The inaugural HRFutureFest Australia is on this week in Melbourne. Here’s what you need to know—and how to get last-minute tickets.
Hundreds of HR professionals, executives and people leaders will gather in Melbourne this week for a major new industry event.
The HRD HRFutureFest Australia 2025 is a unique opportunity to build connections and learn alongside leaders and experts through a dynamic mix of Q&A panels, masterclasses, live demonstrations and discussions.
Participants will be able to build their own event program with a choice of more than 30 sessions across the day, covering themes including:
• Human + AI: Smarter HR decisions
• Work with Meaning: Align People, Culture & Impact
• Workplace Law 2026 and Beyond
• DEI in Action: Inclusive by Design
• Wellbeing at Work: Mind, Body & Beyond
• Leading + Learning in a Changing World
In addition to offering valuable professional development, attendees will be able to connect with peers in activities including mini golf, an escape room, cocktail making, and an F1 simulator experience.
Attendees will hear from Australian of the Year 2023, Taryn Brumfitt, who changed the way we talk about body image through the Body Image Movement, on how to ditch the inner critic and build resilience.
Global leadership and high-performance advisor Holly Ransom, CEO and founder of Emergent Global Leadership Development, will join a panel discussing "Curating a Career That Defies Convention."
Catherine Hunter, chief executive officer of the Diversity Council Australia, and Mary Wooldridge, chief executive officer of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, will also share their insights and experience.
See the full list of speakers at HRFutureFest Australia 2025.
Industry-leading speakers will include Damian Zahra, Chief People Officer at Bunnings; Sarah Derry, Group Chief People Officer at The Star Entertainment Group; Shruti Ganeriwala, Chief HR Officer ANZ and APAC at Unilever; Katie Wyatt, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (Global) at BHP; and Joshua Cass, Head of People, Flight and Safety at Qantas.
The critical area of employment law will be covered by Tamsin Lawrence, Associate Director at Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors, in her session "The New Rules of Work: What HR Needs to Know Before the Lawyers Get Involved."
Liza Cumming, People and Culture Lead for adidas Australia and New Zealand, will talk about "New Ways to Manage Psychosocial Safety," while Phil Wells, Head of People Development and Learning at L’Oréal, will join a conversation on "Leading Forward: Designing Your Leadership Legacy in a Disruptive World."
