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HR, People & Talent Festival Agenda
Day One | Tuesday, 17 October
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Exhibition Hall
7:50-8:30
Registration & Morning Refreshments
8:30-8:50
Welcome to Country
Aunty Janet Galpin, Boon Wurrung Elder
Learning & Development
8:50-9:00
Chairperson’s Opening Address
Ellie Whitton, Head of People & Culture, NEXTDC
Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
8:50-9:00
Chairperson’s Opening Address
Aisha Aboulfadil, Senior Advisor Diversity & Inclusion, Department of Transport (she/her)
Employee Experience & Engagement
8:50-9:00
Chairperson’s Opening Address
Amy Singe, General Manager People Performance, Culture & Safety, Yarra Valley Water
Employee Experience & Engagement
9:00-9:30
Q&A: Assessing the future of employee experience
● Navigating a distributed workforce and the evolving landscape of work
● Learn how to build an employee-centric culture in your organisation
● Understand the current trends and predictions for employee experience and engagement
(Moderator) Amy Singe, General Manager People Performance, Culture & Safety, Yarra Valley Water
Michael Kim, Head of HR JAPAC & SAMEA, Spotify
Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
9:00-9:30
Keynote: Why the conversation on inclusion in the workplace must continue
● Where are we today? Celebrating progress and bridging gaps
● Broadening definitions of diversity and positive action initiatives
● Combating discouragement by slow progress and recognising it's an initiative without a set finish line
Lisa Annese, CEO, Diversity Council Australia
Learning & Development
9:00-9:30
Keynote: The Future of Work - Getting the Culture Right
● Discover what the current and predicted trends are in learning and development
● Understand how you can create a culture of learning in the face of a recession/ limited training budgets
● Learn how internal mobility is a cost-effective method to combat the war for talent
● Communicating the ROI on L&D initiatives within your organisation
Steve Simpson, Director, Keystone Management Services
Employee Experience & Engagement
9:30-10:00
Karlee Scott-Murphy, a Microsoft expert, will explain what Generative AI is and how it will impact HR in terms of culture, operations, and employees
Karlee Scott-Murphy, Global Black Belt – Employee Experience, Modern Work, Microsoft
Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
9:30-10:20
Panel Discussion: Workplaces need employees and employees need a workplace… Is there a disconnect?
● Persisting microaggressions
● Changing workforce behaviour: recognising that today’s workplace is very different… what can organisations do?
● Intersectionality and establishing effective policy… what does that look like?
Moderator: Aisha Aboulfadil, Senior Advisor Diversity & Inclusion, Department of Transport (she/her)
Bruce Hardy, General Manager – Emerging Business, AGL
Veema Mooniapah, Program Manager, Worksafe Victoria
Edward Osano, Head of GradWISE, WISE Employment
Genevieve O'Neil, Manager Diversity & Inclusion, NSW Department of Customer Service
Learning & Development
9:40-10:30
Panel Discussion: Leveraging HR technology to develop and generate personalised, fit-for-purpose learning development solutions
● Effectively harnessing data to produce valuable insights around skill gaps within the organisation
● Using workforce analytics to identify skill trends across the organisation which lead to more informed decisions around L&D
● How AI can be used to personalise learning experiences
● Adapting L&D strategies to Future of Work trends through leveraging large data and engaging in trend analysis
Moderator: Adam McKinnon, People Data and Analytics Leader, Reece Group
Liam Yao, L&D consultant, Uniting
Lynita Halaska, Capability Lead, Lion
Paul Scott, General Manager, LMS365 Australia and New Zealand
Employee Experience & Engagement
10:00-10:40
Fireside Chat: Taking a holistic approach to your employee experience strategy
● Leveraging new and emerging technologies, including AI, to deliver personalised employee experiences
● Managing wellbeing and work-life balance of employees to improve engagement levels
● Driving positive employee experiences through an inclusive culture
(Moderator) Megan Turner, Head of People and Capability, Windermere Child and Family Services
Beata Pereh, Chief People and Culture Officer, DPV Health
Sharon Gray, Head of People and Culture, OzHarvest
Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
10:20-10:40
Table Discussion: Combating DE&I Fatigue and avoiding burnout
Learning & Development
10:30-11:00
Speed Networking
Employee Experience & Engagement
10:40-11:10
Speed Networking
Exhibition Hall
10:40-11:10
Morning Tea (Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit)
Exhibition Hall
11:10-11:40
Morning Tea
Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
11:10-11:40
Increasing Indigenous employment participation, retention and success
● The challenges faced by First Nations People and the drive for constitutional recognition
● How will the reform address workplace inclusion and diversity for First Nations People?
