Leading into 2027: Building a Workplace People Choose

Wednesday, 28 October 2026, 12.30PM-2.00PM, Adelaide CBD

NEW EVENT

📅 Date: Wednesday, 28 October 2026
⏰ Time: 12.30PM-2.00PM
📍 Venue: Mylk Bar, 82 Waymouth Street, Adelaide CBD
🥐 Catering: Coffee/tea & light lunch provided

As South Australian employers prepare for 2027, the challenge is no longer simply finding people. Organisations must build workplaces where talented employees can perform, develop, contribute and choose to stay.

The people2people 2026 Employment and Salary Report found that 82% of employers planned to recruit during 2026. In South Australia, 34% of hiring was driven by the need to replace departing employees, while limited career progression was identified as the state’s leading reason for employees leaving. At the same time, employers are being asked to improve productivity, introduce new technology, strengthen leadership capability and manage growing expectations around psychological health and safety.

Hosted by Peta Seaman, Managing Director South Australia at people2people and Edge Recruitment, this panel will bring together three complementary perspectives:

Sarah Stone, capability and future-of-work strategist and Co-Founder of linkABLE and ThriveABLE AI
Dr Ruth Sims, followership and leadership expert, advisor and facilitator
Dr Tessa Bailey, CEO and Principal Psychologist at The OPUS Centre

Together, they will explore what becoming an employer of choice will actually require in 2027—from developing future-ready capability and responsible AI adoption to creating healthier work systems and building teams in which leadership and followership are shared responsibilities.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding the employment and workforce trends likely to shape the South Australian market in 2027
• Identifying where employer expectations differ from what employees actually value
• Building leadership and followership capability across every level of an organisation
• Preparing employees for AI and workplace change without creating uncertainty, disengagement or change fatigue
• Moving from reactive wellbeing initiatives to systems that actively manage psychosocial hazards
• Strengthening career development, trust, communication and employee voice
• Translating an employer brand into an employee experience that attracts and retains quality people
• Identifying the practical workforce priorities leaders should act on before 2027 begins

Dr Ruth Sims

Dr Ruth Sims is a consultant and leadership adviser who helps organisations strengthen workplace relationships and improve how leaders and employees work together. With a PhD focused on followership behaviours and more than 20 years’ experience in professional communication, planning and organisational change, Ruth combines academic research with practical workplace solutions. She is also an experienced non-executive director, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of the University of Adelaide’s Centre for Workplace Excellence.

Dr Tessa Bailey

Dr Tessa Bailey is the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Psychologist at OPUS, where she leads evidence-based initiatives to strengthen organisational Workforce Health and Safety (WHS) systems, reduce psychosocial risk, and improve productivity. With a background in human resource management, injury prevention, and injury management, Tessa brings deep expertise to workplace wellbeing. She was previously a Research Fellow on the Australian Workplace Barometer project at the University of South Australia, analysing working conditions, health, and productivity data from over 7,000 workers across the country.

Sarah Stone

Sarah Stone is the Co-Founder of LinkABLE and a seasoned Education and Capability Executive, respected thought leader, and experienced Change Strategist dedicated to shaping the future of organisational development. She has led transformative programs for organisations ranging from start-ups with five employees to global enterprises of 55,000, helping teams prepare for the evolving world of work. With a strong focus on aligning employee experience with business strategy, Sarah has successfully implemented culture, leadership, and capability frameworks that strengthen performance, engagement, and sustainable growth.