Your ticket provides access to a complimentary healthy breakfast, which will be followed by a headline leadership talk.

Presenter: Brett Archer, Capability Development Lead, Special Broadcasting Service (SBS)

Topic: From Compliance to Culture: Safety Leadership

Overview: This session delves into the Safety Leadership Transformation project, an award-winning initiative that shifted safety from a compliance-driven obligation to a deeply embedded leadership value. It explores how targeted learning strategies, leadership engagement, and innovative program design created lasting cultural change. The session also highlights key insights from other award-winning initiatives, providing practical takeaways for learning professionals looking to drive impactful leadership development in their own organisations.

Key Learning Points:
• Embedding Safety in Leadership: How shifting safety from a rule-based compliance approach to a leadership mindset improves accountability and performance.
• Engaging Leaders at All Levels: Strategies for securing leadership buy-in and ensuring consistent safety behaviours across an organisation.
• Innovative Learning Design: How experiential learning, real-world application, and digital tools enhanced engagement and effectiveness.
• Measuring Impact: Insights into business outcomes, cultural shifts, and participant feedback that drove award-winning success.
• Lessons from Other Award-Winning Programs: Key takeaways from our Leadership Development Program, Employee Onboarding and Manager Onboarding, reinforcing best practices in leadership development.

Presenter Bio: Brett has been the SBS Capability Development Lead for over 9 years having previously supported Learning and Development at CBRE, LivingSocial and News Limited. Brett brings with him twenty years of experience in learning design and development, leadership development, facilitation, coaching, and implementing online learning solutions. He has helped SBS gain recognition with an award for Best Leadership Development Program at the Australian HR Awards in 2017 and again a further excellence award for Best Leadership Development Program at the 2022 Australian HR Awards.  Brett is passionate about the innovative use of technology, virtual training and webinars, and e-learning solutions as part of a broader learning strategy, winning LearnX gold awards in 2022 for Best Induction/Onboarding and Best Compliance Training courses and three LearnX diamond awards in 2024 for Best Health & Safety Training, Best Induction/Onboarding and Best Leadership Development. Brett holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Performance.  He is also an accredited DISC, LSI, MSCEIT and Strengths Profile practitioner and an expert facilitator.

Presenter: Amalia Chilianis, General Manager of Culture & Organisational Development, The Lotteries Corporation

Topic: Future-Proofing Leadership: Building Capabilities for a Tech-Driven World

Overview: This session explores how leaders can adapt to rapid technological advancements by developing digital fluency, agility, and a culture of continuous learning and experimentation. It highlights the impact of AI, automation, and data-driven decision-making while providing strategies to bridge capability gaps and future-proof leadership skills. Through practical insights and discussion, the session equips leaders with the tools to navigate change and drive innovation in an evolving landscape.

Key Learning Points:
• The Evolving Leadership Skillset – How leaders must develop adaptability, digital fluency, and a learning mindset to stay relevant.
• Emerging Technologies & Their Impact – AI, automation, and data analytics as game-changers in experimentation, decision-making and problem-solving.
• Building a Culture of Continuous Learning – Strategies for fostering innovation, upskilling, and embracing lifelong learning within organisations.
• Agility in Leadership – How to lead effectively in fast-changing environments, manage uncertainty, and drive transformation.
• Bridging the Capability Gap – Identifying future skills, leveraging digital tools, and implementing workforce development programs to ensure readiness for tomorrow’s challenges.

Presenter Bio: A visionary people and change executive with deep expertise in driving business and culture transformations across complex global and national organisations, including IBM, PwC, General Motors Holden, and NAB. Currently GM of Culture & OD at The Lottery Corporation, where the team recently won three LearnX awards for Leadership Development, Team Development, and Coaching. A recognised thought leader in future capability development, adept at shaping and evolving workplace cultures to keep pace with technological advancements and shifting business landscapes. Passionate about building high-performing teams and delivering innovative, forward-thinking people strategies that enable organisations to adapt, grow, and thrive in an era of constant change. Published Author, Finalist for Career Book of the Year 2021, with appearances on TV, Radio and articles in major Australian publications.

Presenters: Nicole Keating, Head of Talent Excellence and Team, Abano Healthcare Group.

Topic: Unlocking Success: Mastering Onboarding, Engagement, and Learning to Reduce Attrition for Employees and Contractors

Overview: This presentation provides an in-depth look at the Abano Onboarding, Engagement, and Learning Capabilities Framework, with a focus on reducing attrition and supporting both employees and contractors. It will explore how an inclusive and adaptable approach ensures seamless onboarding for all new team members, regardless of employment status. Additionally, it highlights the critical role mentoring plays in fostering growth and engagement and shares strategies for managing a diverse workforce while promoting continuous learning and development to boost retention.

