2026 Governance Shift Virtual Forum program | Ageing Australia conferences

Virtual Forum Program

The program is delivered across four concurrent streams throughout the day, giving attendees the flexibility to tailor their experience based on their interests and governance priorities.

Each session is streamed live, and attendees can choose which stream to join at the scheduled time. If you are unable to attend a session live, you will still have full access — all sessions are recorded and made available immediately after they are delivered, allowing you to catch up at your convenience.

To support busy board members and executive teams, the platform also provides on-demand access to all sessions for 90 days after the event, so you can revisit key discussions, share insights with colleagues, and explore content across all four streams in your own time.

This flexible format ensures you can:

build your own personalised program on the day
move between streams based on your priorities
catch up on anything you miss instantly
revisit sessions for up to three months after the event.

Program overview

The forum opens at 10am (AEST) with a welcome from the Master of Ceremonies and the CEO of Ageing Australia, followed by four concurrent streams:

Stream A- The New Governance Mandate – Focuses on rights-based governance, workforce, clinical governance and consumer voice under the new Act.

Stream B- Governance in Practice – Real-world insights into how different providers are navigating governance challenges, including private and regional providers.

Keynote Panel – What’s Keeping Boards Awake at Night?
Sector leaders explore the real-time governance pressures emerging under the new Aged Care Act, including accountability, workforce challenges, financial sustainability, regulatory expectations, and leadership risk. This candid discussion provides insight into the issues currently demanding the most attention at board level and how organisations are responding.

Stream C– Governing Risk and Complexity –Real-world insights into how different providers are navigating governance challenges, including private and regional providers.

Stream D- Governance Essentials for New Directors – A dedicated stream supporting new and aspiring board members to build governance capability and confidence.

Why this format works
This structure is designed specifically for board directors and executive teams, recognising that governance leaders face competing priorities and limited time. The flexible streaming and on-demand access ensure you don’t miss critical insights while still allowing you to focus on the topics most relevant to your role.

