HR Leadership Summit 2025

Pre-Conference Workshop 1

09:00 AM - 12:00 PM

From HR Operator to Strategic Partner: Step Into Your Power

Aspiring and mid-level HR leaders are often told to “be more strategic” — but what does that actually mean in the real world of business demands, executive relationships, and cross-functional
complexity?

This immersive half-day masterclass is designed to equip you with the tools, mindset and influence strategies needed to elevate your voice and impact as an HR professional. You’ll learn how to frame your ideas for business audiences, build trust with senior leaders, and make a clear case for HR-led initiatives that drive performance, engagement and culture change.

This session is ideal for HR professionals ready to shift from supporting the strategy to shaping it.

The Reality HR Professionals Face:

• Struggling to gain a seat at the table or have ideas taken seriously

• Feeling caught between transactional tasks and transformation goals

• Working hard but lacking visibility or influence with decision-makers

Your 5-Step Strategic Influence Framework:

• How to speak the language of commercial value in your HR initiatives

• Building executive relationships through trust, credibility, and alignment

• Structuring your strategic messages to get a “yes” from the C-suite

• Navigating resistance or competing agendas with grace and confidence

• Positioning yourself as a future HR leader and change enabler

Key Benefits of Attending:

• Learn to frame HR initiatives in strategic, business-first language

• Build your confidence and executive presence as a change leader

• Gain practical tools to map stakeholders and influence decision-making

• Understand what executives want from HR — and how to deliver it

• Walk away with a personal roadmap to elevate your impact in your role

Conference Day 1: 5th November

09:05 Opening Remarks from the Chair & Acknowledgment of Country

Session 1 - 09:20 Rising to the Challenge: Why the Future of Work Needs Strategic HR Leaders

As organisations evolve, HR is no longer a support function—it’s a driving force for business success. This opening keynote sets the tone for the summit, exploring how HR professionals can rise beyond operations and claim their place at the executive table. Learn what it takes to lead with vision, influence, and purpose in a fast-changing world of work.

11:00 AM: It’s Time.....for Networking!

11:20 AM Morning Tea

Session 2 - 11:20am From Backbone to Braintrust: Earning Your Seat in the C-Suites

For too long, HR has been seen as reactive. Now, it’s time to flip the narrative. This session explores how strategic HR leaders have embedded themselves into executive decision-making, influencing not just people strategy, but overall business direction. Hear how to develop credibility, contribute commercially, and step into true leadership.

Session 3 - 11:50am Hardwired for Belonging

Milo Wilkinson brings a unique blend of neuroscience, behavioural science and leadership strategy to help HR leaders create workplaces where belonging and trust drive performance. In this session, Milo will share research-backed insights on how psychological safety fuels innovation, why inclusion strengthens adaptability, and how leaders can guide teams through change with empathy and clarity. Participants will learn practical techniques to foster trust, strengthen team cohesion, and build cultures that thrive in complex and fast-changing environments.

Session 4 - 1:50pm Strategic HR in Action: Case Studies from the Top

What does strategic HR leadership actually look like day to day? This session dives into real examples from senior HR leaders who have tackled workforce strategy, hybrid work, restructures, and skills transformation at scale. Discover the tools and thinking behind their decisions—and what you can apply to your own journey.

Session 5 - 2:40pm People First, Always: Leading with Empathy and Clarity in Uncertain Times

HR is often the first to support others—and the last to be supported. This powerful session unpacks how the most effective leaders maintain empathy while making tough calls, set clear direction in grey areas, and lead from a place of strength without burning out. Because people first  leadership starts with you.

3:30 PM AFTERNOON TEA

Session 6 - 3:50pm Your Leadership Legacy: What Kind of HR Leader Do You Want to Be?

As you rise into strategic leadership, the question becomes not just what you do—but who you become. In this inspiring closing session, reflect on the impact you want to make, the teams you want to shape, and the future you want to help build. It’s a challenge to lead boldly, build better workplaces, and leave a legacy that matters.