● Recidivism, education and employment: responsibilities of employers
Richard Hurst, Indigenous Employment and Engagement Manager, Monash University
Learning & Development
11:30-12:00
Overcoming scrap learning by implementing strategic metrics in L&D programs
● Understand the role of strategic metrics to build highly impactful and engaging learning programs
● Utilise strategic metrics to build transparency and accountability for business outcomes with stakeholders
● Demonstrate L&D’s impact on business goals
● Generate strategic metrics to use in your organisation
Marie Daniels, APAC Associate Director for Learning and Development, Alcon
Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
11:40-12:20
Panel Discussion: The future landscape for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees
● Strategies for recruiting and sourcing talent in limited talent pools
● Ensuring culturally safe workplace environments and policies
● Addressing microaggressions and other barriers to inclusivity
Moderator: Roman Ružbacký, Principal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant (he/him)
Katie Wyatt, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Coles (she/her)
Kayla Cartledge, Aboriginal Communities – Engagement Lead, Monash University (she/her)
Melissa Harrison, Executive Director – Koori Programs and Initiatives, Court Services Victoria
Employee Experience & Engagement
11:40-12:20
Fireside Chat: Leveraging HR technology to engage hybrid and remote teams
● Hear what strategies leading organizations have implemented to engage employees virtually
● Building meaningful connections online amongst employees to drive engagement and employee satisfaction
● Advocating new technologies to assist employees with managing workloads
● Utilising technology to measure and enhance EX and engagement
Mandy Sisson, Head of Employee Experience and Learning, Estia Health (Moderator)
Taryn Evans, Head of People Experience, Melbourne & Olympic Parks Trust
Chris Best, Head of People and Culture, THE ICONIC
Learning & Development
12:00-1:20
Interactive Breakout Discussions
Delegates will participate in two sessions of their choosing.
Roundtable A: Driving engagement through virtual learning platforms for the hybrid workforce
Compliance Training Really Matters – Here’s Why.
Non-compliance cost the four big banks in Australia over $1.5bn in FY19. This reflects the impact of not having advisers properly trained and certified. Every organisation needs to ensure their employees know what is expected of them regarding standards and certifications. We’ll explore compliance risks and issues and identify some takeaways to ensure your organisation can manage compliance effectively.
Employee Experience & Engagement
12:20-12:40
Presentation: Tackling the employee-company disconnect
Luke McKeever, Chief Executive Officer, Thomas International
Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
12:30-12:50
Table Discussion
Employee Experience & Engagement
12:40-1:00
Case Study: Creating change leadership through business transformation
● Adopting people analytics in your employee engagement strategy to make data-driven decisions
● Managing employee engagement and performance in distributed workforces via analytics
● Building data literacy in your HR team to successfully implement data-driven engagement strategies
Lisa Taylor-Mesiti, People & Engagement, Director, Egis
Exhibition Hall
12:50-1:50
Networking Lunch (Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit)
Exhibition Hall
1:10-2:10
Networking Lunch (Employee Experience & Engagement Summit)
Exhibition Hall
1:20-2:20
Networking Lunch (Learning & Development Summit)
Employee Experience & Engagement
2:10-2:20
Trivia
Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
1:50-2:00
Trivia
Learning & Development
2:20-2:30
Trivia
Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
2:00-2:30
Attracting and harnessing neurodiverse talent
● Alternative recruitment process: focusing on both potential and experience
● Understanding the symbiotic nature of creating workplaces where neurodiversity can thrive
● Attracting and retaining talent
Samantha Garbutt, Chief People Officer, Australian Spatial Analytics
Employee Experience & Engagement
2:20-3:10
Interactive Breakout Discussions
Delegates will participate in two sessions of their choosing. Each session will run for 30 minutes.
