Nick Bloom will talk about his latest research into remote work trends. Nick Bloom is a Stanford Economist who has been studying remote work for over two decades. Nick has contributed to the policy and public discourse on remote work and has been featured extensively in national and international media, sharing his expertise and findings. His mission is to advance the understanding and adoption of remote work, and to empower workers and organisations to thrive in the new world of work.

In the 2-3 years since COVID lockdowns, workforce flexibility including hybrid work has become normalised. Recent research undertaken by Swinburne University explores the impact increased flexibility has had on organisations and provides insights into the early successes and challenges that are underpinning the ongoing RTO debate. This presentation will explore opportunities and learnings from this research to improve organisational outcomes, work practices and the employee experience and will provides insights into what this means for the future workplace.

As businesses undergo digital transformation, operational leaders grapple with the complexities of managing workplaces, corporate real estate, and facilities efficiently. This session will explore how Intelligent Worktech can enhance productivity and streamline operations. Through research-backed insights and real-world examples, this fireside chat will uncover key trends and practical strategies for overcoming digital transformation challenges. Join us to discover what success looks like in workplace operations and how unified platforms can drive smarter decision making and business growth.

Biophilia has been a buzzword for years, but a new term has been emerging to take the spotlight: Workplace Topophilia. While topophilia sounds like biophilia, it represents a distinct concept: our connection to place. The way we experience places, and the way we connect to spaces, is deeply rooted in human beings. Yet in our increasingly digital world, our spatial awareness is diminishing. In this keynote session, we will uncover how digital-physical tensions reshape our cognitive patterns and workplace behaviours and explore strategies to enhance our spatial connection in the modern workplace

As AI drives the cost of intelligence towards zero, organisations face unprecedented disruption and opportunity. Drawing from Humanova’s national workforce research, this session explores how AI "power users" are fundamentally reshaping competitive advantage, value creation, and their organisations. Learn why this democratisation of intelligence will catalyse a renaissance in physical workplaces, transforming how teams collaborate, innovate, and compete in an AI-augmented future.

Barely a day passes without sustainability and ESG featuring in public discourse. An often-fraught political debate, Australian businesses have instead taken the lead as they realise ESG is a strategic and commercial value driver. However, the gap between promises and practices can lead to stakeholder confusion and frustration. Join us as we cut through the noise, explore real solutions, and reveal how ESG, when done right, can genuinely align with organisational purpose and deliver profit with impact.

Designed to align with Medibank’s commitment to fostering health and wellbeing, hand in hand with authentic connection to Country, Medibank reinvented its workplace and established a bold new way of working. This presentation will outline how genuine consultation with Medibank employees resulted in “layer upon layer upon layer” of human-centric design decisions integrated into a responsive, paradigm-shifting workplace.

The workplace is no longer just a location—it’s an ecosystem designed to foster collaboration, culture, and performance. As organisations embrace hybrid models, how can they create workplaces that are not only flexible but also drive sustainability, innovation, and employee well-being? This panel will explore how leaders can leverage technology, human-centric design, and strategic workplace transformation to craft environments that inspire and empower talent.

Join Cameron to discover how M365 Copilot is transforming the workplace at Telstra by leveraging AI to boost productivity and collaboration. In this session, Cameron will share first-hand insights from our journey of implementing Copilot, showcasing how its intelligent features have streamlined our daily tasks, from summarising complex documents and emails to generating insightful reports and managing projects effortlessly. Learn how Copilot seamlessly integrates with Microsoft 365 apps, providing personalised assistance that empowers our team to focus on what truly matters.

Discover how economic uncertainty is driving landlords and tenants to transform underused spaces into dynamic, purpose-driven environments. Paul shares creative strategies for enticing staff back to the office, reducing costs, and future-proofing workplaces, offering insights into global trends and the evolving shared space paradigm.

The workplace has evolved fantastically over the last 50 years, and now the new spatial web (or Web 3.0) combines humans and technology in 3d space for the first time. James Calder, Workspace Innovator (Placing); and Marcus Moufarrige, Physical Rights Management guru (Ility) will summarise the days presentations and discussions though their unique viewpoints.

We conclude with an engaging and dynamic session designed to harness the delegates’ perspectives and collective wisdom. Designed to summarise the day’s vibrant exchange of ideas, insights, and experiences, delegates have the opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification on the insights shared by other groups fostering a cross-pollination of ideas and further enriching discussion.