Main Conference

1-2 April 2025, International Convention Centre, Sydney

  • Registration opens
  • Opening remarks from the Chairperson
    Kylie Speer
    Kylie Speer

    Host
    Key Media

  • Interactive Networking Activity: Human Bingo

    Kick off the Summit with an engaging icebreaker to help you network. Connect with attendees through a fun game of bingo and expand your professional relationships. The best networker will win a $500 Westfield voucher!

    (located in the Main Conference, Parkside 1) 

    Mitch Trevillion
    Mitch Trevillion

    Director of Operations
    Beyond the Boardroom

  • OPENING KEYNOTE: Winning Gold – The Journey to Becoming an Olympic Champion

    Olympic champion Jessica Fox will share the key lessons that have fuelled her success, including how to develop a performance mindset, stay resilient in the face of setbacks, and build high-performing teams. Drawing on her dual gold medals from the 2024 Paris Olympics, Jess will provide actionable insights on maintaining focus, fostering collaboration, and driving sustained excellence. Her journey offers powerful takeaways for leaders looking to inspire peak performance and resilience within their organisations.

    Jessica Fox OAM
    Jessica Fox OAM

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

  • Welcome remarks from the Event Partner, Referoo
    Luke Maddison
    Luke Maddison

    Fractional CMO
    Referoo

  • PANEL: Revamping your employee value proposition (EVP) – becoming an employer of choice

    How does your company measure up against competition? Discover how leading companies are reimagining their EVPs—from career development to flexible work options—to ensure their employees thrive and flourish in their roles and to retain employees in this competitive market.  

    Moderator
    Belinda Reynolds
    Belinda Reynolds

    Head of People and Culture
    RES

    Panellists
    Conor Donoghue
    Conor Donoghue

    Head of People, Culture & Talent – ANZ
    Zip Co

    Mariam Hares
    Mariam Hares

    Chief People Officer
    Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation

    Kate Jolly
    Kate Jolly

    Global Head of Talent
    Employment Hero

  • Morning tea and refreshments break
  • CASE STUDY: Winning the War for Top Talent – Bold Strategies to Attract & Engage the Best

    In today’s fiercely competitive market, securing top talent requires more than just job postings—it demands a game-changing strategy. Discover how leading organisations are redefining talent acquisition by leveraging innovative recruitment tactics, data-driven insights, and next-level candidate experiences to win over the best and brightest.

    Michael Kim
    Michael Kim

    Head of HR JAPAC & SAMEA
    Spotify

  • LEGAL UPDATE: HR’s guide to navigating the new workplace and IR laws in 2025

    As workplace and industrial relations laws evolve, HR leaders face growing challenges in ensuring compliance and managing risks. This session will provide a clear roadmap for reviewing your policies and practices to align with the latest regulations. Gain insights into the Fair Work Commission’s expanded powers and the key compliance priorities every HR leader must address to foster a legally sound and high-performing workplace.

     

    *Including a 15-minute “Ask the Expert” Q&A, where you can get answers to your questions on industrial relations and changing obligations from a leading employment lawyer.   

    Julian Arndt
    Julian Arndt

    Director
    Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors

  • Networking lunch
  • PANEL: The candidate experience playbook: Strategies for faster, smarter hiring

    In this session, learn how to streamline hiring with automation, better communication, and process improvements. Discover proven strategies to cut time-to-hire, keep candidates engaged, and enhance the candidate experience. Experts will share real-world examples of simplifying communication and tracking key data for better hiring outcomes. Walk away with proven tactics to enhance your hiring process immediately.

    Moderator
    Ashlea Roach
    Ashlea Roach

    Founder & Managing Director
    People Co.

    Panellists
    Luke Maddison
    Luke Maddison

    Fractional CMO
    Referoo

    Heather Flynn
    Heather Flynn

    Director Workforce & Organisational Development People and Culture
    Albury Wodonga Health

  • HRD Mentorship Network Launch

    Join as a mentor or mentee to be matched with other attendees and use this opportunity to learn from one another.

    Gain insights from Art of Mentoring on best practices of being a mentor or mentee and how to leverage this opportunity for meaningful professional connections

     

    Please note: The cut-off date to register interest in the mentorship network was Friday, 28 February. Registration for the program is now closed. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

    Georgia Ridgewell
    Georgia Ridgewell

    Account Manager
    Art of Mentoring

  • Afternoon tea and refreshments break
  • PANEL: The employee experience redefined – integrating wellbeing, diversity and digital HR to make an impact

    From flexible work arrangements and personalised reward strategies, to people-centric tech enhancements, how are companies thinking outside the box to engage their employees? This session will cover progressive ideas and successful outcomes from HR teams that are going above and beyond to deliver an outstanding employee experience.

