Program

The 2023 People Summit will showcase safety, culture and leadership and put a spotlight on all things people. People are the water sector’s most important asset and without them the Victorian water sector would be unable to deliver world class services to enhance the liveability of our communities.

This is the latest in our symposium series and another hybrid event with the option to attend in person at the venue or online.

The VicWater People Summit will be held in Melbourne, Thursday 25 May 2023

Scroll below for the full program or click button for a pdf copy of the program.

PROGRAM

Thursday 25 May 2023

9.00am : Registration & Stand Up Breakfast

10.00am : Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country

10.05am : Opening Comments

10.10am : Pitcher Partners Sponsor Address

10.20am : Julia Banks - Keynote Presentation

Julia Banks, author, lawyer and former federal MP.

Julia has unique leadership experience spanning a career in law, the corporate business world and as a Member of the Federal Parliament of Australia. Julia will draw on her extensive experience to talk about workplace culture, gender bias, and the role of trust and values of doing the right thing in authentic leadership.

DURATION: 60 minutes including Q&A

11.20am : Coffee Break

11.45am : Panel - Managing Psychosocial Impacts In The Workplace

As we transition from traditional to new ways of working and with crises becoming business as
usual, how do workplaces continue to protect and proactively manage psychosocial safety of staff.

We will talk to industry experts and external specialists as our panelists share their insights into the issues impacting our staff from a range of perspectives and how we might address them.

Facilitator: Sarah Patrick, Senior Human Resources Business Partner, Pitcher Partners

Panelists:

Frances Anderson, Assistant Victorian Government Solicitor Workplace Relations
& Occupational Safety, Victorian Government Solicitor's Office
Kelly Crosthwaite, Executive Director, People and Culture, DEECA
Rebecca Hanley, Executive General Manager Culture and Governance, Coliban Water
Danielle Nigro, Principal Consultant - Psychologist, Davidson

FORMAT: Panel
DURATION: 70 minutes including Q&A

12:55pm : Davidson Sponsors Address

1.00pm : Lunch

1.45pm : Safe & Thriving: The Victorian Water Sector's Approach to Safety and Wellbeing

2.15pm : Driving A Culture Of Change: The Victorian Water Sector's Inclusion & Diversity Strategy

What does Inclusion & Diversity mean for the water sector? Where have we come from and where are we going? Deb Fankhauser, chair of the VicWater Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee talks us through the Victorian water sector's Inclusion & Diversity strategy.

Speakers: Deb Fankhauser, General Manager - People and Stakeholders, Lower Murray Water and chair of the VicWater Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee

FORMAT: Presentation
DURATION: 30 minutes including Q&A

2.45pm : What's Your Employee Value Proposition?

Pitcher Partners share their journey of defining their employee value proposition and look at the
synergies between the water sector and external industries as we all strive to increase staff retention and attract new talent.

Speakers: