Agenda
Tuesday 20 May 2025
9:00am - 5:30pm AEST
ICC Sydney
Here's your personal timetable for the day.
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Registration opens
Get ready to join us at Workday Elevate Sydney. Check in at our registration kiosks, grab your lanyard and a coffee as we begin the day.
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Welcome to country
Join us as we kick off Workday Elevate Sydney with our welcome to country, acknowledging the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and paying our respects to the traditional owners of this land.
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The Agentic AI opportunity: lifting productivity for better economic, business and employee outcomes
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Jo-Anne Ruhl
Managing Director and Vice President, Australia and New Zealand, Workday
In a business environment where productivity is constraining economic and business growth, we have an unprecedented opportunity to augment employee productivity with digital labor, in the form of AI & Agentic AI. By adopting an AI-mindset, we stand to reap the gains on offer from AI, and avoid the fear-based narratives. Now is the time to prepare your organisation for this seismic workforce shift, examine the reskilling and workforce planning required, and explore how you will take your organisation on the journey.
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Forward thinker customer fireside chat
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Emma Chalwin
Chief Marketing Offier, Workday
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Jenny McKie
Chief People Officer, Hungry Jack’s
How does a leading brand like Hungry Jack's fuel consistent growth? Join us for an exclusive fireside chat with their CPO to uncover their strategic approach to building a powerful workforce management plan. Learn how they've seamlessly integrated recruitment and talent development to drive organisational expansion. Discover key insights into attracting top talent, developing future leaders, and fostering a resilient workforce. This is a unique opportunity for executive leaders to gain actionable strategies for leveraging their people as a core driver of success.
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More than just a coffee break:
Morning tea in the discovery zone
Join us in the discovery zone for a morning tea experience that's as interactive as it is invigorating. Network with peers, engage with Workday experts, and explore the latest innovations. This is the perfect opportunity to connect, collaborate, and kick start your day in the heart of the action.
- HR
- Finance
- Technology
- Student
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HR: Thought leadership session
Workplace mental health and productivity: contemporary solutions to life's polycrisis with Beyond Blue
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Georgie Harman
Chief Executive Officer, Beyond Blue
Hear from Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman on how this period of existential adaptation is shaping mental health in the workplace, and how employers can optimise the mental health of their people.
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Forward thinking HR: Future proof your workforce
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Allyson Skene
Vice President, Global Product Vision and Strategy, Asia Pacific and Japan, Workday
The future of work is here, and it's being driven by the rise of AI and the need for agile, skills-based organisations. This session provides Australian HR leaders with a roadmap for understanding the key challenges and opportunities for HR leaders, driving strategic workforce planning to ensure you have the right talent, in the right place, at the right time, embracing AI to automate, augment, and enhance HR functions, and are building a culture of continuous growth and development.
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Fuel Your Curiosity: Lunch and exploration in the discovery zone
Join us for lunch in the discovery zone. Explore interactive demos, engage with industry leaders, and connect with fellow attendees. This is your chance to fuel your body and mind in the centre of innovation.
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HR: Deloitte partner session
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Ciara Barton
Program Lead, Deloitte
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Chris O’Halloran
PMO Lead, Deloitte
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Joel Campbell
Workday Program Lead, Rio Tinto
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Rebecca Tuplin
Workday PMO Lead, Rio Tinto
Learn how Workday partners are empowering organisations to embrace the future. Discover innovative solutions and hear real-world success stories in this insightful session.
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HR: Customer conversations
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Kit Moody
Regional Sales Director, Workday
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Jeff Rodway
Head of Remuneration and People Systems & Services, Bunnings
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Yvette McDonald
Chief People and Customer Officer, Anglicare
Learn how leading organisations are embracing HR transformation to drive success. Hear their stories and gain valuable insights in this informative session.
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Finance: Thought leadership session
CFO ADAPT Insights: 3 things top performers do for the most success in AI
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Dr. Michael Kollo
Director of AI, ADAPT
Drawing on ADAPT's recent research on Agentic and GenAI across 800 Australian business leaders, Dr Michael will explore the key factors that contribute to AI success for CFOs.
