What can attendees expect in this year's HRFest Australia 2026?
HR professionals heading to HRFest Australia 2026 can expect four unique stages that will tackle the biggest trends and challenges defining the profession today.
The four stages, namely Port Melbourne Stage, St Kilda Lounge, Richmond Lounge, and Fitzroy Lounge, will be hosting different talks, hands-on workshops, and debates, among others, for the attendees coming this November.
The Port Melbourne Stage opens with a keynote panel featuring people leaders who will speak candidly about navigating wage theft legislation, psychosocial safety obligations, and AI disruption. Later sessions will focus on Fair Work Act reforms and how to present people strategy in commercial terms to the C-suite.
The St Kilda Lounge takes a closer look at talent and capability, with sessions on predictive workforce analytics, skills-based hiring, and the evolution of L&D from passive e-learning to capability frameworks with measurable impact. A dedicated session on burnout will draw on what organisers describe as the latest science on identification, recovery, and prevention.
For HR professionals earlier in their careers, the Richmond Lounge offers a practical track on navigating the path to senior leadership, covering how to build business cases for CHRO buy-in, develop executive presence, and shift performance culture away from an over-reliance on KPIs.
The Fitzroy Lounge rounds out the event with a technology-focused track, including a keynote from organisational psychologist Dr. Amantha Imber on using AI to reduce overload and free up capacity for deeper HR work. Other sessions will examine agentic AI and the surge in workplace psychological injury claims.
HRFest Australia 2026 returns to The Timber Yard in Melbourne on November 18, under the banner "Rewriting the Rules of HR – Together."
Secure your slot at the HR industry's biggest festival by using this link. Choose from individual passes or group passes for teams of up to nine, with discounted rates available until July 5.
