head of HR for JAPAC & SAMEA (Japan, South East Asia, South Korea, Australia/New Zealand, India, South Asia, Middle East, and Africa), where he is responsible for driving the overall people strategy of the region. His innovative design of Spotify’s revamped parental leave program has received global recognition for taking the #leadonleave for companies supporting families, establishing work-life balance, and driving inclusivity within the workplace.  
 
Michael has worked across a broad spectrum of industries including Technology, Investment Banking & Markets, Media, and Advertising. Prior to joining Spotify, Michael was a Vice President of Human Capital Management at Goldman Sachs, where he was responsible for leading strategic people initiatives across the Technology & Engineering division globally. 

Anitta Krishan

Chief Culture Officer
Hoogly AI; Former TikTok

Anitta Krishan is a globally recognised leader and culture strategist, currently serving as Chief Culture Officer at Hoogly AI, a B2B SaaS platform harnessing AI to transform employee engagement. 

Renowned for her people-first philosophy, Anitta has successfully scaled organisations ranging from early-stage startups to publicly listed unicorns by spearheading bold, innovative global people strategies. She has collaborated with senior leaders across industries—from fast-growth disruptors to Fortune 500 giants—to build cultures that empower talent at every level. 

With multiple CEO awards at trivago, Grab, and TikTok, Anitta is celebrated for her entrepreneurial drive and her ability to harness emerging technologies to foster meaningful organisational change. Living intentionally in Bali, she’s a certified Breathwork Coach and is passionate about shaping human-centric workplaces that champion employee wellbeing. 

Angela Lewis

Executive Transition Lead
Suncorp

Angela is a seasoned Strategic People, Culture & Transformation Leader with over two decades of experience driving HR innovation and organizational change across diverse industries. Recently leading the successful separation of Suncorp Bank to ANZ, following roles as Director with Deloitte, KPMG and her own business Org. Culture Bites, Angela thrives in providing guidance through complex transformations, M&A integrations, HR and culture optimisation. Her roles have effectively linked organisational and HR strategy, with practical deployment, leadership enablement, whilst also ensuring a focus on customer and employee experience. Angela’s collaborative approach has consistently delivered high performance and engagement, making her a sought-after speaker on balancing the new wave of AI transformation with human-centered innovation. She holds a Masters Degree with HR Strategy specialisation and is a Fellow Certified Practitioner with the Australian HR Institute.

Luke Maddison

Fractional CMO
Referoo

Luke Maddison is an accomplished sales and marketing leader, with over 25 years of experience across multiple industries. With core skill sets in running and driving business growth and change, he has a proven track record of delivering results. In 2015, Luke co-founded Sintoro, a leading outsourced marketing agency with clients worldwide and offices across Australia. He continues to serve as CEO today. Additionally, he holds a fractional CMO role with leading HR and recruitment platform, Referoo. Luke has worked in Australia, UK, and North America, gaining valuable insights and experience in diverse business environments.

Maya Mazid

Head of APAC; Director
Crayon

Maya Mazid is a seasoned HR leader with over 17 years of experience across technology, professional services, engineering, and retail sectors. She currently serves as the HR Director for APAC at Crayon, where she leads a regional HR team, driving strategic people initiatives, change management, and business transformation.

Maya specialises in employee engagement, leadership development, diversity and inclusion, and organizational effectiveness within complex, matrixed environments. Her expertise spans talent management, employment relations, compensation and benefits, and HR strategy alignment. She is passionate about fostering high-performing, inclusive workplaces and looks forward to facilitating insightful discussions as a panel moderator.

Harleen Oberoi

Group Head of Talent & DEIB
Crown Resorts

Harleen Oberoi is a seasoned Talent and Diversity & Inclusion strategist dedicated to fostering positive change. As the Group Head of Diversity, Inclusion, and Talent at Crown Resorts, she plays a pivotal role in the company’s transformational journey under Blackstone Inc.’s leadership.

Harleen’s career began in HR operations, quickly evolving into HR consulting with prestigious firms such as Ernst & Young, Hewitt, and KPMG, where she managed large-scale programs for global clients. She has led multi-award-winning teams and has a wealth of experience in Human Resources, Organizational Development, and Diversity & Inclusion.

Her expertise in program management, policy development, and change management has consistently driven successful organizational transformations. Harleen’s proven track record in implementing long-term strategies underscores her commitment to creating impactful and sustainable change

Dina Papadopoulos

Head of People Function, ANZ
Kenvue

Dina Papadopoulos is the Head of People, Australia and New Zealand at Kenvue, bringing nearly two decades of extensive experience in human resources and organisational development and change. 

Dina has a strong track record in driving strategic HR initiatives, leading global talent development, fostering inclusive cultures through DE&I leadership, and building high-performing teams. Her expertise spans across talent management, employee engagement, and leadership development. 

Before joining Kenvue, Dina held senior HR roles at several leading organisations across Asia Pacific including Johnson & Johnson, Link Group Financial Services (now MUFG) and Dulux Group where she successfully led transformative projects, drove talent strategy and initiatives, and championed diversity and inclusion. 

Belinda Reynolds

Head of People and Culture
RES

Belinda Reynolds is a HR leader with over 25 years’ experience across various industries. Since joining RES (Renewable Energy Systems) in August 2022, she has driven a 60% increase in headcount, cultivating a collaborative and innovative atmosphere that advances the renewable energy sector.

She is dedicated to fostering positive and inclusive workplace environments, with expertise in talent management, organizational development, and employee engagement. Belinda holds a Bachelor of Communications, majoring in HR and Marketing from Charles Sturt University, and is a Certified Organisational Coach and Insights Discovery practitioner.