Roundtable A: Personalising EX through data analytics and AI technology
Roundtable B: Enhancing employee wellbeing and mental health
Roundtable C: Transforming performance management – enhancing your employee feedback and engagement initiatives
Roundtable D: Measuring and tracking employee experience and engagement
Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
2:30-3:20
Panel Discussion: Invisible and Visible Diversity
● Making workplace accessible for both people with a disability and neurodiverse
Disability and invisible diversity – what does an inclusive work environment look like?
● Effective framework to enhance the employee experience
● Intersecting identities
Moderator:Anaab Rooble, Manager, Diversity & Inclusion, Victoria Department of Families, Fairness & Housing
Sarah Kruger, Managing Director Talent, Accenture
Katie Wyatt, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Coles (she/her)
Antoinette Battista, Executive Director People & Culture, VIC Department Transport & Planning
Pamela Marcou, Diversity & Inclusion PM Partner, Coles
Rebecca Grace, General Manager, Centre for Inclusive Design
Learning & Development
2:30-3:00
Case Study: Investing in the next generation of leaders
● Implementing a leadership development approach to enable a future-ready workforce
● Accelerating and scaling the development of priority leadership skills
● Shifting the management mindset to a more leader-led coaching style
Jami-lee Apelila, Learning Business Partner, Global Operations Leadership Development, Amazon
Learning & Development
3:00-3:50
Keynote Panel: How can L&D teams adapt to the new leadership climate?
● Implementing best practices and new approaches to leadership
● Strategise how to overcome challenges including limited resources, and resistance to change
● Learn how to measure and track the effectiveness of leadership development initiatives
● The role of emerging technologies in shaping the future of leadership development
Moderator: Simone Blumberg, Chief People Officer, Vision Australia
Jane Hollman, Chief People and Culture Officer, Australian Red Cross
Natasha Teychenne, Head of People and Culture, Property Council of Australia
Exhibition Hall
3:20-3:50
Afternoon Tea (Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit)
Exhibition Hall
3:40-4:00
Afternoon Tea (Employee Experience & Engagement Summit)
Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
3:50-4:00
Cultural Safety Framework
Veronica Pardo, Principal, Veronica Pardo & Associates; Chairperson, Western Edge
Exhibition Hall
3:50-4:20
Afternoon Tea
Employee Experience & Engagement
4:00-4:40
Interactive Mini Workshop: Evolving an Organisation’s Culture and Employee Experience
● Increasing employee voice by adopting design thinking in your EX strategy
● How can design thinking be used to overcome employee disengagement?
● Nurturing design thinking in your EX team
Eva Pool, Head of People Experience, Country Road Group
Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
4:00-4:40
Panel: Unpacking racial equity in the workplace
● Rectifying lack of pathways into senior leadership
● Avoiding role pigeon-holes for CALD employees
● Attracting skilled migrants into under-represented positions
Moderator:Veronica Pardo, Principal, Veronica Pardo & Associates; Chairperson, Western Edge
Padmi Pathinather, People and Culture Director, Lifestart Co-Operative Ltd
Cilla Robinson, Employment Partner, Clayton Utz (she/her)
Niveditha Balachandran, Inclusion and Diversity Lead, Transport Accident Commission
Bedi Othow, Head of Corporate Services, Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission; Co-Founder, DivTal
Learning & Development
4:20-5:00
Interactive Mini Workshop: The Role of AI in Modern Learning
Dr Nora Koslowski, Chief Learning Innovation Officer, Melbourne Business School
Employee Experience & Engagement
4:40-4:50
Reflection and Key Takeaways
Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
4:40-4:50
Reflection and Key Takeaways
Employee Experience & Engagement
4:50-5:00
Chairperson’s Closing Address
Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
4:50-5:00
Chairperson’s Closing Address
Learning & Development
5:00-5:10
Chairperson’s Closing Address
Ellie Whitton, Head of People & Culture, NEXTDC
Exhibition Hall
5:10
Networking Drinks