AI in the Workplace Exchange 2025: A day of insight and innovation

With AI revolutionising industries and reshaping the world of work, the AI in the Workplace Exchange 2025 conference brought together leading minds to cut through the hype and deliver a practical, people-first view of artificial intelligence.

The second instalment in AIM WA’s Conference WA series, this AI conference brought together industry leaders from a wide variety of sectors to unpack how we can prepare our workforces for the accelerating pace of AI adoption.

For organisations eager to stay ahead, this conference was an opportunity to network, share knowledge, and discover new applications of AI that are redefining the future of work and industry in Australia.

Here are five standout takeaways from the one-day event.

1. Responsible governance in an AI-enabled world

Delivering the opening keynote, Partner at Stirling & Rose, Schellie-Jayne Price, underscored the speed at which AI is transforming legal and professional domains - and why lifelong learning and transparent governance are essential to keep pace.

“If I can build a digital twin of myself to talk to my students in less than an hour … we can be sure that the workforce is also thinking very deeply about what the future is,” she said.

While highlighting the significant opportunities AI offers, Ms Price also cautioned against the associated risks – including intellectual property challenges, cybersecurity threats and bias in decision-making tools.

To manage AI risks effectively, she emphasised the need for a structured risk framework that ensures human-centred, ethical use of AI, urging organisations to build the right talent and adaptive resilience within their workforce.

“The very people that organisations rely on to innovate and manage risks using AI, are also aware of headlines that AI could massively disrupt their roles,” she said.

Advocating for AI transparency - especially in education and law - Ms Price called for expanded consultation, shared responsibility, and the introduction of dedicated AI governance roles in organisations.

“AI governance is not just a technical issue, it’s a cultural shift. Organisations need to embed ethical thinking into every level of decision-making,” she added.

2. AI and business value: Unlocking potential while tackling bias

Purple’s Chief Innovation Officer, Ruth Callaghan, Curtin University’s Future of Work Institute, Patrick Dunlop and Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers EPMO Manager, Dan Pickup, explored how AI can drive operational gains and strategic advantage - if deployed with care and competence.

Mr Dunlop shared the challenges of integrating AI into recruitment and academia, in particular AI detection software.

“There are so many ways candidates can use AI to apply for jobs, including using agents to apply to thousands of positions automatically,” he said.

Panellists discussed the importance of involving organisational psychologists to address bias in AI recruitment tools, such as image recognition failing to identify certain ethnicities.

They highlighted that while there is potential for AI to enhance recruitment methods, it is integral for organisations to carefully monitor and make any adjustments required to avoid biases.

“AI can amplify human bias if we’re not careful. It’s crucial to have a diverse team responsible for designing and monitoring AI systems to avoid perpetuating existing inequalities,” Ms Callaghan said.

Mr Pickup reflected on Wesfarmers’ data literacy program, which focuses on building internal talent, attracting external experts, and fostering a data-driven culture. He emphasised the need for a bottom-up push to gain leadership support for AI adoption.

“We’ve embarked on a really large data literacy program across the last couple of years that involves training roll out, getting people familiar with personal information and how they should use it,” he said.

Their conversation made clear: AI can improve business processes, but only with upskilled workforces, transparency and continuous bias monitoring.

3. Rethinking data: The fuel powering AI

Curtin University Director of Data and Information Governance, Krista Bell, reminded event attendees that AI is only as good as the data that feeds it.

“We’re currently at a very challenging state in the world in regards to our data, with increased volume, velocity and variety of data sets,” she said.

Ms Bell highlighted the role of data in strategic optimisation and digital transformation.

“Data is the foundation for strategic optimisation. We cannot transform technical assets unless we actually have the fuel, and that’s the data,” she said.

When discussing the challenges and opportunities in data management, Ms Bell emphasised the need for data ownership, stewardship and literacy.

Yet to manage data effectively, organisations must have dedicated resources.

"To have a really good working relationship with data, you need to be connected to it. You need to understand it. You need to be that subject matter expert," she said.

