Annual Conference · 27 August 2026
Seen. Valued. Heard.
Exploring mindset and perspectives in the workplace, with strategies for better engagement.
About the day
A human-centred conference, built around how people actually feel at work
This human-centred conference comprehensively explores some of the issues and trends of 2026 in workplace wellbeing.
The theme: Seen. Valued. Heard. That is not a tagline. It names exactly what disappears when psychosocial hazards go unaddressed in a workplace. Join researchers, wellbeing professionals, and mental health practitioners, alongside leaders who are working on this from different angles across industries.
One number sitting underneath the day: four in five employees globally are not engaged at their work. That is not a statistic for a keynote stage. That is the actual problem in the room. What if we look at Staff Engagement, that is purpose, inclusion and connection as the leading indicators and key foundations for a healthy workplace? An important element of this is to understand each other and broaden our perspective.
On the agenda
Five voices. One day.
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Intergenerational Workforce
Sophie RentonFour generations, four different definitions of a good day at work. How to lead teams where Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z all feel understood - and bring out the best in each other.
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From Stress Mode to Financial Wellbeing
Melissa PearceMoney worries don't clock off at 9am. A practical look at how financial stress shows up at work, and what genuinely helps - for your people and your bottom line.
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How to Have Those Difficult Conversations
Emma GibbensThe conversation you've been putting off is costing you more than having it would. Practical language and structure for raising hard topics with clarity and care.
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Focusing in on the Needs of Women and Men in the Workplace
Thea O'ConnorWellbeing isn't one-size-fits-all. A closer look at where men's and women's experiences of work genuinely differ - and what that means for policy that actually works.
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You Can't Improve What You Don't Measure
Declan EdwardsHappiness sounds soft until you see the data behind it. How leading organisations are measuring engagement and wellbeing, and turning the numbers into higher performance.
Who should attend
Built for the people shaping how Australians experience work
HR professionals & People & Culture leaders
Wellbeing and Diversity and Inclusion Managers
Leaders responsible for psychosocial safety
Team leaders & managers working in a high pressure environment
CEOs and executives seeking innovative ways to enhance workplace culture
Like-minded professionals committed to creating a resilient and engaged workforce
Speakers
Meet your speakers
Known for their industry leading expertise - the people behind the conversations in today's agenda.
Emma Gibbens
Culture and Conversation Strategist · Speaker · Facilitator · Author
Emma Gibbens helps leaders fix culture problems by improving the quality of conversation. We can't fix what we can't talk about, and that is why culture lives or dies in conversation, not in values posters or strategy documents. A TEDx speaker and author of Anatomy of Conversation, Emma has spent 17 years inside some of the most high-stakes conversations on the planet, from Barack Obama's 2008 campaign to Western Australia's Marriage Equality campaign. She's inspired over 40,000 people to speak openly, listen deeply and have the conversations that move things forward.
Keynote
We Can't Fix What We Can't Talk About
The cost of the conversations we avoid, and how to lead them better
Think of a conversation you're putting off - the manager glossing over mistakes, the exec who won't collaborate, maybe something with your partner at home. We all have one we're avoiding because it feels too hard, too unknown, too precarious. So instead we sit in anxious discomfort, draining our energy worrying rather than addressing it. In this session, Emma will equip you with the tools to start these conversations and lead them well - you'll be up, moving and talking, because no conversation is one-way, even from a stage. You'll leave with a deeper understanding of why we avoid the conversations that matter, practical tools to help your team lean in with courage and clarity, and one real conversation of your own, shaped and ready to start.
Melissa Pearce
Co-Founder, The Money Collective · Financial Wellbeing Consultant
Mel is an award-winning mortgage broker and finance expert with 20+ years in lending and banking. She's all about making money simple and empowering, and has helped thousands of people make smart financial decisions as a strong advocate for women in finance and inclusive workplace education. The Money Collective is Australia's leading expert in financial wellbeing, and proud winner of Innovator of the Year (Boutique Brokerage) at the 2025 Broker Innovation Awards.
Keynote · Workshop
The Missing Piece in Workplace Wellbeing
Why financial wellbeing is the biggest driver of stress - and how to solve it in your organisation
Wellbeing leaders are under more pressure than ever - expected to improve engagement, reduce burnout, support mental health and strengthen culture, often with limited time and budget. One factor impacting all of these outcomes is consistently overlooked: financial stress. Across workplaces, employees are distracted by their financial situation during the workday, affecting focus, decision-making, safety and performance. Financial wellbeing isn't a "nice to have" - it's a core driver of overall wellbeing and workplace performance. This session gives you a clear, practical approach to addressing it.
