The National Workplace Wellbeing Conference 2026

A two-day experience redefining leadership for today’s pressure, complexity, and expectations without burning people out.
About this Event

The National Workplace Wellbeing Conference 2026 is Australia's dedicated leadership conference for the leaders who are done choosing between performance and people.

Held over two days in Brisbane, this evidence-led conference brings together CEOs, HR leaders, People and Culture professionals, and senior managers from across Australia to explore what the new standard of leadership actually looks like in practice.

Built around the theme The New Standard of Leadership, the conference responds to a growing reality inside organisations: pressure is higher, expectations are rising, and traditional leadership models built on endurance and hierarchy are no longer enough. High performance and human wellbeing are not opposing forces. The leaders who understand how to hold both will be the ones who build organisations that last.

Across two days at voco Brisbane City Centre, attendees will step out of reactivity and into clearer thinking, deeper capability building, and practical application they can take straight back into their organisations.

The conference explores six leadership capabilities that define the new standard:

1. Regulate yourself before leading others
2. Stay calm and decisive when pressure escalates
3. Hold performance and wellbeing together in daily leadership
4. Build culture as a system that supports consistency, not just a vibe
5. Lead from purpose rather than reactivity
6. Balance empathy with accountability to support inclusion and standards

You can expect:

• Short, focused keynotes backed by neuroscience, leadership psychology, and organisational practice
• Facilitated workshops that allow time to reflect, discuss, and apply learning to real workplace scenarios
• Table-based collaboration with leaders across industries and roles
• Practical leadership frameworks and tools that support sustainable performance
• Time and space to think clearly, rather than rushing from session to session

The conference is deliberately paced. Less passive listening. More guided thinking, discussion, and application.

Fully catered lunches and afternoon teas are included on both days, supporting connection and informal conversation throughout the experience.

Many of the strongest outcomes occur when senior leaders and HR attend together, creating shared language and alignment that carries back into the organisation.

The 2026 speaker lineup includes:
Lauren Marshall, Jason Marshall, Melissa Langton, Angela Henderson, Dr Daniel Kirkbride, Des Kerr, Jess Cameron, Sarah Gray, Claire Bateman, Reid Ossington, Todd Jarratt, Michael Furey, and Evan Gill, with MC Lorna Andrews.

Ticket options

General Admission includes full access to both conference days, all keynotes, facilitated workshops, table-based collaboration, and a gourmet catering package including buffet lunch, afternoon tea, and barista-made coffee all day.

VIP Experience includes everything in General Admission, plus a 3-course VIP dinner and drinks with the speakers and facilitators on the evening of Thursday 17 September. VIP tickets are strictly limited to 30.

Optional Add-On: Networking Cocktail Event on the evening of Wednesday 16 September, 5:30pm to 7:30pm. A 2-hour premium beverage package, canapes, and exclusive access to speakers and the WPWI team. Tickets are $127 and available separately at checkout.

Payment plans are available for all ticket types. Organisations requiring an invoice can email [email protected].

After a sold-out event in 2025 with over 160 attendees, the conference returns in 2026 with a bigger program, a national speaker lineup, and more space for meaningful collaboration across two full days.

If you are leading people under pressure and want a clearer, more sustainable way forward, this is where you need to be.

What did last year's attendees say?
“The National Workplace Wellbeing Conference 2025 was inspiring and transformative. From the warm welcome to the thoughtful touches like personalised cards, every detail fostered genuine connection and belonging. The keynote speakers delivered authentic, insightful stories that challenged thinking and sparked motivation well beyond the day. I left invigorated, armed with practical strategies, and a renewed drive to champion wellbeing at work. This conference sets a new benchmark, I can’t wait for 2026.”
Jharmane Kelly - Lions Haven for the Aged
“The inaugural National Workplace Wellbeing Conference was a powerful day of reflection, connection, and learning. The speakers were of the highest calibre, and I left with valuable takeaways both professionally and personally. No matter how strong our workplaces are, we can always do better and this conference is helping to lead that change.”
Sarah Stoddart - Vitality Law Australia
“Australia’s first National Workplace Wellbeing Conference was a privilege to attend. The powerful insights from Jason and Lauren, alongside world-class speakers, made it an unforgettable day. From the big ideas on performance, retention, and culture to the small touches like handwritten notes and personalised keep cups, every detail made us feel valued and inspired.”
Sarah Raffell - Amend Rehab
“The energy was electric, the best conference I’ve ever attended. The interaction, insights, and focus on emotional intelligence were unmatched. I left reassured, inspired, and ready to make a real difference in the workplace.”
Belinda Olliver - Lions Haven for the Aged
“I cannot speak highly enough of this conference. In my 50s, I’d felt my spark fading, but today’s vibrancy and positivity reignited it. I left energised, motivated, and grateful to the speakers and WPWI crew for such an uplifting experience. It was just awesome.”
Marita Traini - Allianz Insurance

Wednesday 16th September

🕑: 09:15 AM
Registration Opens
🕑: 10:00 AM
Welcome to Country
🕑: 10:30 AM
Welcome from Co-Founders WPWI
🕑: 11:00 AM
Curing the Hybrid Headache
Host: Melissa Langton
🕑: 11:30 AM
Trauma Informed Practices in the Workplace
Host: Angela Henderson
🕑: 12:00 PM
Lunch- Fully Catered
🕑: 01:00 PM
Panel
🕑: 01:45 PM
SPEAKER ANNOUNCED SOON
🕑: 02:15 PM
Afternoon Tea- Fully Catered
🕑: 02:45 PM
Why Resilience, Decision-Making, and Culture Start in the Body
Host: Dr Daniel Kirkbride
🕑: 03:15 PM
Building Human Centred Teams
Host: Lauren McGee
🕑: 03:45 PM
The Humorous Side of HR
Host: Des Kerr
🕑: 04:15 PM
WPWI Co-Founders Wrap Up
🕑: 05:00 PM
Networking Drinks
Thursday 17th September

🕑: 09:00 AM
Coffee and Chat
🕑: 09:30 AM
Welcome
🕑: 09:45 AM
Creating High Performing Teams (Workshop Style)
Host: Jason Marshall
🕑: 11:00 AM
Surprise (Coming Soon)
🕑: 11:15 AM
Setting Professional Boundaries
Host: Jess Cameron
🕑: 11:45 AM
Setting Professional Boundaries (Workshop)
Host: Jess Cameron
🕑: 12:00 PM
Lunch- Fully Catered
🕑: 12:45 PM
Fireside Chat: Persuading the Boss to Make Changes & Workplace Flexibility
🕑: 01:15 PM
Workplace Flexibility Workshop
🕑: 01:30 PM
Navigating Perimenopause and Menopause in the Workplace
Host: Sarah Gray
🕑: 02:00 PM
Afternoon Tea- Fully Catered
🕑: 02:30 PM
SPEAKER ANNOUNCED SOON!
🕑: 03:00 PM
Leading with Purpose Not Pressure
Host: Jason Marshall
🕑: 03:30 PM
SPEAKER ANNOUNCED SOON!
🕑: 04:00 PM - 04:30 PM
WPWI Co-Founders Wrap Up
🕑: 06:00 PM
VIP Dinner (VIP Ticket Holders Only)