Let's Take This Offline

The career ladder has long been the dominant metaphor for professional ambition, but what if there's another way? In this episode, host Narelle Hooper speaks with Elatia Abate, former Vice President of HR at Dow Jones and globally renowned futurist, about why the ladder is shrinking, what comes next and how HR professionals can design a career that they love in one of the most uncertain periods in...

Leaders today are juggling more than ever, from complex regulation to rising cost pressures and evolving employee expectations. When overwhelm sets in, the most effective HR support often means getting back to basics. In this episode, Pete Shepherd, executive coach and founder of Human Periscope, unpacks foundational habits and useful frameworks for early career HR practitioners looking to build c...

AI is no longer a peripheral tech topic; it is a fundamental governance challenge colliding with leadership at the highest levels. In this episode, we move beyond the hype to examine how generative AI is reshaping the core pillars of business: accountability, risk management and strategic decision-making. Joining host Narelle Hooper is Shirley Chowdhary , an experienced board member and former CEO...

Get ready for the new season of Let's Take This Offline. Hosted by business journalist Narelle Hooper, this season features conversations with leading HR and business thinkers on the most pressing and emerging issues shaping the profession today. Subscribe now so you don't miss an episode. SHOW NOTES Connect: Connect with Narelle Hooper on LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/narellehooper Follow AHRI on...

Work design isn’t just about dividing tasks and streamlining processes – it’s about shaping how people experience their work: the meaning they find and the autonomy they have. In the age of AI, this takes on new urgency. As technology reshapes work, organisations must choose whether to let jobs become narrower and more transactional, or redesign them to drive motivation, resilience and performance...

Skills shortages, shifting employee expectations and the rapid rise of AI are transforming how we think about work. For HR leaders, the challenge is not just to keep up – but to stay ahead. In this episode, Kate Bravery , Mercer’s Global Advisory Solutions and Insights Leader and co-author of Work Different: How to Win in the People Age , explores how HR can turn disruption into opportunity. Kate...

Credibility with the C-suite is built over time through commercial fluency, disciplined inquiry and a deep understanding of how people strategy drives business performance. In this episode, we explore what it truly takes to be seen as a trusted advisor at the executive table. Joining us are two exceptional leaders from Mirvac. First, Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz AM – former CEO and Managing Director of Mir...

Many employees are quietly cracking, according to new research. Beneath the surface of professionalism and productivity, one in two Australian workers report they’re struggling to hold it all together. The drivers are complex, from the rising cost of living to poorly managed change, but the consequences are clear: declining wellbeing, lower engagement and higher risk of burnout. In this episode, D...

The Australian HR Institute has some fantastic guests lined up for season five of Let's Take This Offline, including Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, Benjamin Morris, Dr Michelle McQuaid, Professor Sharon Parker and Kate Bravery. Subscribe today so you don't miss an episode. AHRI members can gain access to exclusive bonus content. Become a member today so you don't miss out: www.ahri.com.au/ahri-membership

Most leaders agree that culture drives performance – but too often, it's reduced to a values exercise rather than a measurable, strategic asset. The reality is that negative workplace behaviours are among the strongest predictors of attrition, reputational damage and productivity decline. And in many cases, the warning signs are visible long before the damage becomes public. In this episode, we’re...

In a world of constant disruption, HR leaders are being asked to help people build the mindsets needed to navigate change. In this episode, leadership expert Richard Gerver — a former award-winning principal turned advisor to global organisations like Google and Deloitte — shares how HR can lead with curiosity, create psychological safety and offer stability during times of uncertainty. This conve...

Engaging with the board is a critical skill for HR leaders — but navigating board dynamics isn’t always straightforward. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Juliet Bourke, a global authority on human capital, inclusive leadership and governance. With experience advising hundreds of organisations — including Apple, the UN and BHP — and a decade as a Deloitte Partner, Juliet brings rare insight into...

Feelings of self-doubt are not uncommon – especially for leaders stepping into more senior roles or navigating spaces where they don’t fit the conventional mould. But what if impostor syndrome wasn’t a weakness to correct, but a signal of growth? And more importantly, what if it could be reframed as a leadership asset? In this episode, we’re joined by Kemi Nekvapil – a globally recognised lea...

This episode delves into the journey from HR leader to non-HR executive, exploring how to blend the strengths of HR expertise with the commercial and operational capabilities needed to lead organisations. Chris Lamb FCPHR, former Deputy Commissioner of the New South Wales Public Service Commission, reflects on his four-year tenure in the role and shares key lessons from his transition to non-HR C-...

In the world of HR, change is often seen as a catalyst for innovation and growth. But HR leaders also need to champion stability without stifling progress. In this episode, we explore themes from Ashley Goodall’s latest book, The Problem with Change, which challenges the assumption that constant disruption is always beneficial for business.  Goodall draws on his extensive experience leading p...

In this episode, we unpack the shift from viewing psychosocial safety as a compliance exercise to embracing it as a strategic imperative. Tanya Heaney-Voogt, a mentally healthy workplaces expert, shares how HR practitioners can influence and enable organisations to create environments where employees feel supported, engaged and safe to speak up. Listeners will gain practical advice on demystifying...

In this episode, we explore the evolving role of HR and the expanding remit of people practitioners in today’s complex work environments. Isa Notermans, Chief People Officer at Fleet Space Technologies and former HR leader at Spotify, Airtasker and Google, shares her insights on how HR can move beyond transactional functions to become trusted strategic advisors. Listeners will gain practical advic...

In this episode, we dive into the transformative power of deep listening and how it can elevate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategies beyond surface-level intent. Liz Griffin FCPHR, a seasoned DEI leader with experience at Qantas, Commonwealth Bank, EY and Minderoo Foundation, explores the nuances of building inclusive cultures, navigating DEI maturity and crafting strategies that reson...

As the HR profession continues to evolve, the competencies required for effective HR leadership are quickly becoming more complex and wide-ranging.  In AHRI’s latest podcast episode, host Beth Hall FCPHR, speaks with Tiffany Blight CPHR, First Assistant Secretary – People and Culture at the Department of Home Affairs, about how practitioners can arm themselves with the right skills to thrive in HR...

Around 15% of the population identify as neurodivergent. However, this is sometimes invisible within organisations, often because employees don't feel safe enough to disclose their neurodivergence to their employer.  In this episode, we speak with Aron Mercer, founding team member at Xceptional, a social enterprise that creates meaningful careers for neurodivergent individuals, about how to cr...

HR practitioners are often tasked with 'fixing' cultural issues, but as Siobhan McHale, Executive General Manager of People, Culture and Change at Dulux, asserts, they are actually the culture leaders. They set the stage and equip leaders and managers with the tools needed to authentically and effectively embody organisational values. In this episode, you'll discover: * How to frame HR...

In this episode, Ravin Jesuthasan, global thought leader and Senior Partner and Global Leader for Transformation Services at Mercer, talks about how HR practitioners can navigate the evolving skills landscape. You'll learn how to take advantage of the shift towards skills-based hiring, how AI might reinvent the graduate-level position, and models and frameworks to think about skills and job de...

HR is an incredibly rewarding profession, tackling some of the most pressing workplace challenges, from navigating layoffs to meeting the high expectations of leaders and employees. But this kind of work can take a toll. In this episode, we speak with Dr Adam Fraser, peak performance researcher and workplace wellbeing expert, to explore how HR can care for their own mental health and wellbein...

A key part of being an effective HR practitioner is about building strong, strategic and trusting relationships with key stakeholders in order to build your influence and help move your organisation towards its goals. In this episode, coaching expert and author Michael Bungay Stanier shares insights from his latest book 'How to work with (almost) anyone' and provides listeners with insight...

In a world where the HR profession has been elevated to new heights, how can HR professionals maintain the momentum they've gained over the past few years to continue adding strategic value to a business's long-term goals?  In this episode, we speak with Lucy Adams, CEO of Disruptive HR and former HR Director at the BBC, who shares her thoughts on fresh ways to think about HR, including her E...