Have you secured your slot at the most talked-about talked-about HR event of the year?
The clock is ticking for HRFest Australia 2026!
In just one week, more than 700 HR professionals, executives and innovation leaders will head to The Timber Yard in Melbourne for a full-day festival under the banner "Rewriting the rules of HR – together."
Taking place on 18 November, the event will draw attendees ranging from emerging practitioners to chief people officers.
Presented by HRD in partnership with Employment Hero, the event promises to go beyond a sit-and-listen conference.
"HRFest Australia isn't your typical HR event—it's where the HR community comes alive," the HRFest website reads.
Alongside keynote sessions, attendees can take part in live debates, hands-on workshops and small-group discussion tables, with networking built into the day through activities such as mixology classes, wine tastings and lawn games.
The programme is organised around six themes that reflect the pressures facing HR teams today: strategic HR and executive leadership; wellbeing, safety and psychosocial risk; talent acquisition and workforce planning; AI and technology; DEI and inclusive hiring; and learning and development. Sessions will cover issues including AI adoption, employment law reform, leadership capability and the growing regulatory focus on psychosocial hazards.
Among this year's speakers is organisational psychologist Dr Amantha Imber, founder of Inventium and the first Australian to win the Thinkers50 Innovation Award, as well as equine therapist Jessica Cody, director of Inner Rhythm.
Attendees will also hear from senior people leaders at some of Australia's best-known organisations, including Pritho Saxena of Amazon, Liam Mahon of Coles Group, Paul Steer of L'Oréal, Seemali Shukla of HP, Elisa Nerone of REA Group, Merryl Dooley of Bega Group, Marc Starfield of NAB, Preeti Verma of Atlassian, Bree Xuereb of Live Nation and Dean Jackson of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.
"This is the most talked-about HR event of the year, and where the future of work takes shape," the HRFest website reads.
With one week to go, there is still time to secure a place. Register your slot using this link.