AI is now a strategic priority with 70% of respondents planning to increase their investment, however, only 25% of organisations have automated workflows, highlighting a gap between AI readiness and actual implementation.
Learn the 3 things top performers do for AI success, how to track long-term value and ROI, and which internal measures set the leaders apart.
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Moving the Office of the CFO forever forward
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Rob Zwiebach
Vice President Product Management, Financials Management, Workday
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Luke Bebbington
Strategic Industry Advisor, Workday
The potential for accounting and procurement teams to make strategic business impact has never been greater. Together, we’re charting a course to unlock this potential and harness the power of data, people and processes. Join this session to learn about the latest enhancements in AI, analytics and user experience, and see where we’re heading next.
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Fuel Your Curiosity: Lunch and exploration in the discovery zone
Join us for lunch in the discovery zone. Explore interactive demos, engage with industry leaders, and connect with fellow attendees. This is your chance to fuel your body and mind in the centre of innovation.
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From black box to finance powerhouse: how Insignia reshaped their future of finance
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Benjamin Patricks
APAC Workday Financials and Adaptive Insights Lead, Accenture
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Maika Bonet
Prism and Accounting Centre Lead, Insignia Financial
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Rebecca Heald
Prism and Accounting Center Lead, Accenture
What if finance didn’t just report the numbers — but shaped the story? Join us as we unpack how Workday Accounting Centre transformed Insignia from operating in the dark to leading with clarity, control, and confidence. Plus, get a glimpse into how agentic AI is set to revolutionise finance even more.
This isn’t just a tech upgrade — it’s a bold new future for finance.
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Finance: Customer conversations
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Kristeen McCarthy
Senior Value Manager, Workday
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Cara Wennerbom
Chief Operating Officer, BDO
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Brian Ni
Chief Financial Officer, Tokio Marine
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Mel Ting
Senior Finance Manager, Anglicare
Learn how leading organisations are embracing Finance transformation to drive success. Hear their stories and gain valuable insights in this informative session.
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Technology: Thought leadership session
Riding the next wave: Agentic AI and the future of business with Workday Illuminate
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Shan Moorthy
Chief Technology Officer, Asia Pacific, Workday
Businesses stand at the edge of a powerful new transformation—one driven by Agentic AI and defined by unprecedented speed, scale, and adaptability.
In this session, we’ll explore how to make the critical decisions today that will set your organisation up for success tomorrow. Cut through the hype to understand the real potential of Agentic AI, and discover how Workday Illuminate is a strategic catalyst in navigating this next era of intelligent enterprise.
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Forward thinking technology:
Let's get practical: turning Workday's AI innovations into action
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Adam Krebet
Principal Business Architect, Workday
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Aurelie Elliot
Solution Consulting Architecture & Technology Lead, Workday
Hear from our forward-thinking enterprise architects on how to turn these strategies into action. Learn through real examples how Workday’s latest innovations - including Illuminate features, our Agentic System of Record, and the AI-powered Extend Marketplace - are helping CIOs master their strategic balancing act: driving AI innovation, simplifying their system landscape, and governing risks around data integrity, auditability, and responsible AI management.
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Fuel Your Curiosity: Lunch and exploration in the discovery zone
Join us for lunch in the discovery zone. Explore interactive demos, engage with industry leaders, and connect with fellow attendees. This is your chance to fuel your body and mind in the centre of innovation.
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Technology: Cognizant partner session
Learn how Workday partners are empowering organisations to embrace the future. Discover innovative solutions and hear real-world success stories in this insightful session.
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Technology: Customer conversations
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Sinan Erbay
Chief Information Officer, RMIT University
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Bryce Maybury
Chief Technology Officer, Guzman y Gomez Mexican Kitchen
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Mark Richardson
Product Owner Workday, Commonwealth Bank
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Shan Moorthy
Chief Technology Officer, Asia Pacific, Workday
Learn how leading organisations are embracing IT transformation to drive success. Hear their stories and gain valuable insights in this informative session.
