2025 NSW/ACT State Conference program | Ageing Australia conferences

The NSW/ACT State Conference features a unique program designed specifically for aged care providers in NSW and the ACT, bringing together professionals from across the sector. This dynamic 2.5 day event offers a rare opportunity for leaders, innovators and changemakers to connect, collaborate and help shape the future of aged care in NSW and ACT.

With engaging discussions, thought-provoking presentations and plenty of time to network, attendees will walk away with fresh perspectives, practical strategies and valuable new connections.

NSW/ACT State Conference Program
9am - 5pm	Registration open
2pm - 2.05pm	Welcome and opening of conference Anne King, State Manager NSW-ACT, Ageing Australia
2.05pm - 2.10pm	Welcome to country Uncle Allan Murray, Elder, Gadigal of the Eora Nation
2.10pm - 2.15pm	Ministerial welcome The Hon Jodie Harrison MP, Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
2.15pm - 2.30pm	An address from the new NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner Jeff Smith, NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner
2.30pm - 3pm	Balancing the ledger – funding viability in a reform-heavy landscape Grant Corderoy, Senior Partner, StewartBrown
3pm - 3.30pm	A life less ordinary: stories from a Senior Australian of the Year nominee Gwenda Darling, 2025 NSW Senior Australian of the Year Nominee
3.30pm - 4pm	Afternoon tea
4pm - 5pm	Transition to the new aged care act - panel session The introduction of the New Aged Care Act marks a significant shift for providers, bringing new regulatory requirements, operational changes, and consumer expectations. This panel will explore the practical implications of the transition, share insights from aged care providers already navigating the changes, and provide perspectives on effective implementation strategies. Tom Symondson, CEO, Ageing Australia Victor Harcourt, Principal, Russell Kennedy Grant Corderoy, Senior Partner, StewartBrown Hon John Ajaka, Chairman, My Guardian Craig Gear OAM, CEO, OPAN Lucy O’Flaherty, CEO, Columbia Aged Care Services
5pm - 7pm	Welcome reception

NSW/ACT State Conference Program
8am - 5pm	Registration open
9am - 9.10am	Welcome to day two Anne King, State Manager NSW-ACT, Ageing Australia
9.10am - 9.45am	Ageing Australia CEO address Tom Symondson, CEO, Ageing Australia
9.45am - 10.15am	The next chapter in aged care quality and safety Emma Jobson, Executive Director, Regulatory Policy and Intelligence, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
10.15am - 10.45am	Governance in reform - leading through complexity Alison Choy-Flannigan, Partner and Co-Lead Healthcare, Hall & Wilcox
10.45am - 11.15am	Morning tea
Concurrent sessions
11.15am - 12.30pm	Concurrent one - Home care and support at home
11.15am - 11.45am	Navigating transition, delivering quality Anita McStay, Senior Policy Advisor, Ageing Australia
11.45am - 12.30pm	Interactive home care fishbowl: support at home transformation Lorraine Poulos, Managing Director, Lorraine Poulos & Associates
11.15am-12.30pm	Concurrent two - Residential care
11.15am - 11.40am	Innovative models of care - a different approach Selina Gerner, Partner, McGrathNicol
11.40am - 12.05pm	Regulatory compliance - practical insights Cheryl Edwards, Head of Member Support & Advisory, Ageing Australia
12.05pm - 12.30pm	Higher everyday living fees - sharing the investment in quality care Bruce Bailey, Managing Director, Pride Aged Living
12.30pm - 2pm	Lunch
2pm - 2.30pm	The road ahead: understanding government reforms in aged care Sonja Stewart, Deputy Secretary, Ageing and Aged Care, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
2.30pm - 3pm	Effective decision-making strategies for balancing dignity of risk, and duty of care Anita Courtney, Principal, Russell Kennedy
3pm - 3.30pm	StewartBrown retirement living benchmarking survey Grant Corderoy, Senior Partner, StewartBrown
3.30pm - 4pm	Afternoon tea
4pm - 4.45pm	Diversity and inclusion: A foundation for quality care - panel session Facilitator: Marie Alford, General Manager Growth and Innovation, HammondCare Gwenda Darling, Care Recipient Krista O’Sullivan, Non-Executive Director, Accessible Diversity Services Initiative Maria Gorton, Multicultural and Diversity Advisor Francisco Lopez, National Health Lead – ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs Lorna O’Brien, Director of Nursing, Mission Australia Jarin Ingram-Baigent, CEO, Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care Program
6.30pm - 7pm	Pre-dinner drinks
7pm - 11.30pm	Conference dinner

NSW/ACT State Conference Program
8am - 4pm	Registration open
9am - 9.05pm	Welcome to day three Anne King, State Manager NSW-ACT, Ageing Australia
9.05am - 9.45am	Reform fatigue is real - supporting leadership teams through complexity and change James Langanke, Co-Founder, Human-Centred Transformation, Fire Up Solutions
9.45am - 10.15am	Digital transformation and innovation Dr George Margelis, Chief Technology Advisor, Ageing Australia
10.15am - 11am	Morning tea
11am - 11.45am	Strategies for sustainability of the aged care workforce - panel session Facilitator: Andrew Hayward, Head of Workforce Strategy, Ageing Australia Kate Hurrell, CEO, Three Tree Lodge Residential Care Services Madelyn Dupriez, Acting HR Manager, Twilight Aged Care Sarah Thapa, Managing Director, The Migration Agency Alyson Pearce, Chief of Strategy & Innovation, Royal Freemasons' Benevolent Institution Mandi Xu, Principal, Russell Kennedy
11.45am - 12.15pm	Supporting a high-quality, sustainable aged care system Cindy Feng, Director, Aged Care Policy, IHACPA
12.15pm - 12.45pm	Beyond compliance - executive accountability in clinical safety and risk Dr Melanie Tan, Principal, Clinical Governance Consulting Azderis Pty Ltd
12.45pm - 2pm	Lunch
2pm - 2.45pm	CX Uplift underpins reform readiness Alana Parker, Chief Marketing Officer, Royal Freemasons’ Benevolent Institution Andrew Carlton, Practice Director, Customer Science Group
2.45pm - 3.30pm	The role of robotics in modern aged care Ada Cheng, CEO, ANHF John Paulo de Jesus, Business Development Manager / Country Lead (Australia), Dex-Lab Pte Ltd Robot Daisy, Humanoid Wellness Facilitator \| Eldercare Engagement Specialist, Dex-Lab Pte Ltd (Singapore) & Australian Nursing Home Foundation (NSW)
3.30pm - 3.35pm	Conference close Anne King, State Manager NSW-ACT, Ageing Australia
3.35pm - 4.00pm	Afternoon tea

Disclaimer: Please note that this conference program is subject to revisions and updates. While every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy, changes may
occur prior to the event. Attendees are encouraged to regularly check for updates on the conference website. Thank you for your understanding.