Main Conference

DAY 1: Tuesday 7 October 2008

8:00-9:00  Registration and breakfast reception

9:00-9:05 Conference welcome and opening remarks from Chairperson
Shane Klintworth, deputy CEO, Relationships Australia Queensland

9:05-10:00 Self-Leadership: The secret to self-driven employee engagement
As HR professionals, how can we better look after ourselves, so that we are in the best possible situation to best look after our team? In this session, Ian Hutchinson, a self-driven employee engagement specialist who has worked with a number of Best Employers, will show you how the key to employee engagement is self leadership.

Ian Hutchinson, chief engagement officer, Life By Design

10:00-10:30 Best practices on retention strategies
CASE STUDY
This session focuses on HR innovations within an award-winning local council. Learn which strategies work and why, including:

Dr Ian Niven, chief HR officer, Brisbane City Council
 
10:30-11:00 Refreshments and networking break
    
11:00:11:30  Flexible work arrangements: A strategic overview

Stephen Nance, state manager - workplace relations division, Commerce Queensland

11:30 -12:30 Building on the strategic capabilities of your employees

Mark Harris, educational leader, Southbank Institute of Technology

12:30-1:30   Luncheon reception
     
1:30-2:30 Investing in work-life balance
Exploring the balance between work and other areas of our life. This session offers a step-by-step guide for HR managers to:

Lyn Fletcher, director of operations, Relationships Australia

2:30-3:00  Strategies to reward and retain employees
PANEL DISCUSSION

Panellists:
Dr Ann Stewart, director, The Equity Office, The University of Queensland
Lorrae Carr, recruitment team leader, Origin Energy

3:00-3:30   Refreshments and networking break

3:30-4:00    Visas for business: Benefiting from Australia's skilled migration program
This session will explore the recent changes to Australia's business visa scheme and future demands, focussing on:
              - highly-skilled staff across diverse industries
              - balancing visa and training needs
              - short and long-term staffing needs
In addition to the latest developments involving:
                - continuing government review of the 457 visa scheme
                - other temporary visas
                - permanent visa opportunities
                - changes that may affect temporary business entry

David Crawford, partner, Fragomen

4:00-4:30 InRhythmn drumming session
INTERACTIVE TEAM BUILDING SESSION
Drumming, dance and music have been used in cultures around the world for centuries to bring communities together in non-verbal communication. Join this exciting session to gain first-hand experience of how drumming, dance and music can:

Eliot Orr, facilitator, InRhythm

4:30-5:30   Cocktail reception

DAY 2: Wednesday 8 October 2008

8:30-9:00 Registration and breakfast reception

9:00-9:05  Opening remarks from Chairperson
Halima Goss, secretary, National Wellness Institute of Australia

9:05-9:30  Managing the virtual organisation

John Maley, HR director, Unisys Australia

9:30-10:00  People sourcing scorecard
 CASE STUDY

Sarah Childs, senior people sourcing advisor, Energex

10:00-10:30   Refreshments and networking break

10:30:11:30 Forward with Fairness legislation: The implications for your organisation
This practical session includes an analysis of the new proposed Forward with Fairness legislation and assesses the implications for organisations' day-to-day operations. This session will focus on how and why businesses should adapt in the lead-up to 1 January 2010, including:

Jamie Robinson, partner, Harmers Workplace Lawyers

11:30 - 12:00 Managing culturally diverse teams
CASE STUDY

Sean Fernando, general manager HR, Infosys Australia

12:00-12:30 Linking your HR strategies to the company's big picture

Matthew Cunneen, managing director, Satsuma Solutions

12:30-1:00 Engaging employees
Combat employee disengagement with Karen Schmidt as she reveals what you as a manager can do to re-engage your employees, regardless of your industry or their occupation.

1:00-2:00   Luncheon reception 

Welcome and opening remarks from Chairperson

Rob Davidson, chief executive officer, Davidson Recruitment

2:00-2:30  Wellness programs as a business strategy
Discover how to incorporate health at work as a priority in your organisation and encourage lifestyle changes that can reduce employee health risks. This session will focus on:

Bob Boyd, president, National Wellness Institute of Australia
Halima Goss, secretary, National Wellness Institute of Australia

2:30-3:00 Aligning your HR strategy with corporate social responsibility
This session will provide an in-depth discussion on the following topics:

Gail Rehbein, senior advisor, Australian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility

3:00    Conference adjourns