Navigating The New Hybrid Working Model(s)

Melbourne is emerging from two years of disruption, lockdowns and working from home to a new world of work. The coming months will be a critical time as new norms of behavior are established. The massive and rapid technological adoption of the past two years is converging with a return to the physical workplace. Will this lead to a better ‘new normal’, a return to 9 to 5, or something else? Employers, employees, families and even pets are grappling with the choices and practical implications of this transition. While many people have enjoyed the flexibility of working from home, the experience has not been universal and it is unclear whether all the benefits can be sustained.

 There’s lots of talk of ‘hybrid work’ – but what does this actually mean in practice?

 Now is an ideal time for an expert panel to discuss how we can navigate the new hybrid working model(s) that are emerging. We will explore what new working models there really are, their suitability and trade-offs, and the experience in reality so far.

Dr Marianne Broadbent, Peter Welling and Professor Rob McGauran each bring important – and different – perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of navigating the new world of work.

Peter Welling is CEO of Serco Asia Pacific. Serco supports governments around the world in delivery of essential public services such as justice, defence, healthcare, transport and immigration. With a diverse mix of office-based and ‘on the ground’ staff, Peter brings practical experience of changing working arrangements across companies and governments in multiple jurisdictions. Prior to being  appointed as CEO Serco Asia Pacific in August 2020, Peter was Serco’s Managing Director for Citizen Service. He has extensive experience in the public and private sectors delivering citizen services, customer relations and transformational management with a commercial focus. Peter has held director positions with VicRoads and the South Australian Government.

Dr Marianne Broadbent is a Managing Partner and co-owner of the leadership advisory and executive search firm NGS Global, a Director of The Conversation Media Group and Fellow of AICD. She has been working in the leadership, management and strategy areas for over 20 years, with a particular emphasis working with organisations to shape and develop their strategic executive and team capabilities. She is the author of the recently published book The Agile Executive: Embracing Career Risks and Rewards. In her multiple roles, Marianne has been working with senior leadership teams on the qualities and approaches they need to navigate the evolving world of work.

Professor Rob McGuaran is a founding member of MGS Architects, where he leads the master planning, design advocacy and urban design disciplines of the practice. Rob has been responsible for urban design frameworks and structure plans for key areas of Melbourne’s precinct transformations as well as leading award winning master plans for universities in Victoria and NSW. With a view of the architect as advocate and enabler for both design and future place, Rob brings an important perspective on the intersections between changes in how we work and the built environment.

Join us for this important conversation on the implications of new models of working in a pivotal time of change and opportunity.