Key Learning Points:
– Understanding how to effectively onboard both employees and contractors with a unified approach.
– The importance of mentoring and personalised support in driving professional growth and engagement.
– Strategies for managing the complexities of a mixed workforce while encouraging continuous learning and development.
– Insights into building a cohesive, high-performing culture that drives success for both employees and contractors.

Bio: An outcome-focused, people-oriented leader, Nicole brings a wealth of experience across diverse industries, including animal health, FMCG, and construction. Throughout her career, she has established a solid foundation in driving operational excellence, creating strategic compliance models, and developing effective talent attraction, retention, and succession strategies that pave the way for long-term organisational success. In 2024, Nicole and her team had the honour of receiving multiple Platinum Awards at the LearnX Awards, including accolades for Best Talented Team – Induction & Onboarding, Best HR Talent Management – Employee Experience, and Best HR Talent Management – People & Culture. Additionally, in 2023, they proudly won the Excellence in Innovation and Enterprise Talent Team award at the Internal Talent Awards (ITAs). Nicole’s true passion lies in optimizing experiences for all stakeholders by ensuring consistent performance and fostering environments where individuals can thrive. Nicole is dedicated to empowering teams to reach both individual and collective success while positioning organisations for future growth and sustainability.

Presenter: Adrian Phoon, Head of Content, GRC Solutions

Topic: Developing Capable Leaders: Using Training to Manage Workplace Aggression, Individual Stress and Organisational Change.

Overview: This session explores how training can support leadership initiatives in going beyond basic policy awareness to helping people navigate pressure, de-escalate tensions and respond thoughtfully rather than react or shut down emotionally. Behaviour change-focused training that acknowledges stress, teaches respectful feedback and builds emotional intelligence can help organisations to prevent liability. It can also build the capability of today’s and tomorrow’s leaders, sending a powerful message: You’re here. You’re expected to grow. And we’ll support you to do it well. At the heart of this work is acceptance – not of poor behaviour, but of human complexity.

Key Learning Points:
– What leaders can do to build emotional capability in ourselves and others.
– How technology, bias and stereotypes in today’s workplaces influence our notions of leadership.
– The role we as leaders play in minimising harm while accepting human complexity.
– Why aggression, stress and organisational change are now compliance issues that leaders must address.

Presenter Bio: As the Head of Content at GRC Solutions, Adrian Phoon leads a team that develops industry-specific compliance training for clients across the Asia Pacific. GRC Solutions has won multiple platinum LearnX awards for Best Team and Best Compliance Training over the years. Adrian is a frequent presenter and has developed and delivered workshops for the UN’s International Labour Organisation in Thailand. He has also spoken on leadership, belonging, and inclusion at events hosted by Apple, Google, Sage, Dolby Laboratories, and API Global Solutions. Additionally, he has served on the boards of leading LGBTQIA+ organisations.

Tea/coffee breaks include light refreshments.

Presenter: Katherine Watkinson, Leadership Learning & Development Manager, Metcash

Topic: Empowering The Future: How Investing in Emerging Leaders Makes a Difference

Overview: Discover the transformative power of investing in the next generation of leaders. This talk explores how identifying and nurturing emerging talent within your organisation can drive long-term success. Learn how strategic development, mentorship, and tailored opportunities can unlock the potential of future leaders, fostering a culture of performance, collaboration, and resilience. Join us to understand the critical role of developing leadership skills early and how it can create a sustainable talent pipeline, ensuring your organisation thrives in the future.

Key Learning Points:
– Learn strategies to design and implement effective emerging leadership development programs that last beyond year one
– Unpick some of the logistical, locational and audience challenges associated with nation-wide emerging leadership development and some of the solutions we found
– Gain practical insights into creating sustainable leadership development programs to meet current and future challenges in complex businesses
– Hear of our key learnings from Platinum Award Winning Programs – Strive Female Talent Program & Frontline Leadership Program

Presenter Bio: Katherine has been the Learning & Development Manager at Metcash for three years, having previously supported L&D initiatives at various organisations including Lend Lease & Vodafone. Katherine brings with her over two decades of experience in learning design, leadership development, coaching, and implementing innovative learning solutions. She has led her teams to achieve positive outcomes for learners and businesses alike, in programs such as Leadership, Online Learning, Induction, Female Talent Development, and Frontline Leadership. She has led or been part of the teams that have won LearnX awards in 2013, 2021 and again in 2024 with Metcash swooping 5 Platinum Awards at the 2024 LearnX. Katherine enjoys making the complex simple, the dull engaging and the difficult easy – so others can be the best they can be. Katherine is an active community leader, recently serving as founding member and Chairwoman of the Women’s Shed Central Coast and founded a local support network for food businesses during the pandemic.

