AFR Workforce Summit 2024 | McKinsey & Company | 11 February 2024 | Hilton Sydney, 488 George St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

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As COVID has gradually receded, it has been replaced by an escalating set of dynamics that are compelling workforces to respond and adapt swiftly.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 GenAI, 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 Summit gathers the nation’s most influential business leaders, policymakers and industry insiders to discuss the profound shifts facing workforces 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.

2024 Speakers

MODERATORS:

Euan Black
Works and Career Reporter, The Australian Financial Review

Fiona Buffini
Editor, The Australian Financial Review

Mark Di Stefano
Rear Window Columnist, The Australian Financial Review

Patrick Durkin
Melbourne Bureau Chief & BOSS Deputy Editor, The Australian Financial Review

Samantha Hutchison
National Reporter, The Australian Financial Review

John Kehoe
Economics Editor, The Australian Financial Review

David Marin-Guzman
Workplace Correspondent, The Australian Financial Review

Sally Patten
BOSS Editor, The Australian Financial Review

Vesna Poljak
Companies Editor, The Australian Financial Review

SPEAKERS:

Robert Bedwell
CEO, Australia & New Zealand, J.P. Morgan

Kylie Bishop
Group Lead - People, Spaces & Sustainability, Medibank

Lisa Burquest
Chief People Officer, Virgin Australia

Elisa Clements
ANZ Group Executive Talent & Culture, ANZ

Anna Cody
Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission

Amy Coleman
Corporate Vice President, Human Resources & Corporate Functions, Microsoft

Marcele De Sanctis
Managing Partner, Future Leadership – Advisory

Julie Fallon
Executive Vice President Corporate Services, Woodside Energy

Ben Fletcher
Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company, Australia and New Zealand

Tim Fung
Founder & CEO, Airtasker

Justin Graham
Group CEO, M&C Saatchi APAC

Greg Horan
CEO, Healthscope

Andrew McKellar
CEO, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Sam Mostyn
Chair, Aware Super

Bec Nyst
Managing Director, Uber Eats Australia & New Zealand

Brendan O’Connor
Minister for Skills and Training

Gareth O’Reilly
Pacific Zone President, Schneider Electric

Jennie Rogerson
Global Head of People, Canva

Christine Stasi
Group Executive - People, Performance & Reputation, IAG

Michael Stutchbury
Editor-In-Chief, The Australian Financial Review

Aaron Thorne
VP & Managing Director for Australia, NZ and SEA, UKG

David Turvey
Acting Commissioner, Jobs and Skills Australia

Seckin Ungur
Partner, McKinsey & Company, Australia and New Zealand

Wesley Walden
Managing Partner, McKinsey & Company, Australia and New Zealand

Kris Webb
Chief People Officer, Coles Group

Danielle Wood
Chair, Productivity Commission

Deb Yates
Chief People Officer, Lendlease

2024 Partners

PLATINUM PARTNERS:
• UKG
• Future Leadership

PARTNER:
• McKinsey & Company