Governance Shift Virtual Program
Thursday 30 July 2026
9.30am	Virtual Portal Open
10.10am	Opening
10.10am	Welcome to The Governance Shift: Leading with Accountability in the New Age of Aged Care Tom Symondson, CEO, Ageing Australia
STREAM A – THE NEW GOVERNANCE MANDATE Focuses on rights-based governance, workforce, clinical governance and consumer voice under the new Act.		STREAM B – GOVERNANCE IN PRACTICE Real-world insights into how different providers are navigating governance challenges, including private and regional providers.
10.23am - 10.52am	Governing Under the New Act: Six Months On Julie McStay, Partner, Thomsons Six months after the introduction of the new Aged Care Act, early implementation is revealing how governance expectations are translating into practice across the sector. As providers move from preparation to delivery, organisations are experiencing both challenges and positive shifts in embedding the new requirements. This session will explore emerging governance pressures, including board oversight, risk management and accountability, alongside examples of where providers are strengthening governance capability and adapting effectively to reform	10.23am -11.05am	Board Culture Matters: Building High-Performing Governance Teams Cynthia Payne, Practice Lead - Strategy, Governance and CEO Excellence, Anchor Excellence Effective governance depends not only on structures and compliance, but on culture, relationships and behaviour in the boardroom. High-performing boards create environments where diverse perspectives are welcomed, challenge is constructive, and accountability is shared. This session explores the characteristics of effective board culture and the role directors play in fostering trust, psychological safety and strong decision-making practices.
10.55am-11.07am	Embedding the Older Person Voice and Co-Design Cheryl Edwards, Head of Member Support & Advisory, Ageing Australia The new Aged Care Act places the rights and voices of older people at the centre of care, making meaningful consumer engagement a core governance responsibility. This session will explore how boards and leadership teams can embed rights-based practice and genuine co-design into governance, strategy, and service delivery. Attendees will examine practical ways to assess whether engagement is authentic, and how feedback, complaints, and lived experience can be translated into actionable insights that improve decision-making and outcomes. Designed for board members, executives, and governance leaders, this session provides practical approaches to ensuring consumer voices genuinely influence organisational direction.	11.08am - 11.45am	What the New Aged Care Act Means for Privately Owned Providers Graeme Prior AM, Hall and Prior Aged Care Group The new Aged Care Act presents unique governance, accountability, and operational challenges for privately owned providers. As expectations around transparency, quality oversight, consumer rights, and workforce capability increase, organisations must adapt while operating within their existing ownership and governance structures. In this session, representatives from Hall and Prior will share their experience implementing the reforms, highlighting key challenges, lessons learned, and the changes that have had the greatest impact. Attendees will gain practical insights into how one privately owned provider has approached governance, quality, and organisational change under the new framework.
11.10am-11.30am	Workforce: Strategy, Safety and Satisfaction Andrew Hayward, Principal Advisor Workforce, Ageing Australia A capable, engaged and psychologically safe workforce is essential to delivering high-quality aged care. As regulatory expectations increase and workforce challenges persist, boards and leaders play a critical role in workforce governance and long-term sustainability. This session will explore practical approaches to workforce planning, staff wellbeing, engagement, and creating a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and able to raise concerns. Attendees will gain insights into governance responsibilities, measuring workforce performance and satisfaction, and strategies for attracting, retaining, and developing talent.	11.48am-12.02pm	Big Expectations, Small Boards: Governing in Regional and Community Aged Care Patrick Herd, Principal Consultant, Community Business Australia Regional, rural, and community-based aged care providers are navigating increasing governance expectations alongside the practical constraints of smaller boards, limited specialist capability, and constrained resources. Under the new Aged Care Act, heightened requirements for oversight, accountability, and risk management present particular challenges for organisations deeply embedded in their local communities.
11.36am-12.05pm	Clinical Governance: Leading Safe, High-Quality Care Dr Melanie Tan, Principal Clinical Governance Consulting As expectations around quality and safety continue to rise, effective clinical governance is a critical responsibility for aged care providers and governing bodies. This session will explore the role of boards and executives in providing oversight of clinical care, setting strategic priorities, and ensuring systems are in place to monitor safety, quality, and performance. Attendees will examine practical approaches to establishing and reviewing clinical governance frameworks, identifying and managing clinical risks, and driving continuous improvement. Through real-world examples, the session will highlight how strong clinical governance supports better care outcomes and organisational accountability.
12.05pm-12.30pm	Virtual Break
12.33pm-1.30pm	What’s Keeping Boards Awake at Night? Facilitator: Liz Nicol, Chairperson, Uniting Rod Nirens, President, Emmy Monash Clare Douglas PSM, GAICD, Non-Executive Director, Mercy Health The Hon John Ajaka, Chairman, MyGuardian As the new Aged Care Act takes effect, boards and executives are navigating a rapidly evolving landscape of governance expectations, workforce challenges, financial pressures, and regulatory scrutiny. Early implementation is already revealing important lessons and areas of concern across the sector. In this candid panel discussion, sector leaders will share their experiences of reform in practice, highlighting the issues demanding the most attention at board level and how organisations are responding to emerging challenges. Attendees will gain insights into the governance questions boards are asking, the pressures providers are facing, and the strategies being used to strengthen oversight and prepare for the next phase of reform.
