Sonder Summit 2026

Bringing leaders together to reimagine how we support health, safety and wellbeing
Register now
17 September 2026
sonder.io
Live streaming from the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney
Sonder Summit is the event for people, safety and risk leaders who understand that workforce health has moved beyond wellbeing. Join leaders from Australia's most progressive organisations to explore how earlier risk detection, faster intervention and measurable prevention are reshaping the future of workforce health.

Speakers

Jana Pittman

Dr. Jana Pittman

Keynote Speaker, World Champion and Women's Health Advocate
With her remarkable journey spanning the realms of sports, medicine, and personal triumph; Jana shares her journey of overcoming adversity and embracing resilience, revealing invaluable insights on persistence, goal-setting, and the pursuit of excellence. Her engaging storytelling and insightful perspectives on personal development inspire individuals to pursue their goals with determination.
Georgie Harman

Georgie Harman AO

CEO, Beyond Blue
Georgie Harman AO is one of Australia’s most influential and trusted figures in the mental health sector. As the CEO of Beyond Blue, she believes passionately in doing better for people and communities affected by mental health issues and suicide. Georgie has steered Beyond Blue through significant change – expanding its services and supports, strengthening advocacy and community connection, and harnessing digital innovation.
Dominic Price

Dominic Price

Partner & Work Futurist, Be Luminous
Dominic Price has spent his career at the forefront of business and technology, and now works with leaders to build highly effective teams. As a work futurist, he specialises in uncovering the collaboration patterns that let teams do the best work of their lives. Dominic is also a passionate mental health advocate and sits on the board of Beyond Blue.
Craig Cowdrey

Craig Cowdrey

Co-Founder & CEO, Sonder
Craig’s passion for solving complex problems has taken him through careers in law, diplomacy and the military. As CEO and co-founder, Craig drives Sonder’s strategy and culture, leading a high-performance team to deliver Sonder’s vision to provide everyone with global access to 24/7 safety, medical and mental health support.
Shelley Johnson

Shelley Johnson

Founder & Leadership Coach, Boldside
Shelley Johnson is the founder Leadership Development Agency Boldside. She is a leadership coach, author, and columnist for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. And when she's not doing that, you'll find her behind the microphone on the well-known podcast: This is Work helping thousands of people grow as leaders.
David Savio

David Savio

Director – Wellbeing, Inclusion & Safety, Lifeblood
David has over 20 years’ experience working in a range of leadership roles across a range of industries. David is the Director of Wellbeing, Inclusion & Safety at Lifeblood and is responsible for ensuring that the organisation is focused on proactively managing psychological health and safety in the workplace.
Cilla Robinson

Cilla Robinson

Partner – Employee Relations & Safety, Mallesons
Cilla is a Partner with Mallesons with over 20 years’ experience specialising in employment and industrial matters from sexual harassment, discrimination to industrial disputes and enterprise bargaining, whistleblowing and running large scale litigation for both her private sector clients and government clients.
Steven Read

Steven Read

Chief Product & Technology Officer, Sonder
Steven brings 20+ years of international experience in product, technology, analytics and marketing to his role as Chief Product and Technology Officer at Sonder. Having scaled global platforms at Rokt and adMarketplace, he leads the technology and innovation that powers Sonder's 24/7 global support for people.
Ingrid Jenkins

Ingrid Jenkins

Chief People Officer, Sonder
Ingrid has spent more than 30 years working in the People & Culture profession, primarily across the technology and telecommunications sectors, including Microsoft, Canva and Telstra. Most recently, she joined Sonder as Chief People Officer, where she brings together her love of technology, human-centred leadership and creating environments where people can do their best work.

