Over the past hundred years, the office has been integral to the development of modern society. It has shaped the architecture of our cities, the behaviour of our organizations and the everyday movements of millions of people. In 2020, however, the global pandemic brought our attendance in the office to an abrupt halt and triggered a complete re-evaluation of the purpose of the workplace. Philip will advance a manifesto for 'Unworking' - unlearning old habits established for an outdated office and creating new ones fit for an age of digital technology, innovation, and diverse workforces.

Drawing on the latest WORKTECH Academy Trend Reports and stories, data, and evidence from around the Academy network, WORKTECH Academy Development Director, Matthew Myerson paints a picture of the key global trends that are set to shape the next 12 months for organisations

The pandemic threw the typical office environment into stark relief. And the digital fluency / remote productivity of employees threatened its entire existence. Hybrid is the answer, but no one wants to work in a new way in the old space; they need something compelling to return to: they need a Destinations, that's what we created at airbnb, and this talk explores the elements of these spaces that can be recreated and reinterpreted to create the post-covid office all employees deserve.

Hybrid work is the biggest cultural phenomenon we have seen in decades. Now, organizations are challenged with two fundamental requirements: how to re-energise the built environment with a great employee experience; and how to do it sustainably. Technology is a critical element. in fact, it has become the fourth utility. Chris and Simon will share examples of how organisations have designed technology experiences into real estate to reduce costs, meet net zero goals and enable their real estate compression strategies. ​

As of Dec 2022, both Sydney and Melbourne are at an office occupancy rate 59% of pre-COVID volumes. Some believe this is close to the new capacity as the 3-day average working from office week becomes the norm. In a hope to lure workers back to our CBD’s, local governments are breaking all the rules to create never seen before opportunities for extraordinary CBD experiences. We’ve been talking to some of Australia’s best-known brands about just that...

Expert panel exploring the future of the city of Sydney.

Stockton-on-Tees is leading a radical rethink of our urban centres, forget shops, this UK town ripped up the rule book to revive its high street. The decline in Britain’s town centres and high streets had been inexorable but slow-burning. The pandemic, hollowing out urban centres and accelerating the shift online, has led to a tipping point. The Stockton vision is to buy up, repurpose, restore, and reconfigure the heart of the town, emphasising events, independent enterprise, green space, and conviviality.

The new 2023 Mirvac and WORKTECH Academy report will explore the ‘nexus value’ potential in mixed-use development when different property assets and typologies are purposefully co-assembled as part of a new value proposition.

Salesforce Tower at Sydney Place, a new office tower in the heart of the city is set to reinvigorate its surrounding urban precinct that forms part of Sydney’s iconic Circular Quay.

What the next 18 months might look like? As hybrid working evolves, many are questioning the role workplaces will play in the emerging ecosystem of hybrid work. And now that many have returned to the shared spaces, how we prepare for the next phase of our work evolution.

There is a clear moral imperative to make workplaces more diverse and inclusive – it’s fundamentally the right thing to do. But there’s also a business case for prioritising diversity and inclusivity. When employees feel like they belong, it directly impacts their wellbeing and productivity. With approximately 15-20% of the population being ‘neurodivergent’, it is possible that they will not thrive in a ‘traditional’ workspace. Therefore, to truly support the unique requirements of individuals and drive innovative thinking, behaviour-based design is essential.

In the age of the “anywhere office”, technology will play a more vital role than ever. It is now crucial for businesses to leverage data to understand how people are using workspaces and implement technologies that will keep teams connected, organized, safe and ultimately enhance their experience and productivity.

Camilla will examine key global trends and explore what they mean for leaders and organisations. What are the primary factors causing a decrease in employee wellbeing and the resulting increase in burnout and health problems? How can organisations create a culture of high engagement and wellbeing? What are the key risks and opportunities for organisations regarding employees’ positive perception of the job market and what are the implications for talent attraction and retention strategies?

One of the challenges of hybrid ways of working is in maintaining a sense of connection. Connection to our peers and to the organisation. UTS College reimagined their way of working around the principles of Connection, Collaboration, Creativity and Connection. Hear about the innovative process they followed and the outcomes it delivered.

The hybrid working solution is not a “one size fits all” equation. Businesses who embrace this change and use the diversity and drive of their people to build a new “workplace” environment that fits the culture, values and mission of their organisation are thriving. Navigating workplace change is not new. Whilst the current situation may seem overwhelming, we can look to past success in putting people at the centre of place and purpose to adapt to today’s business environment.

Human leadership is so important to the world of work because humans are not machines. Although AI is doing a great job of mining our past patterns and data, we are constantly evolving, and are illogical, so we need humans to lead and understand each other in the moment - this is the skill of being self-aware, agile and able to connect deeply with other humans. Join us as we discuss what makes a good leader in our current work context, the role of appreciation and how to develop an authentic leadership style.

This once-in-a-generation project is an important transformation of a public institution into a two-building art museum that almost doubles the space for the display and enjoyment of art. A new standalone building, public art garden and revitalised historic building brings together art, architecture, and landscape in spectacular new ways.