Before her tenure at RES, she was the Head of Human Resources at private equity firm Roc Partners and spent two decades at IBM in various P&C roles. Renowned for her approachable and collaborative style, Belinda consistently fosters a culture of continuous improvement.

Outside of work, she enjoys mentoring young professionals and hiking.

Ashlea Roach

Founder & Managing Director
People Co.

For almost 20 years, Ash has been supporting businesses of all shapes and sizes to unlock the potential of their greatest resource – their people.

Ash has long held a passion for pushing human resources into exciting and empowering directions, and she channeled this into founding People Co. Managing a progressive people & culture consultancy means Ash can keep partnering with business to make real progress for people – and help shape a better world of work.

Deepti Sachdeva

Head of Enterprise Capability & Transformation
Westpac

Deepti is a Learning and Capability Leader with 17+ years of experience across various industries, including Banking, Telecommunications, and the Public Sector. As the Head of Enterprise Capability and Transformation at Westpac Group, she champions learning agility and equitable, sustainable learning cultures. A storyteller at heart, Deepti applies people-centric approaches to create impactful learning experiences. She has successfully led Westpac’s Data and Digital Capability Uplift program, reskilling over 7,000 employees, earning multiple industry accolades, including the 2024 Brandon Hall Group Gold Award and the 2023 LearnX Platinum Award for the program’s innovative design approach and delivery of business outcomes.

Amalie Smith

Chief People Officer
Essential Energy

Amalie Smith is the Chief People Officer, responsible for People and Safety at Essential Energy. Essential Energy is taking a leading role in the energy transition and is accountable for the safe and reliable delivery of electricity to over 890,000 customers across regional New South Wales and southern Queensland 

With an MBA in Supply Chain and Logistics Management, a Graduate Certificate in Business Management and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), Amalie brings extensive experience to her role. Since joining Essential Energy in 2018, she has held various senior management positions, driving initiatives that improve operational efficiency and customer engagement. Amalie is dedicated to fostering diversity in an inclusive and positive work culture, focusing on employee well-being. Her leadership has been pivotal in navigating the complexities of the energy sector and the teams work has also been recently recognised for contributions to workplace equity, receiving the Pay Equity award and the Mining Resources and Energy award at the 2024 Equitable Workplace Awards. Prior to Essential Energy, Amalie worked in senior leader roles with Graincorp and was the Managing Director of the Territory Medical Group. 

Kylie Speer

Host
Key Media

Kylie Speer is a television host, media professional and author with international experience spanning more than 15 years. Since graduating from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kylie’s career has seen her assume posts in Sydney, Melbourne, London, Dubai, Los Angeles and New York across numerous print, online and broadcast television media outlets including The Sunday Telegraph, nineMSN, the Nine Network Australia and Sky TV in the UK.

Lisa Taylor-Mesiti

People & Engagement Director, Australia & New Zealand
Egis

Lisa Taylor-Mesiti has been working in People & Culture for over 18 years, holding a variety of people leadership roles across generalist HR, Talent Management, Industrial Relations and HR Operations. In addition to leading her own HR consultancy practice for a number of years, Lisa has worked in HR leadership roles in the engineering, professional services, retail and government sectors.

A pragmatic and authentic HR leader, Lisa is passionate about supporting leaders through change and creating meaningful employee experience while balancing business needs.

Lisa believes that the key to a successful People function is enabling an environment where HR is a trusted partner, and by delivering People practices and initiatives which are simple and efficient.

Working from Wurundjeri land in Melbourne, Lisa currently works as the ANZ People & Engagement Director for Egis, a global multi-disciplinary engineering firm with over 20,000 employees worldwide.

Timo Topp

Wellbeing coach, counsellor, author and speaker

Timo Topp is a wellbeing coach, counsellor, author and speaker with 30 years experience. Timo is passionate about empowering people to live healthier, happier lives by improving their physical and mental health, around a busy work schedule. He is the creator of a workplace wellbeing program called WORKBEING: The art of being healthy, happy and productive at work which empowers busy corporate professionals with simple, scientifically proven strategies to help people and businesses thrive. He is also author of the book: EAT, MOVE, LIVE – An authentic approach to look and feel your best for life. 

Mitch Trevillion

Director of Operations
Beyond the Boardroom

Mitch Trevillion is the Director of Operations at Beyond the Boardroom. For 20 years, Beyond the Boardroom have created positive shared experiences for corporate groups throughout Australasia.

Penny Williamson

Head of Capability
Coles Group

With over three decades of experience in the retail industry spanning Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States, Penny has retail running through her veins. 

Currently, as Head of Capability at Coles Group, she leads the learning strategy for a diverse workforce of 105,000 team members across Supermarkets, Liquor, Distribution Centres, and the Store Support Centre.  

Passionate about reimagining the learning experience, Penny leverages cutting-edge AI technologies, always prioritizing the customer perspective to drive innovative solutions and deliver transformative enterprise outcomes. 

Kate Wilkinson

Chief People Officer
ELMO Software

As the Chief People Officer, Kate is responsible for driving the people strategy across ANZ & the Philippines along with her team – People & Culture.

She is a data driven, people focused and empathetic leader who is passionate about creating a compelling culture experience that scales high performance teams and builds workforce capability in an inclusive, psychologically safe environment.

Kate has over 20 years of diverse experience as part of a broader Human Resources function for privately owned, ASX-listed and major global corporations within the Technology, FMCG, Mining, Oil & Gas, Industrial Services and Construction sectors across APAC & the UK. Her experience has enabled her to build a deep understanding of how to attract, secure, develop and retain top talent through delivering an outstanding people experience whilst adding positive commercial impact to the business.