Presenter: Andrew Mielder, Director, Blanchard Australia

Topic: Amid Change and Uncertainty: People Matter More Than Ever!

Overview: In a world where technology evolves rapidly and uncertainty is the norm, human connection matters more than ever. Studies show that feelings of loneliness have doubled since the 1980s, highlighting a growing need for meaningful relationships. As change accelerates, prioritising people and fostering genuine connections has never been more critical.

Key Learning Points:
– Technology is a great enabler, but connection and belonging are still #1.
– Our brains are not ready for digital acceleration and why conversations are more important than ever.
– Our leaders need agile conversation skills in an ever faster work environment.
– How organisations are at risk of losing an entire generation of talent from leadership.

Bio: Andrew Miedler is a Director of Blanchard Australia, helping clients over the past decade to enhance leadership and communication capabilities across industries. With nearly 30 years of corporate experience, he ensures practical, real-world applications. A father of four and a grandparent, Andrew believes leadership and conversation skills are equally important inside and outside the workplace.  Committed to giving back, he has spent over 25 years involved in soccer, AFL, and cricket, contributing to his community through sports.

A buffet lunch is served in the Rydges Amber restaurant, which provides a range of food and drink options along with extra time to network with coworkers and speakers and meet new people in the industry.

Presenters: Vicki Tsiaras, Capability Manager, Keypath Education and Sarah Stone, Director, linkABLE.

Topic: Transforming Leadership: How Alignment Fuels Organisational Momentum

Overview: This session will explore how a targeted, multi-layered leadership approach transformed capabilities, enhanced leadership effectiveness, and drove measurable business impact at Keypath Education. Faced with the challenge of developing 26 leaders at various levels, Keypath needed to implement a high-impact leadership program. Over a period of 10 months, a combination of individual coaching, group sessions, and real-time application resulted in significant growth, cultural shifts, and clear, measurable leadership outcomes.

Key Learning Points:
• From Insight to Action – Aligning leadership growth with business needs.
• Multi-Layered Development – Connecting individual coaching & team transformation.
• Quick Pivots for Success – Adapting in real-time to maximise impact.
• Measurable Results – Tracking leadership capability shifts, engagement levels, and performance improvements.
• From Learning to Leading – Driving sustained business momentum through leadership excellence.

Presenter: Jo Turner, Executive Coach, NIDA Corporate Training

Topic: Leading the Room: How Presence and Communication Shape Influence

Overview: Join the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) Corporate Training for an engaging session exploring the power of presence in leadership. What are we communicating the moment we walk into a room? How can we take control of that story to connect, inspire, and lead with impact when our workplaces are changing so rapidly? By 2025, LinkedIn estimates that 70% of workplace skills will evolve. However, strong communication and leadership are more important than ever. Drawing on techniques taught to performing artists, Jo Turner will demonstrate how vocal and physical tools used in performance can elevate your leadership presence. Through a dynamic and practical approach, discover how to harness these skills to enhance your influence and lead with confidence.

Key Learning Points:
– Gain insight into a dynamic experiential learning methodology and a practical theatre-based approach to developing leadership capability.
– Explore leadership presence as a core capability: Discover how vocal and physical presence influences connection, confidence, and impact in the workplace.
– Learn practical tools for immediate application: Take away simple, effective techniques to enhance communication and leadership presence across your organisation.

Bio: Jo Turner brings over 20 years of experience with NIDA and a dynamic blend of skills to the NIDA Corporate Training team. Trained at the prestigious Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris, Jo has worked extensively across Europe and Australia as a performer, director, and writer. His work spans major companies including Bell Shakespeare, Sydney Theatre Company, and Belvoir Street, as well as film and television. As a tutor, Jo has taught at QUT, The Actors Centre, and more, specialising in movement and improvisation. He is also an acclaimed independent artist, most recently touring his visually driven production Ruby’s Wish to the Sydney Opera House and beyond.

The summit will be followed by a networking hour where attendees can enjoy complimentary refreshments and canapés.

The timings are a general outline and are subject to adjustment.