Sophie Renton
Managing Director, McCrindle · Social Researcher & Generational Expert
Sophie Renton is a social researcher, trends analyst and generational expert, passionate about using evidence-based insights to inform strategy and help organisations thrive amidst complexity. As Managing Director at the internationally recognised McCrindle, she leads the team in search of insights that lead to better outcomes for organisations, communities and individuals. The author of numerous research publications, she keeps her finger on the pulse of the trends shaping our lives - from the future of education to leading thriving intergenerational teams. Sophie believes a clear understanding of the context leaders are operating in today is essential for mapping the path forward.
Keynote
Understanding and Engaging with Diverse Generations in the Workplace
The future of industry is shaped not just by technological change and demographic shifts, but by evolving workplace expectations across generations. We're living through one of the most significant generational transitions since the Baby Boomers emerged post-war: as Boomers exit the workforce, Gen X and Millennials step into senior roles, while Gen Z becomes the newest wave of employees. This session explores the trends shaping each generation's attitudes toward work, communication, learning and career - equipping you with practical strategies to improve collaboration, engagement and culture.
Declan Edwards
Founder, BU Happiness College · Happiness Researcher & Author
Declan Edwards is a globally recognised happiness researcher, author, TEDx speaker and founder of BU Happiness College - an award-winning social enterprise dedicated to making the science of happiness accessible and actionable. With a Bachelor of Health from the University of Newcastle and a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from Central Queensland University, Declan blends academic expertise with real-world application, supporting government departments, universities, not-for-profits and leading businesses to strengthen culture, reduce burnout and become employers of choice.
Keynote
The Happiness KPI - Measuring What Matters in the Modern Workplace
You can't improve what you don't measure. In this keynote, Declan explores why happiness is one of the most valuable metrics for modern workplaces - and how treating happiness as a KPI helps organisations create more engaged, productive and meaningful experiences for employees and attendees alike. You'll understand how measuring happiness leads to higher engagement, retention, and performance outcomes and learn frameworks for assessing happiness that can be applied to workplace culture.
Thea O'Connor
Director, Menopause at Work Asia Pacific · Health & Wellbeing Expert
Thea O'Connor is a health and wellbeing expert who has pioneered ground-breaking approaches to health across a range of settings, changing personal and cultural mindsets for the sake of our wellbeing. As a workplace wellbeing advisor, Thea broke new ground seven years ago by bringing menopause awareness to Australian workplaces. As Director of Menopause at Work® Asia Pacific, she has helped workplaces across diverse industries become menopause-friendly, and helped hundreds of women navigate their careers - and this life stage - with confidence.
Thea gave evidence at Australia's Federal Senate Inquiry into menopause, has served on the national working group for the development of ISO's international guidelines and is also a TEDx speaker on menopause at work.
Keynote
Designing Workplaces that Recognise the Needs of Women's Bodies
Global trends on menopause and menstruation in the workplace
Creating a level playing field for women at work requires organisations to design physical and psychosocial environments that recognise the needs of the female body. Two unique capabilities conferred by female physiology are menstruation and menopause (m&m) - experiences that are still largely unacknowledged and layered with secrecy and shame. A number of national and international shifts, including ISO's international guidelines on menopause and menstruation in the workplace, are starting to change this.
In this keynote, Thea O'Connor, Director, Menopause at Work®, will offer:
- A big picture perspective on global trends regarding government and workplace adoption of m&m policies.
- Insights into what constitutes best practice, informed by ISO's international guidelines, and what the international research tells us actually works.
- Case studies of Australian workplaces lifting menopause capability and support.
- Facilitated peer-exchange - an opportunity to benchmark and learn from others.
What you'll gain
A full day, designed to give you something to take back
Tickets & membership
Join us on 27 August
Wayahead Sharespace members receive a significant discount - for themselves and their colleagues.
Standard ticket
$350
Full-day access for non-members, including catering and printed & online resources.
Get standard ticketMember ticket
$200
A significant discount for Wayahead Sharespace members - extends to you and your colleagues.
Get member ticketMembership
$140
Join Wayahead Sharespace to unlock member pricing for this event and beyond.
Become a memberPartner with us
Why sponsor the Wayahead Sharespace Annual Conference?
Build relationships, raise your profile, partner with Wayahead and strive for a community that embraces & maintains the best possible mental health & wellbeing for all people.
Contact vanessa.murphy@wayahead.org.au if you are interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at the Annual Conference.
Seen. Valued. Heard.
Reserve your seat for 27 August
A small, intimate gathering at The Mint, Sydney - full-day catering included, places limited.
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