In-Person

Australia CHRO Community

Executive Summit

13 May 2026 | Hilton Sydney

13 May 2026
Hilton Sydney

Collaborate with your peers

Get together with Australia's top CHROs to tackle shared business challenges and critical priorities facing your role today. Participate in this one-day, local program with peer-driven topics and interactive discussions with your true C-level peers.

Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CHROs today:

Shaping the Human Impact of AI and Creating New Ways of Work

Developing Agile Leaders in a Dynamic Landscape

Reinvigorating Culture While Driving Innovation

Australia CHRO Governing Body

The Governing Body Co-Chairs shape the summit agenda, ensuring that all content is driven By CHROs, For CHROs®.

Governing Body Co-Chairs

Julie Carroll

CRH
Chief People Officer, Australia

Helen Fraser

Laing O'Rourke
Director, People

Benjamin Morris

Mirvac
Group General Manager, HR

Duncan Thomas

Landcom
Executive General Manager, People, Culture & Safety

What to Expect

Interactive Sessions

Hear from CHRO practitioners and thought leaders on how they're solving critical challenges impacting your role today in Keynote sessions, and join smaller, interactive discussions with your peers in Breakout and Boardroom sessions.

Community Networking

Make new connections and catch up with old friends in casual conversations during dedicated time for networking designed to better acquaint you with your Australia CHRO community.

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Connect with like-minded peers in a private, one-on-one setting through Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.

Agenda

13 May 2026

08:00 - 09:00  Registration & Breakfast

09:00 - 09:45  Gartner Keynote

Transforming the HR Operating Model — Prepare HR for AI Today & Tomorrow

Arj Bagga headshot

Arj Bagga

VP, Team Manager

Gartner

AI is rapidly advancing, and HR must adapt to stay relevant. However, few CHROs feel their current function is set up for the AI era. CHROs should develop a comprehensive AI strategy to help facilitate their AI transformation and think critically about evolving HR functional roles and work. The best CHROs will chart a course for transformation to drive the most business value within HR and the enterprise.  

  • Discover how AI will impact HR’s structure and critical steps to evolve your function
  • Learn how to protect the skills that matter and upskill your HR team for the AI era
  • Understand the best practices for embedding AI use in HR

09:45 - 10:15  Break

10:15 - 11:00  Breakout Session

Cracking the Code — The New Science of High-Performance Cultures

Justin Angsuwat headshot

Justin Angsuwat

Chief People Officer

Culture Amp

Most organisations treat engagement and performance as separate goals, yet only 2% of CHROs believe their current systems drive results. Drawing on research from more than 1,800 global organisations, we debunk the “false choice” between culture and output. Join us to explore the Performance Culture Quadrant — a data-backed framework to move beyond retrospective surveys and build “performance confidence” across your workforce.

Join this session to learn how to:

  • Categorise your organisation’s current culture and identify the levers needed to reach elite performance
  • Understand the psychological link between engagement and sustainable business outcomes
  • Move from lagging indicators to a holistic strategy that predicts and drives future success

11:00 - 11:30  Networking Break

11:05 - 11:25  Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Connect with like-minded peers in a one-on-one setting through Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.

11:30 - 12:15  Breakout Session

Leading Out of Turbulence — Building Workforce Resilience and Driving Change at Qantas

Natalie Thomson headshot

Natalie Thomson

Executive Manager, People

Qantas Airways Limited

Qantas has faced a period of transformation, navigating leadership transitions, operational challenges, and the critical need to restore trust across its workforce. At the heart of this journey lies the interplay between culture transformation and the ability to lead change effectively.
Join this session with Natalie Thomson, Executive Manager People, Qantas Airlines and Qantas Loyalty as she shares her insights on:

  • Defining and transforming culture and embedding in daily operations
  • Developing resilient leaders and engaging employees during periods of uncertainty
  • Managing large-scale organisational change and maintaining workforce stability

11:30 - 12:15  Executive Boardroom

Beyond the Hype — Bridging the AI Adoption Gap to Unlock True Value

While AI continues to generate excitement and promise across industries, organisations often overlook the crucial role of the workforce in achieving successful AI transformation. CHROs are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between AI strategy and successful implementation by making employees active partners in AI adoption.