4:50 PM END OF DAY ONE & NETWORKING DRINKS

Conference Day 2: 6th November

09:05 Opening Remarks from the Chair & Acknowledgment of Country

Session 1 - 09:10 AM The Workforce Ahead: Redesigning HR for the Next Generation of Work

From AI disruption to shifting employee expectations, the HR function of tomorrow will look radically different from today. In this opening keynote, discover how forward-thinking HR leaders are evolving their structures, mindsets, and technologies to stay ahead—and what it means for your career and capability development.

Session 2 - 10:00 AM The Strategic Talent Playbook: Winning in a Skills-Short Market

In a market defined by skills gaps and global mobility, how can HR leaders attract and retain top talent? This session dives into workforce planning, internal mobility, and upskilling strategies from those leading the charge in talent innovation. Learn how to build future-fit teams and keep them engaged

10:50 AM Morning Tea

Session 3 - 11:20 AM Resilience and Connection in the Age of Change

In a world where disruption is constant and workplace demands are accelerating, the leaders who succeed are those who can maintain clarity, connection, and resilience under pressure. Drawing on his journey from monk to venture capitalist and bestselling author, Kamal Sarma shares practical strategies to strengthen mental resilience, lead with purpose, and build cultures of trust. Walk away with the tools to navigate uncertainty, stay focused in complexity, and inspire teams to perform at their best.

Session 4 - 12:10 PM Leading Through Crisis: What HR Teaches Us About Real Leadership

HR often becomes the heart of an organisation during crisis. Whether it’s restructures, public scrutiny, or global disruption, this session explores how HR leaders manage uncertainty, communicate with compassion, and guide recovery. Hear powerful stories from the frontlines— and the leadership lessons learned in the toughest moments.

1:10 PM LUNCH

Session 5 - 2:40 PM The Internal Influencer: How to Drive Change Without the Title

You don’t need to be in the C-suite to think and lead strategically. This keynote is for emerging leaders who want to influence upwards, shape culture, and deliver meaningful change from wherever they sit in the organisation. Discover how to build trust, gain traction, and lead with clarity and purpose.

Session 6 - 3:10 PM Your HR Leadership Journey: From Inspiration to Action

After two days of powerful insights and stories, it’s time to turn inspiration into impact. This closing session challenges you to define what kind of leader you want to be—and what actions you’ll take next. With practical tools, mindset shifts, and a renewed sense of purpose, you’ll walk away ready to rise, lead, and transform.

4:00 PM ECLOSE OF CONFERENCE

Post-Conference Workshop 

9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Shifting from Reactive Hiring to Proactive Workforce Design

The workforce is changing — fast. New technologies, evolving expectations, and rapid disruption are making old HR plans obsolete. That’s why strategic workforce planning is no longer a “nice to have” — it’s essential. This full-day workshop gives HR professionals the practical tools to plan for future workforce
needs, map current capability, and align talent strategies with business growth. You’ll learn how to  create skills frameworks, identify gaps, and build future-focused plans that your executive team will  respect and use. If you want to future-proof your people strategy, this is the session for you.

The Reality HR Professionals Face:

• Constantly reacting to hiring needs instead of planning ahead
• No clear picture of the organisation’s future capability requirements
• Struggling to engage business leaders in proactive workforce conversations

Your Strategic Planning Toolkit:

• How to conduct a workforce planning needs analysis
• Identifying critical roles and future skill sets in your organisation
• Building a simple but effective capability framework
• Mapping internal talent potential and development needs
• Aligning people plans with business and technology strategy

Key Benefits of Attending:

• Learn practical workforce planning models and apply them live
• Understand how to build capability maps that guide investment decisions
• Gain confidence engaging leaders in strategic HR planning
• Identify workforce risks and future-proof your talent pipeline
• Walk away with a draft strategic workforce plan ready to refine