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Student: Thought leadership session
Illuminating the future of Higher Education with Workday Student
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Cade Elg
Higher Education Lead, Workday
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Kate Russell
Head of Industry Strategy, Workday
Join us for an insightful session delving into Workday Student. We'll unveil how our powerful AI platform is revolutionising Higher Education by delivering actionable insights and driving transformative outcomes. Discover the tangible value Workday Student brings to educational institutions, empowering them to streamline operations, enhance student experiences, and achieve strategic goals.
This session will begin with a business update, followed by an exploration of the customer value Workday Student delivers. Following this, we will outline the customer roadmap for Workday Student and conclude with a showcase of Workday AI Illuminate and its impact on higher education.
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Student: The power of Workday Student, overview and product showcase
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Diane Snow
Senior Solution Consultant, Workday
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Linda Lam
Solution Consultant, Workday
This session will showcase key capabilities of the Workday Student product, and how they can benefit your institution. We’ll focus on the student experience, key administrator personas, and institutional insights from reporting through to analytics.
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Fuel Your Curiosity: Lunch and exploration in the discovery zone
Join us for lunch in the discovery zone. Explore interactive demos, engage with industry leaders, and connect with fellow attendees. This is your chance to fuel your body and mind in the centre of innovation.
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Student: Customer conversations
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Steven Fulkerson
Vice President / Chief Information Officer, University of Arkansas System
Join us for an exclusive session featuring the Chief Information Offer of University of Arkansas System as they share their insightful experience with Workday, specifically highlighting their successful Workday Student experience and the transformative impact of a unified platform.
This session offers higher education leaders, IT professionals, and administrators a real-world case study, providing actionable insights for your institution's digital transformation.
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Student: Get hands on with Workday Student
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Linda Lam
Solution Consultant, Workday
Discover the Student experience by getting hands on with Workday. Join us for an interactive session that will have you exploring the student journey in Workday on your mobile device followed by an interactive quiz to test your knowledge.
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Reflection and recharge: Afternoon tea in the discovery zone
Take a pause and reflect on the day's insights with afternoon tea in the discovery zone. Connect with fellow attendees, share key takeaways, and recharge before the closing keynote.
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Forward thinking leadership: how AI advancements are improving our lives and our workforce
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Winthrop Professor Fiona Wood FRACS AO
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon, Director of Research Fiona Wood Foundation
As AI reshapes our working world, it offers something profoundly human in return: time to lead with greater authenticity, emotional intelligence, and purpose.
Professor Fiona Wood AO - renowned burns specialist, researcher, and Australian of the Year (2005), is best known for her revolutionary ‘spray-on skin’ innovation. With over 30 years at the forefront of medical research and surgical advancement, she continues to push boundaries in regenerative medicine, biotechnology, robotics, and precision healthcare.
Her current work includes pioneering technologies blending AI and biotechnologies, full-skin reconstruction and transcranial magnetic stimulation to explore brain-immune system connections. These innovations reflect a new model of leadership - collaborative, purpose-driven, and future-focused.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of Australia’s most respected changemakers as Professor Wood explores what it means to lead boldly in a world being redefined by technology.
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Customer award winner and closing remarks
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Jo-Anne Ruhl
Managing Director and Vice President, Australia and New Zealand, Workday
Get ready, it's time to announce our customer award winner onstage who will travel to Workday’s flagship event Rising and represent Australia. Finally Jo-Anne will close the event for the day, then its time to enjoy the after-party!
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Discovery zone
Step into a world of innovation and exploration at the heart of Workday Elevate. The discovery zone is your gateway to immersive experiences, interactive demos, and connections with Workday experts, customers, and partners. Discover how Workday solution’s are transforming businesses, explore real-world success stories, and engage with the technologies shaping the future of work. Don't just hear about innovation, experience it firsthand.
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Discovery theatre
Step into the discovery theatre for focused sessions that illuminate the power of Workday solutions. This is your opportunity to deepen your understanding and unlock the full potential of Workday’s innovative platform.
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Unwind and connect: the Workday Sydney Elevate after-party
Don't miss the ultimate networking event! Join us in the discovery zone for an evening of drinks, delicious bites, and entertainment. Relax, unwind, and connect with peers, partners, and Workday leaders as we close the day.