The Future Workplaces Forum
Where bold thinking meets real action
Widening the Gate - Creating Equity in Workplaces
12 November, The Pullman, Auckland Central City + Hybrid
When people thrive, organisations thrive.
Widening the Gate - Creating Equity in Workplaces explores what equity really means for the future of work. Why it matters, how it affects everyone, and what organisations can do right now to make sure more people have a genuine chance to succeed.
Brought to you by HRNZ in partnership with the University of Auckland Business School, the Forum is a full day for HR leaders, people managers, and anyone involved in shaping workplace systems and strategy.
What's in store:
- Keynote speakers sharing what equity looks like when it works, and what gets in the way
- Expert panels on making recruitment, workplace culture, and technology more inclusive
- Hands-on sessions designed to help you find real solutions for your organisation
- An interactive expo showcasing the latest in HR services and tools
- Time to connect with peers navigating the same challenges
The goal is to equip you with ideas and actions that can make a meaningful difference - now and in the years ahead.
This Year's Speakers
Gail Pacheco
Kaihautū Ōritenga Mahi | Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner, Te Kāhui Tika Tangata | New Zealand Human Rights Commission
“Widening the Gate” – What do we mean by workplace equity
Maretha Smit
CEO, Te Uru Tāngata Centre for Workplace Inclusion + Panel
Equity in an AI-shaped workplace: avoiding a new digital divide
Olivia Dyet
Founder, empathix
Recruitment as the first gate: designing fair selection in an algorithmic era
Cameron Bagrie
Managing Director, Bagrie Economics
Equity in the New Zealand labour market today and what this means for the future
Gergana David
APAC Lead, Big Bloom
Big Bloom Hackathon: Harnessing Collective Intelligence to Prototype Equity Solutions
Louisa Dellabarca
Co-Lead, Big Bloom
Big Bloom Hackathon: Harnessing Collective Intelligence to Prototype Equity Solutions
Charlotte Ward
Chief People Officer, Kiwibank
Inclusion vs belonging vs diversity: getting the sequence right
Steven Moe
Partner, Parry Field Lawyers Limited
Governance and accountability: keeping equity “on the table”
Equity isn't a nice-to-have.
It's the difference between organisations that thrive and those that don't. More people accessing opportunity means more organisations built to last — and one day at the Future Workplaces Forum could change how you think, lead, and act.
Expect practical, honest conversations about making recruitment, workplace culture, and technology more inclusive - so more people can access opportunity and thrive once they're there.
You'll take part in discussions, hear from experts, and join hands-on sessions.
If you're serious about shaping the systems and culture people work within, this is where you need to be.
Many thanks to our Partners and Sponsors
Frequently Asked Questions
"I attended last year’s forum, this year I brought my leadership team, and next year I want to bring my WHOLE P&C team"
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