Stream C– GOVERNING RISK AND COMPLEXITY Explores financial governance, digital and data governance, insurance and emerging governance risks.		STREAM D – GOVERNANCE ESSENTIALS FOR NEW DIRECTORS A dedicated stream supporting new and aspiring board members to build governance capability and confidence.
1.33pm-1.56pm	Financial Governance: Stewardship, Sustainability and Accountability Campbell Faulkner, Partner Business Advisory, William Buck Jelena Crnkovic, Manager Business Advisory, William Buck In an increasingly complex and regulated environment, strong financial governance is essential to the sustainability and resilience of aged care organisations. This session will explore the role of boards and executives in overseeing financial performance, managing risk, and ensuring resources are used responsibly to support high-quality care. Attendees will gain practical insights into financial oversight, sustainability monitoring, funding pressures and the controls and reporting mechanisms that support effective decision-making. The session will also examine how organisations can balance financial stewardship with quality care, workforce investment, and regulatory obligations.	1.33pm-2.04pm	From Operational Leader to Board Director: Making the Mindset Shift Phil Butler, Not for Profit Lead, Membership, Australian Institute of Company Directors, Liesel Wett OAM, External Director, Australian Physiotherapy Association and Chair and Director, Barnardos Australia Transitioning from management to governance can be challenging. Many new directors bring strong operational expertise but must learn to think strategically, govern rather than manage, and maintain appropriate oversight without stepping into operations. This session explores the key mindset shifts required when moving into a board role. Attendees will gain practical insight into governance boundaries, strategic oversight, decision-making and how to add value as a director while respecting the role of management. Perfect for executives, senior leaders and clinicians considering a future governance pathway.
1.56pm	Afternoon Refresher Break
2.11pm-2.34pm	Risk, Reform and Resilience: What the New Environment Means for Insurance and Leadership Liability Nicole Magro, Account Manager, Health & Corporate Marie D’Have, Team Manager, Executive and Financial Risks Simon Carter, Division Manager, Executive and Financial Risks, Gow-Gates Insurance Brokers The aged care sector is undergoing significant change in risk and accountability as reforms reshape governance expectations and regulatory scrutiny intensifies. These shifts are creating new exposures for boards, executives, and organisational resilience, while also influencing how insurers assess and structure coverage. This session will explore the evolving risk and insurance landscape, including increased governance accountability, compliance pressures, and implications for Directors & Officers and management liability coverage. Attendees will gain practical insights into how insurers view the sector, how organisations can strengthen their risk profile, and the steps boards can take to enhance protection and resilience.	2.19pm-2.46pm	The Questions Good Directors Ask Charitee Davies FGIA, Associate Director, Grosvenor Strong governance is not about having all the answers — it’s about asking the right questions. In an increasingly complex aged care environment, directors must be able to challenge constructively, interpret risk, and seek assurance across quality, workforce, finance and compliance. This session explores the critical questions effective directors ask to strengthen oversight and decision-making. Through practical examples and governance scenarios, attendees will learn how to identify red flags, test assumptions, and gain confidence in navigating board discussions. A practical session for new and aspiring directors looking to build their governance capability and boardroom confidence.
2.37pm-3.11pm	Data, Technology & Digital Governance Dr Huon Curtis, Head of External Affairs, CI-ISAC As aged care providers increasingly rely on digital systems to deliver, monitor and improve care, boards and executives must ensure they have the right governance structures in place to oversee technology, data and digital risk. From electronic care records and data reporting to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the role of digital systems in aged care has never been more critical. This session will explore the growing importance of digital governance in a sector where technology now underpins quality of care, regulatory compliance and organisational performance. Speakers will examine the governance responsibilities associated with data security, cyber risk, system reliability and the ethical use of information, as well as the opportunities technology presents to improve care outcomes and operational insight.	2.49pm-3.40pm	Stepping Into the Boardroom: What Every New Director Needs to Know Amber Crosthwaite, Partner, Lavan Joining a board has never carried greater responsibility. As aged care governance expectations continue to evolve, new and aspiring directors must understand not only the role of the board, but the legal, ethical and strategic responsibilities that come with it. This session provides a practical introduction to governance in aged care, including the role of directors, fiduciary duties, accountability under the new Aged Care Act, and the relationship between boards, executives and regulators. Attendees will gain insight into what makes an effective director, the questions boards should be asking, and how directors can contribute with confidence in a highly regulated environment.
3.14pm-3.43pm	Advisory Boards in Aged Care: Value, Influence and Governance Risk Louise Broekman, Founding Director, Advisory Board Centre Cynthia Payne, Practice Lead - Strategy, Governance and CEO Excellence, Anchor Excellence As aged care providers navigate reform, increasing regulation and growing operational complexity, many organisations are turning to advisory boards and specialist advisors to strengthen their strategic capability. From clinical advisory groups to technology and transformation panels, these structures can provide valuable external expertise and independent insight.
3.43pm	Virtual Forum Close

Thursday 30 July 2026