Joy Adan
The inaugural Reward Gateway | Edenred Summit in Sydney has set a new benchmark for HR events, propelling people strategies to new heights and offering our 1,000 attendees a wealth of insights and innovative ideas.
This amazing event was a galaxy of inspiration, where HR professionals gathered to explore the future of work, discover cutting-edge employee engagement strategies and learn from expert people leaders.
As one of the Sydney Summit's hosts, alongside my colleague Evan Smith, it was my honour to kick things off with a high-energy welcome (and a surprise spacesuit in a nod to our space theme), covering everything that was in store for our 500 in-person attendees and 500 virtual attendees that day.
Below, I'll go through each Sydney Summit session in detail and link to the session recordings so you can catch up or relive the day in your own time, watch with colleagues or just view the slides in more detail.
Thank you so much to everyone who joined us on the day and shared in our enthusiasm for employee engagement! It was such a fun, insights-filled day and our team loved getting to connect with such a diverse range of Aussie HR leaders.
If you'd like to talk to our team more about what employee engagement looks like at your business, you can contact us here.
Exploring the Future of Work: Are You Ready for Lift-off?
The summit kicked off with an engaging session on the seismic shifts in the Australian business landscape. From evolving customer expectations to the rise of remote work, the future demands that employers value their employees as the driving force behind innovation and growth.
This session led by our amazing APAC Managing Director, Kylie Green, highlighted the critical role HR professionals play in championing employee wellbeing, adaptability, and appreciation, ultimately propelling businesses toward a brighter future.
You can watch the recording and view the slides here.
The Economic Value of Employee Engagement
Alex Powell, Director of Client Cultural Insights at Reward Gateway, shared exclusive insights from the latest research on the Australian talent landscape.
This session delved into the tangible impact of employee engagement on business performance, highlighting key HR levers and solutions that drive business growth.
Attendees gained a deeper understanding of how to amplify the impact of HR practices to achieve remarkable results, and (most importantly) how to build the business case for those essential engagement initiatives for sceptical executive teams.
Deep dive into the research and slides here.
Workshop - R&R Revolution: How to Evolve Your Recognition and Reward Strategies for the New World of Work
In a world where the workforce is constantly in motion, traditional recognition and reward strategies are no longer sufficient. It was my privilege to lead this workshop with my partner in crime, Kylie Terrell, our APAC Director of Consultancy.
This workshop explored how to leverage technology to transform recognition and reward (R&R) strategies, including practical tactics for designing inclusive and scalable programs, empowering managers and measuring the business impact of effective R&R initiatives.
Attendees left equipped with the knowledge to harness the power of personalised recognition and flexible rewards, creating a motivated and high-performing workforce.
Watch the in-depth workshop and view the slides here.
Employee Engagement All-Stars: Winning Strategies that Unlock the Power of Your People
In this panel, Reward Gateway clients and passionate HR experts shared their winning strategies for employee engagement, providing valuable insights into what makes engagement initiatives successful.
The discussion covered various approaches to cultivating connection, building belonging and driving high performance within organisations. Attendees had the opportunity to learn from real-world examples and hear stories from HR leaders who had overcome obstacles that they may be facing now.
It was an extremely insightful panel, moderated by Steph Met, one of our Employee Engagement Consultants, who was joined by:
- Kate Ludwig, Head of People & Culture, Story House Early Learning
- Glen Nesbit, Head of Wellbeing, Engagement and Reward for Customer Channels & Growth at Bupa APAC
- Ruth Hope-Jones, Head of People Experience, HUB24
Management Mission Control: Explore the Transformative Power of Exceptional Leadership
This session highlighted the transformative power of exceptional leadership with a fast-paced, TEDx-style session featuring three powerhouse HR leaders.
Our speakers illuminated the importance of managers who guide, inspire and empower their teams. They focused on the impact of empathetic leadership, fostering trust, recognition and peak performance. We were incredibly lucky to hear from these three speakers, including Amanda Moroney, Manager, Recognition at Westpac; Mofoluwaso Ilevbare, Chief People Officer at Allied Pinnacle; and Dr Marnie Gibson, Global People Director at T2.
While Marnie's presentation and research is currently under embargo, we can share the recording of Amanda and Mofoluwaso's talks. You can view the recording here.
Masterclass: Hitchhiker's Guide to Storytelling - How to Captivate Your People Through Their Employee Journey
Storytelling emerged as a powerful tool for employee engagement and innovation in this masterclass hosted by Cathy Ngo, Chief Storyteller at Keynoteworthy.
Attendees discovered how compelling narratives can spark a strong sense of purpose, ignite creativity and motivate teams to new heights. The session provided tools and techniques for identifying and amplifying powerful stories—both personal and professional—to inspire the workforce and drive productivity. No recording is provided for this session, sorry to those who missed it!
Beyond the Balance Sheet: Measuring the ROI of Engaged Workforce
Quantifying the ROI and VOI of people strategies can be really challenging. This dynamic panel session explored the critical link between employee engagement and measurable business success.
Attendees learned how to effectively measure and demonstrate the value of their engagement initiatives, gaining insights into metrics that matter and methods to showcase their impact on business performance.
Closing Keynote: Daniel Bull, 3x Guinness World Record-breaking extreme adventurer
The summit concluded with an inspiring keynote by Daniel Bull, a 3x Guinness World Record-breaking extreme adventurer. Daniel shared his journey of pushing boundaries, leaning into the unknown, and dreaming big.
From climbing Mount Everest to breaking world records in collaboration with NASA and Google Earth, Daniel's story motivated attendees to embrace challenges and strive for greatness in their professional and personal lives. No recording will be shared for this session, so again sorry to those who missed it!
It was a jam-packed day with lots of great conversations, some fun surprises and a range of thought-provoking sessions. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event such a success! Looking forward to 2025...
Want to explore beyond the Sydney Summit insights and discover how employee engagement initiatives and tools could supercharge your people strategies? Get in touch with our team today.