Samantha Young

Co-Founder, Chief Health Officer & Clinical Psychologist, Humn
Samantha brings a unique combination of senior management, commercial experience and psychological intervention skills to her clinical, coaching and consulting work. She has advised CEOs and Boards on complex human resource and wellbeing matters, and is co-founder of Humn, a global psychosocial safety certification and consultancy company.
Sean Silvey

Sean Silvey

Executive Manager, Safety and Wellbeing, IAG
Sean’s expertise in safety and wellbeing has grown throughout his career, both locally and internationally, having worked with a range of organisations across various industries such as education, aviation, insurance, finance and healthcare. Sean is passionate about ensuring safety and wellbeing plays a critical role in improving people’s personal and work lives.
Kimi Powell

Kimi Powell

VP Director of Clinical Services, Sonder
Kimi Powell is a registered nurse and VP Director of Clinical Services at Sonder, with over 20 years of clinical experience. She specialises in translating complex wellbeing concepts into evidence-based frameworks, passionate about removing barriers to care and ensuring people access support before reaching crisis point.
Marion Blundell

Marion Blundell

Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor, Sonder
Marion is a Counsellor with 14 years of experience. As Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor at Sonder she works directly with members, empowering them to be at their best. On the frontline, Marion can share first hand insight into the challenges faced by employees and what leaders can do to support them.
Kate Kendall

Kate Kendall

Co-Founder & Director of Yoga, Flow Athletic
Kate Kendall also known as Active Yogi is the Co-Founder & Director of Yoga at Flow Athletic in Sydney’s Paddington. Kate is an experienced Yoga and Meditation instructor who is passionate about teaching the art of slowing down through yoga, meditation and writing.

Program

Get a high-level overview of the day's flow to help you plan your attendance and manage your schedule. Please note that session timings are approximate and subject to change.

  1. Arrivals and check-in

    Register and enjoy a light breakfast with tea and coffee on the outside terrace before the day begins.

  2. Morning session

  3. Welcome and opening remarks

    • Dr Jana Pittman

    Dr Jana Pittman opens the day, setting the scene for what's ahead and drawing on her own journey from elite athlete to doctor — a story of resilience, reinvention and what it takes to keep going when the path changes.

  4. Sonder keynote

    • Craig CowdreyChief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Sonder
    • Steven ReadChief Product Officer, Sonder
    • Ingrid JenkinsChief People and Culture Officer, Sonder

    A look at how the future of work is reshaping the risks people face and what that means for organisations, and how Sonder's approach to detecting, intervening and preventing risks is helping leaders stay ahead of it.

  5. Before crisis: Why the future of mental health is prevention

    Fireside chat

    • Georgie Harman AOChief Executive Officer, Beyond Blue
    • Craig CowdreyChief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Sonder

    Georgie Harman AO joins Craig Cowdrey to explore why the future of mental health lies in prevention, from spotting early warning signs to shifting how organisations act on them. A candid conversation on what needs to change and what it looks like when leaders get it right.

  6. Morning tea

    Enjoy a break with refreshments, tea and coffee, and meet Sonder's experts at our interactive activations — an easy moment to connect and network before the day continues.

  7. Late morning session

  8. The leadership non-negotiables: How to lead well when things aren't going well

    Interactive workshop

    • Shelley JohnsonFounder and Leadership Coach, Boldside

    An interactive workshop on what it actually takes to lead well when things are hard. Practical, honest and built for leaders who want tools they can use the moment they walk out the room.

  9. Wellbeing experience

    • Kate KendallCo-Founder & Director of Yoga, Flow Athletic

    A guided meditation to reset and recharge — a moment of stillness before the day continues.

  10. Protecting frontline teams from violence and aggression

    Fireside chat

    • Sarah FaorlinValue Lead | Head of Acts of Violence & Aggression, Woolworths Group

    Verbal abuse, threats, intimidation and physical aggression have become a daily reality for frontline workers across the country, and for too long it has been accepted as part of the job. This session unpacks what it takes to confront occupational violence and aggression at scale — from prevention and training to reporting culture and support after an incident — and the human cost most employers underestimate.

  11. Lunch

    Head upstairs to the Harbourside Room for lunch overlooking Sydney Harbour, with plenty of time to connect with fellow attendees and experience Sonder alongside our experts.

  12. Afternoon session

  13. A clinician's view: What we're seeing on the frontline

    Fireside chat

    • Kimi PowellVP Director of Clinical Services, Sonder
    • Marion BlundellCounsellor and Clinical Supervisor, Sonder

    Clinicians see what an organisation doesn't. This session goes behind the scenes to unpack the risks that stay invisible when employees fall through the cracks of support. Leave with a unique perspective on why protecting people's health must be a board-level priority, not sit on managers' shoulders alone.

