Main Conference

1-2 April 2025, International Convention Centre, Sydney

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

    Host
    Key Media

  • Welcoming remarks from the Event Partner
  • Interactive Networking Activity: Human Bingo

    Kick off Day 1 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 prize!

    (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

    Currently the most successful paddler (male or female) in history, Jess Fox has a long list of achievements including 52 World Cup gold medals, 10 World Championship titles, and 3 Olympic gold medals (a total of 6 Olympic medals across four Games). In this inspiring keynote, Jess will share how she cemented her legacy with recent dual gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Touching on performance mindset, resilience and teamwork, Jess will share her journey to become one of the greatest Olympians in Australia. 

    Jessica Fox OAM
    Jessica Fox OAM


  • 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.  

    Panellists
    Helen Copp
    Helen Copp

    Head of Employee Experience (Director)
    Macquarie Group

    Conor Donoghue
    Conor Donoghue

    Head of People, Culture & Talent – ANZ
    Zip Co

    Mariam Hares
    Mariam Hares

    Chief People Officer
    Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation

  • Morning tea and refreshments break
  • Session details to be announced
  • 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
  • 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.  

  • HRD Mentorship Network Launch

    Sign up for our Mentorship Network! 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

     

    Sign up now: The cutoff date to register your interest in the mentorship network is Friday, 28 February. You can register your interest in the registration form when purchasing your Main Conference ticket.

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

    From flexible work arrangements, 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.

    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 Human Resources Officer
    Essential Energy

  • ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: The balancing act – addressing hybrid work arrangements

    In this facilitated session, delegates will discuss the divide between returning to work, hybrid work arrangements and how to achieve the best of both worlds to enhance collaboration, flexibility and culture.

    Kylie Speer
    Kylie Speer

    Host
    Key Media

  • Networking drinks
  • 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

    HR Executive
    Former 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. 

    Panellists
    Jessica Campbell
    Jessica Campbell

    Market HR Lead, Australia & New Zealand
    Google

    Melissa Cole
    Melissa Cole

    former Head of People & Culture
    Uber Carshare

    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 meets long-term talent demands.

    Panellists
    Jane Hawkins
    Jane Hawkins

    Director, Workforce Planning and Strategy
    UNSW

    Sarah Jordan
    Sarah Jordan

    General Manager People Planning and Enablement
    John Holland

    Deepti Sachdeva
    Deepti Sachdeva

    Head of Enterprise Capability & Transformation
    Westpac

  • 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 3 months across Antarctica surviving blizzards, crevasses and severe malnourishment? 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, Jonesy 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 (located in the Workshops stage in the Expo hall)

    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