Speakers

Deepshikha currently serves as Principal Global People Technology team within Telstra. Her function is responsible for managing the HR Digital ecosystem within Telstra. She has extensive experience in leading complex digital transformation programs with strategic focus on building AI solutions in order to deliver signature experiences for Telstra’s workforce. These include (but are not limited to) Payroll transformation program, Learning / skills transformation program and Talent Acquisition programs of work. Her function has delivered cutting edge People Tech making Telstra market leaders in Asia Pacific for early adoption of these Tech solutions. These include Paradox AI platform, Workday NLU Assistant in Microsoft Teams, Workday Extend Apps, Gen AI models for HR Business Processes etc. She also had the opportunity to represent Telstra at Workday Rising Barcelona sharing the great work done across the People Tech landscape.

Shruti has been with Unilever ANZ for 10 years, taking the reigns as Head of HR for Australia and New Zealand in 2023 and in 2025, she took on the additional responsibility for the APAC cluster.

Shruti loves partnering with teams to help drive their strategic business agenda, redefining work, unlocking performance and productivity while also helping organisations build an inclusive culture where everyone belongs. This is deep rooted in her purpose to “Create Belonging for myself and others” by living her values of positivity, curiosity & connections.

Some of Shruti’s key achievements at Unilever include landing organization transformations, driving a change agenda, spearheading progressive policy changes like Gender affirmation leave, leave for pregnancy loss & fertility treatments while experimenting with new flexible working models.

Shruti has 20+ years of HR experience, in both developing and developed markets, across a variety of roles including Organization Transformation, Change Management, Learning, Talent Management, Wellbeing, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) and HR Business partnering.

On a personal front, Shruti gets her energy from spending time with her husband and daughter, reading, doing yoga, and staying connected with friends and family all over the world!

Stephen Smith is the Executive General Manager of Safety, Wellbeing and Sustainability at NBN Co, with over 20 years of experience across international markets in real assets and infrastructure. A senior executive and people leader, Stephen drives business outcomes, resilience, and organisational excellence across Health, Safety, Wellbeing, Environment, Quality, and Sustainability portfolios.

He is a professional Engineer, a Certified Environmental Practitioner (CEnvP), and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). Stephen has held influential roles in global networks including the IOSH Global Business Leaders Forum, World Green Building Council Corporate Advisory Board, BCO ESG Committee, and UK Green Building Council Leaders Network. He was also a founding member of Building Responsibly, advocating for worker rights in engineering and construction.

Celina brings more than 20 years’ experience across the breadth of Human Resources spanning various sectors including financial services, oil, retail, construction and not-for-profit. Prior to joining Ausgrid in 2023, Celina’s most recent roles were with Life Without Barriers and John Holland, following 13 years at Caltex where she worked in various roles within and outside of HR.

Celina is passionate about building strong authentic relationships and shaping purpose aligned cultures which empower and energise people. Celina holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Human Resources & Industrial Relations from Western Sydney University.

Pauly Grant, Chief Talent Officer at Publicis Groupe ANZ & APAC, is an innovative and strategic HR leader with a more than 20-year career spanning marketing, communications and the fashion industry.

She has led the people and culture strategy for companies to deliver organisational transformation, new operating models, employee engagement, best practice L&D programs, safe and productive working environments, and holistic DE&I strategies.

Pauly is a creative problem solver who identifies and embraces new approaches to solve complex problems by leveraging data and insights. She believes that fostering an inclusive, enabling culture is a driver for exceptional business performance. As a leader, her focus is on making the shift from how to create a great Employee Experience (EX), to a great Life Experience (LX) for people. This is enabled through support frameworks that reflect a diverse workforce with varied lived experiences.

With a rare blend of expertise in philosophy, business, and HR technology, Simon Ives helps leaders build HR strategies that deliver powerful, measurable outcomes. He challenges leaders to move beyond chasing efficiency and instead use AI to free people for the creative and strategic work only they can do. He calls this pragmatic approach “Human Reverence” - a framework for designing technology and culture to unlock human flourishing and, in turn, superior business performance.

As the leader of HR Technology Strategy & Transformation at BHP, an advisor to SAP SuccessFactors and ServiceNow, and a Fellow Certified Practitioner HR, Simon’s insights are grounded in real-world application at the highest level. He provides leaders with the tools to translate ambitious ideas into tangible ROI.

Belinda is the Chief Executive People, Legal and Corporate Services at Suncorp, 
overseeing People, Legal, Company Secretariat, Procurement, Real Estate and 
Partnering teams. With nearly 20 years of legal practice experience in Australia and 
South Africa, she has also led major organisational transitions, including Suncorp Bank’s sale to ANZ, and previously served as Group General Counsel.

Belinda’s HR leadership is centred on building future-fit capabilities with a performance edge, ensuring Suncorp’s sustainability and capacity to deliver for their customers. She is focused on investing in people, recognising their loyalty, and prioritising psychological and social safety across the organisation.

Lauren is the Chief People & Culture Officer at Australian Payments Network, a role she has held for the past six years. Lauren’s role prioritises developing and executing people focussed solutions in support of AusPayNet’s strategy. She has spent the last 15 years in Executive Human Resources, partnering with leaders to shape the people agenda.

When she is not solving complex people issues, Lauren is passionate about education. She holds a Master of Commerce, majoring in Human Resources & Industrial Relations, and has recently graduated from Macquarie University with her Bachelor of Medical Science, majoring in Neuroscience and Advanced Human Biology.

With 25 years of experience living and working across five continents, I’ve spent my career solving complex Global HR Technology and Data challenges. After 15 years building increasingly large and complex global HRIS systems, I became frustrated by the disconnect between the data HR was collecting and the business’s need to drive revenue, engagement, and performance.

That frustration led me to dedicate the past 11 years to People Analytics — creating solutions that help HR, business leaders, and employees make informed decisions based on accurate, relevant, and timely data. Whether developing a world leading Organisational Network Analytics product, leading Deloitte Australia's People Analytics capability or now at Rio Tinto, my focus has remained the same: enabling sustained and measurable business impact.

At Rio Tinto, I bring passionate HR professionals together with our super-smart analytics team, helping ideas spark and grow. What drives me is showing the real impact of that connection — turning energy and expertise into stories leaders can act on, and proving the value it creates for people and the business.