AFR Workforce Summit 2024

It’s no exaggeration to say the pandemic upended the world of work and accelerated trends that were already starting to reshape workforces. Most office workers now spend at least a few days a week working remotely even though many had never done so before March 2020. And, almost four years later, there’s little to suggest that’s going to change anytime soon.

As COVID has gradually receded, it has been replaced by an escalating set of dynamics that are compelling workforces to respond and adapt swiftly. Geopolitical tensions, skills shortages, the rapid advancement of automation, declining productivity, and rising inflation are fundamentally altering the landscape of the economy and how workforces operate. Simultaneously, the shift towards hybrid working has offered employers the opportunity to tap into more extensive and diverse talent pools, an invaluable resource in a period of historically low unemployment.

The AFR Workforce Summit gathers the nation’s most influential business leaders, policymakers and industry insiders to discuss the profound shifts facing workforce and strategies organisations can implement to prepare for the future. The summit will also explore the opportunities and threats associated with artificial intelligence; the skills needed to thrive in the economy it helps create; and how workplaces must adapt to the shifting aspirations and expectations of Gen Z.

Featuring:

• Amy Coleman, Corporate Vice President, Human Resources & Corporate Functions, Microsoft
• Wesley Walden, Managing Partner, McKinsey & Company, Australia and New Zealand
• Bec Nyst, Managing Director, Uber Eats Australia & New Zealand
• Gareth O’Reilly, Pacific Zone President, Schneider Electric
• Lisa Burquest, Chief People Officer, Virgin Australia
• Tim Fung, Founder & CEO, Airtasker
• Danielle Wood, Chair, Productivity Commission
• Anna Cody, Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission
• Aaron Thorne, VP & Managing Director for Australia, NZ and SEA, UKG
• Jody Broun, CEO, National Indigenous Australians Agency
• Greg Horan, CEO, Healthscope
• Andrew McKellar, CEO, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Justin Graham, Group CEO, M&C Saatchi APAC