    Moderator
    Alex Hassall
    Alex Hassall

    CEO and Co-Founder
    Your Financial Wellness

    Panellists
    Harleen Oberoi
    Harleen Oberoi

    Group Head of Talent & DEIB
    Crown Resorts

    Dina Papadopoulos
    Dina Papadopoulos

    Head of People Function, ANZ
    Kenvue

    Amalie Smith
    Amalie Smith

    Chief People Officer
    Essential Energy

  • CASE STUDY: Accelerating leadership capability and development – building future-ready leaders

    How can companies empower employees to become tomorrow’s leaders? In this session, a top company will discuss the objectives, frameworks and success of their leadership development program to equip their company with future leaders.  

    Penny Williamson
    Penny Williamson

    Head of Capability
    Coles Group

  • Chairperson closing remarks
  • Networking drinks (located in the Gallery – Level 2)
  • Day one ends
  • Registration opens
  • Opening remarks from the Chairperson
    Kylie Speer
    Kylie Speer

    Host
    Key Media

  • CASE STUDY: Navigating the hype – leveraging AI to get ahead

    Curious about how AI can support your people and company? What does AI look like going forward? The technology is changing at a rapid pace and organisations need to adapt and focus on how they can optimise AI while managing risks. Hear from someone with lived experience in how to engage with AI to enhance and support your business, the HR function and to transform the employee journey.

    Helen Anderson
    Helen Anderson

    Former Global Head of Talent and Capability
    Telstra

  • CASE STUDY: HR digital transformation – balancing innovation with human connection

    Ready to tackle HR tech challenges? Join this session for insights on mastering cross-team collaboration and system integration. We’ll share valuable lessons from large-scale implementations and practical tips to keep your projects on budget and on time. Don’t miss this chance to streamline your HR tech journey.

    Angela Lewis
    Angela Lewis

    Executive Transition Lead
    Suncorp

  • Morning tea and refreshments break
  • PANEL: How to become a strategic HR business partner

    From managing employee engagement, culture to experience, there can be a lack of clarity in HR roles. How can HR business partners (HRBPs) go beyond operational tasks and focus on strategic initiatives such as workforce planning? What is the career path for future HRBPs? In this session, hear from HRBPs who are operating at a strategic level to capture opportunities for organisations to drive business performance. 

    Moderator
    Nidhi Chopra
    Nidhi Chopra

    Director HR Business Partner
    Adobe

    Panellists
    Nikita Agarwal
    Nikita Agarwal

    Executive Manager, HR – Technology
    Commonwealth Bank

    Jessica Campbell
    Jessica Campbell

    Market HR Lead, Australia & New Zealand
    Google

    Lisa Taylor-Mesiti
    Lisa Taylor-Mesiti

    People & Engagement Director, Australia & New Zealand
    Egis

  • ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: Understanding the shifting responsibilities of HRBPs

    In this facilitated discussion, delegates will hear and share about the evolving roles in HR to transform HR business partners in their organisation.

    Kylie Speer
    Kylie Speer

    Host
    Key Media

  • Networking lunch
  • WELLBEING BOOST: Energiser session with wellbeing tips

    In this session, you will get up and move to feel re-energised and inspired for the rest of the day and take away simple, scientifically proven ways to boost wellbeing, stress less and enhance productivity that are feasible and effective.

    Timo Topp
    Timo Topp

    Wellbeing coach, counsellor, author and speaker

  • PANEL: Deconstructing strategic workforce planning – how to achieve results

    How can your company gear up for future workforce needs? From identifying emerging skills to enhancing internal capabilities, join us to explore innovative strategies for sustainable workforce planning that meet long-term talent demands.

    Moderator
    Maya Mazid
    Maya Mazid

    Head of APAC; Director
    Crayon

    Panellists
    Jane Hawkins
    Jane Hawkins

    Director, Workforce Planning and Strategy
    UNSW

    Deepti Sachdeva
    Deepti Sachdeva

    Head of Enterprise Capability & Transformation
    Westpac

    Kate Wilkinson
    Kate Wilkinson

    Chief People Officer
    ELMO Software

  • CLOSING KEYNOTE: Adventure thinking – navigating the unknown

    What does it take to embark on a 2200km unsupported kayak journey across the open ocean? What kind of mindset is needed to survive skiing for three months across Antarctica, enduring blizzards, navigating crevasses and coping with severe malnourishment? And why on earth would someone willingly commit to a 102-day walk across the Australian Outback with a one-year-old?

    In this inspirational keynote presentation, Justin ‘Jonesy’ Jones unpacks the lessons he’s learnt from the past 20 years of adventure and the ‘expedition mindset’ that allows the most “normal of us” to focus, adapt, overcome and achieve under extreme-stress situations.

    Justin ‘Jonesy’ Jones
    Justin ‘Jonesy’ Jones

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

  • Main Conference concludes
  • Prize draw announcements (Happening on the Workshop & Innovation Hub Stage, in the Gallery)

    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

     

     

  • Event concludes