Join this boardroom to discuss:

  • Enabling the workforce to reskill and embrace AI-driven change  
  • Redesigning roles and processes to unlock enterprise-wide success
  • Collaborating with business leaders to align AI investments with business objectives


12:15 - 12:55  Lunch Service

12:55 - 13:30  Keynote

Psychosocial Risk – A Framework for CHROs

Karlie Cremin headshot

Karlie Cremin

Managing Director

Dynamic Leadership Programs Australia (DLPA)

Managing psychosocial risk is no longer a “nice to have” or an issue to delegate. It is a legal, cultural and leadership responsibility, and CHROs are now central to meeting regulatory expectations, reducing organisational exposure and supporting psychologically healthy work. This session makes psychosocial risk practical by outlining what it means for daily leadership, how to identify key factors, and how to apply effective, evidence‑based controls.

Join this keynote to explore:

  • Identifying psychosocial factors that influence a safe, productive and psychologically healthy workplace
  • Understanding current regulations, best practices and where organisations are most at risk of falling short
  • Integrating evidence‑based interventions to ensure effective and defensible controls

13:30 - 13:45  Break

13:45 - 14:30  Breakout Session

Elevating HR Influence with the Board

Gitanjali Bhalla headshot

Gitanjali Bhalla

Chief People Officer

Seven Group Holdings

Ronán Carolan headshot

Ronán Carolan

VP, HR

Thales Group

As Boards face cost pressures, disruption, and the rapid rise of AI, the expectations of HR leaders are shifting. The people agenda now plays a critical role in shaping workforce capability, organisational performance, and long-term value.
 
Join this panel discussion with senior practitioners as they share practical insights on:

  • Translating people strategy into commercial value
  • Leveraging workforce data to identify and manage risks
  • Navigating Board dynamics and leading conversations on AI, skills, and workforce transformation

13:45 - 14:30  Workshop

Empowering Talent with Positive Job Design and Role Optimisation

David Burroughs headshot

David Burroughs

Chief Mental Health Officer

Westpac

As workplaces face unprecedented change and rising demands, HR leaders are challenged to move beyond traditional solutions and rethink how work is designed. Join this workshop to discover the practical steps to transform roles, enhance wellbeing and performance for a future-ready workforce.

  • Learn practical approaches to optimising roles in today’s dynamic work environment
  • Address common challenges like overload, incivility, and change fatigue through smarter work design
  • Build a psychologically healthy and safe workplace that goes beyond safety regulations and enables sustainable high performance


13:45 - 14:30  Executive Boardroom

Reimagining Leader and Manager Development for an Agile Workforce

As organisations confront unprecedented disruption, the role of leaders and managers is being fundamentally redefined. Today’s CHROs are tasked with running innovative and ongoing programs that equip leaders at all levels to adopt quickly and drive strong business performance.

Join this boardroom to discuss:

  • Redefining leadership development beyond traditional models to build real-time capability
  • Embedding leadership and culture into the talent lifecycle
  • Equipping leaders to build high performing teams while navigating the challenges and opportunities in a changing environment

14:30 - 15:00  Networking Break

14:35 - 14:55  Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Connect with like-minded peers in a one-on-one setting through Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.

15:00 - 15:40  Keynote

Reshaping Culture That Lasts — Translating Insights into Action

Meaghan Davis headshot

Meaghan Davis

Chief People Officer

Ampol

Shaping organisational culture is one of the most complex and vital responsibilities for CHROs. In today’s ever-evolving business environment with diverse teams and subcultures, CHROs must understand your unique organisational context and make informed decisions to drive meaningful change.
 
Join this session to hear from Meaghan Davis, Chief People Officer, Ampol as she unfolds:

  • Using data and insights to identify and guide cultural shifts
  • Tailoring your approach to organisational context and making intentional choices
  • Embedding culture through values, performance systems, and tailored communication

15:40 - 16:00  Closing Comments and Prize Drawing

13 May 2026

We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming in-person gathering

Gartner cares about the health and safety of our community. If you are feeling unwell, please refrain from attending the conference. At this time, Gartner does not have any health-related requirements in place for attendance. Should this change, we will follow up with updated guidance.

Location

Venue & Accommodation

Hilton Sydney

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hilton Sydney at a reduced conference rate. Reservations should be made online or by calling 1300 445 866. Please mention 90Z to ensure the appropriate room rate.

Deadline to book using the discounted room rate of $370 AUD (plus tax) is 24 April 2026.

Your Community Sponsors

Key Sponsor

Program Sponsors

Community Program Manager

For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.

Denzil Fernandez

Sr. Community Program Manager

(04) 727 41540

denzil.fernandez@gartner.com