Touching on regulatory developments like WA’s Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing Act, Ms Bell encouraged attendees to embrace transparency, invest in data infrastructure and build trust around data practices.

“Once we understand our data, we can safeguard it, optimise it, and understand how our organisation can provide a better outcome with that, then we'll be in a much better place,” she said.

She noted the importance of synthetic data to mitigate privacy risks and enhance research without compromising individual data.

"Data is the fuel that feeds the system ... the integrity of that is key to an organisation," she said.

“... Good data governance isn’t just compliance - it’s a competitive advantage.”

4. Building trust: Leadership and culture in the age of AI

Executive Coach, Leadership Consultant and Clinical Psychologist, Christian Holyoak, WA Data Science Innovation Hub Director, Alex Jenkins and Jackson McDonald's Senior Associate | Corporate + Commercial, Ariel Bastian, tackled one of the biggest hurdles to AI adoption - trust.

Mr Holyoak emphasised the role of leaders in fostering trust and addressing emotional dynamics related to AI adoption.

“AI is beyond technical issues. It's calling upon leaders to understand complex human and organisational factors,” he said.

He urged leaders to create psychologically safe environments where people can express AI-related fears and ideas openly.

Touching on privacy and data security, Ms Bastian said organisations must have governance structures in place to manage personal information.

“Do less, collect less. Collect the minimum amount of data that identifies people as much as possible,” she said.

When discussing the latest trends in wellbeing, panellists warned of AI’s potential side effects - from insomnia to loneliness - and called for holistic approaches to tech integration.

Mr Jenkins said that the ability to assess content critically will become a cornerstone of education, emphasising the importance of hands-on experience with AI to understand its limitations.

“The ability to critically analyse a piece of text is now one of the most important skills, because we’re entering a world where a lot of content is AI-generated,” he said.

“... We need to equip people not just to use AI, but to question it, challenge it, and understand its limits.”

5. Lifelong learning: The mindset that will define the future

AIM WA Chief Learning and Development Officer Drew Mayhills FAIM, left the room inspired with a compelling message: the future belongs to those who learn alongside AI, not against it.

“We stand at a threshold of two very different futures - one where we automate our thinking away, and another where we expand our judgment, creativity and humanity.” 

Mr Mayhills contrasted AI’s rapid capabilities with the slow, deliberate journey of human learning and education. He advocated for augmentation over automation and urged leaders to create space for 'intelligent failure' as teams experiment with AI.

"Mastery is not a destination. Rather, it's a mindset predicated on continuous adaptation," he said.

“... Every interaction you engage in with these tools should be designed to stretch your thinking and not bypass it.”

Mr Mayhills further warned of cognitive offloading - the danger of losing our ability to think critically as AI tools become more convenient.

“The skills that matter most are deeply human - analytical thinking, creative thinking, empathy, motivation, self-awareness, resilience, and leadership,” he said.

Mr Mayhills emphasised that the future isn't about competing with AI, but rather using it to enhance human potential and thinking.

"It's not about moving faster than machines, because that race is over," he said.

"The future won't be built by machines. It will be built by those who choose to pursue lifelong learning with AI as our partners in thinking."

First-class education experience

The AI in the Workplace Exchange 2025 conference made clear that the journey ahead is not just about technology, but about people, culture, and leadership.

The business event explored how organisations can integrate AI responsibly, govern it ethically and harness its power to drive innovation, without losing sight of what makes us human.

By combining ethical governance, emotional intelligence, lifelong learning and responsible innovation, organisations can not only be equipped to turn uncertainty into opportunity but also prepare for an AI-powered future that serves the greater good.

Where to from here?

The AIM WA Conference WA series is a unique opportunity for industry leaders and professionals to explore the latest trends and research tailored to specific professional demographics.

With eight dynamic one-day conferences spanning topics such as AI in the workplace, leadership development, change management, and employee engagement, each business event provides valuable perspectives tailored to address modern workplace challenges.

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