Agenda

Nimesh Dhanak, Call Design

Michelle Bowden, Persuasion

Colin Whelan, Aspect

Two years ago, David stood on the WOW stage and described building a workforce planning function where none existed. Then he did something he swore he never would: went back to school in his fiftieth year. The surprise? Every “big strategic concept” they teach in business school was already familiar. Workforce Planners use them every day. We just call them different things. In a refreshingly honest session David connects the dots between workforce planning and strategy, showing why the skills you use every day are far more commercially valuable than you may realise. No dashboards, no buzzwords. Just stories, sharp observations, and practical takeaways.

If you’ve ever wondered how to move from being the person who reports the numbers to the person who shapes decisions, this session is for you.

Dave Woolford, Woolworths

The best workforce planners are often the laziest and that’s a good thing. Not because they avoid work but because they constantly look for smarter ways to do it. In a world where AI is changing how decisions get made, that instinct has never been more valuable. This session explores where AI can remove repetitive effort, support better decision-making, and reduce the effort required to deliver high-quality outcomes. Discover how workforce planners can use AI as an advantage, not a threat. Because the future won’t reward those who work harder. It will reward those who work smarter.

 

Nick Baldock, Air New Zealand

Haresh Gangwani, Intradiem

As workforce planners develop, they build far more than forecasting and scheduling expertise. They gain commercial awareness, strengthen stakeholder influence, and develop a deep understanding of how operational decisions impact broader business outcomes.

However, as this capability grows, it often moves further away from day-to-day operational decision-making.

This session challenges attendees to think differently about organisational design, questioning whether experience should always progress away from operations, or whether the future of workforce planning lies in bringing our most capable people closer to where business decisions are made every day.

 

Jess Pigot, nib

Choose a table. Join the conversation. Share ideas that work.

These fast-paced interactive workshops are designed to bring together Workforce Optimisation professionals from across industries to discuss real operational challenges, fresh ideas and practical solutions. Simply pick a topic that interests you and join a table of peers for open discussion, problem solving and knowledge sharing.

From forecasting and scheduling through to real-time optimisation, leadership, employee engagement, AI, back office planning and operational strategy, each table will focus on a different area of Workforce Optimisation.

Expect honest conversations, practical takeaways, new perspectives and the opportunity to learn from people facing many of the same challenges as you. No slides. No sales pitch. Just real discussions with people who understand the work.

Karen Elliott, Cinareo