Here’s one of my conference wrap videos to enjoy from the L&D HR Techfest in Sydney. The learning and development community gathered to discuss challenges and opportunities in HR and workplace learning. As always Techfest offered some thoughtful presentations and panel discussions.
Watch the video to get the feel of it –
Summary below 🙂
Future shifts: Values, Technology and Trust
The opening keynote was a compelling “future shifts” session featuring Dr Cassandra Peters and Dr Kai Rener from the University of Sydney. Their discussion highlighted prevailing shifts in workplace values and the increasing influence of technology. Key areas of focus were values, technology, accountability, trust and energy. These dimensions are reshaping organisational expectations and demand considered responses from L&D and HR leaders as they develop capability and culture initiatives.
Demographics and a Multi‑Generational Workforce
A recurring theme across sessions was the changing demographic composition of the workforce. With up to five generations now active in many workplaces, demographic differences are having a material effect on how people work together, how they relate, and what they expect from employers. This requires more nuanced approaches to engagement, learning design and career pathways so that organisations can cater for diverse needs while preserving coherence and equity.
Psychological Safety and Job Design
David Burrows from Westpac delivered an important and pragmatic message about psychological safety. Rather than placing the onus solely on individuals to adapt, his approach emphasised “fixing the work” — that is, redesigning roles, systems and processes to reduce unnecessary risk and stress and to enable safer conversations and better team performance. Designing work with psychological safety in mind is a practical lever for improving wellbeing and sustaining performance.
Reframing critical thinking in education and leadership
Michael Parker, headmaster at Newington College, presented a thoughtful exploration of critical thinking. Two metaphors that I particularly enjoyed were:
• The “sausage machine” metaphor, which imagines critical thinking as a linear process that produces the correct answer.
• The “constellations” metaphor, which frames critical thinking as a collection of tools and perspectives that we draw upon according to context.
The latter aligns closely with contemporary learning design: equipping people with a repertoire of approaches and encouraging curiosity and connection rather than promoting a single prescriptive method.
AI Upskilling Amid Human Connection
Although artificial intelligence and related upskilling featured prominently in many conversations, there was a consistent and welcome emphasis on the human aspects of learning. Connection, relationship building and human judgement continue to be central to effective L&D and HR practice. Technology can augment capability, but it does not replace the relational work that underpins learning and development.
Many thanks to the Hanover Fairs team for organising Techfest. I hope to be back next year!