  14. Musical experience by string quartet

    • NOMAD

    A live musical performance from NOMAD, the iconic string quartet bringing classical sound to life against the backdrop of the MCA.

  15. Safer work or safer paperwork? What's actually changed in psychosocial safety this year, and what hasn't

    Panel discussion

    • Sam YoungChief Health Officer & Co-Founder, Humn (Moderator)
    • Cilla RobinsonPartner, Employee Relations & Safety, Mallesons
    • David SavioDirector, Wellbeing, Inclusion & Safety, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood
    • Sean SilveyExecutive Manager, Safety & Wellbeing, IAG

    Back by popular demand, this panel returns to one of last year's most highly-rated Summit sessions to explore what's actually changed in psychosocial safety and what hasn't. It looks at the biggest shifts over the past year, from AI to new legislation, and why many workplaces still generate the same hazards despite growing awareness and investment. Speakers will share from first-hand experience what's genuinely moving the needle.

  16. Human-centred change management for the AI era

    Masterclass

    • Dominic PricePartner & Work Futurist, Be Luminous

    This session explores how organisations move through the stages of AI adoption — from individual comfort and confidence with the tools, to redesigning workflows around human and AI collaboration, to embedding AI outcomes at an organisational level. It looks at what makes the difference for organisations ready to progress: capability, capacity and willingness to explore what's possible.

  17. Closing remarks

    • Dr Jana Pittman

    Reflect on the day's highlights and leave inspired for what's ahead.

  18. Networking, canapés, drinks and activations

    Meet Sonder's experts and enjoy surprise activations, alongside premium hospitality, drinks and networking overlooking Sydney Harbour, before the event wraps up at 5:00 PM.

Location

Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
140 George Street The Rocks Sydney NSW 2000
Visitor information
140 George St The Rocks, Sydney NSW 2000 View larger map

Why Sonder Summit?

People and safety leaders are facing mounting pressure – think AI's rapid ascent, ongoing global tensions, and increasingly complex regulation. Sonder Summit isn't just a one-day event; it's a vital reset. Here, leaders gain crucial respite, spark connection, and access essential support. Attendees will leave feeling inspired, reassured, and equipped to conquer the growing demands of employee health, safety, and wellbeing.

About Sonder

Sonder is a leading safety, medical, and mental health support company that helps organisations protect their people and mitigate risk. Available 24/7, Sonder’s proactive and on-demand support connects employees and students to expert guidance, real-time safety monitoring, and immediate assistance when they need it most.

Sonder Summit FAQs

Missed 2025? Watch the highlights

"I've been to a lot of events like this, and host similar events in my role, and this was far and away one of the best run ones I've experienced. There are so many positive aspects."
General Manager, Student Experience
“The Sonder Summit 2025 delivered an outstanding experience from start to finish. The lineup of expert speakers was a clear highlight—engaging, professional, and genuinely inspirational. While the program was centred on People and Culture themes, the breadth of the discussions ensured strong relevance for those working directly with students, clients, and broader University services.”
Manager, Wellbeing Services
"It’s refreshing to see a wellbeing first approach as a given, rather than fighting for wellbeing to have a voice in the conversation."
Wellbeing Specialist
"All so relevant, personal stories impactful, great choice of speakers, well thought out program, venue & catering excellent"
People & Culture Officer
“The speakers were vulnerable and open, allowing me to fully immerse myself and get the most out of it - also highly relevant to my work and workplace."
Head of Corporate Services
"All speakers and sessions were exceptionally engaging, very good topics, and each speaker made an effort to engage the online audience. I think Sonder excelled themselves, and I felt very fortunate being able to attend. Huge thank you team Sonder and to all the guest speakers and facilitators."
Psychological Technical Specialist
"Fantastic summit! I have spent a lot of money on other conferences and found nowhere near the quality of information or speakers. The entire day was a fantastic, insightful and relevant (so important) experience. I was engaged the entire day, and for an online attendee this is difficult to achieve! Well done to Sonder for a fantastic event, can't wait for the next one."
Head of Corporate Services
"The sessions gave a strong balance between practical insights and strategic thinking. It provided actionable ideas I can bring back to my workplace."
Senior Human Resources Business Partner
"I've been to a lot of events like this, and host similar events in my role, and this was far and away one of the best run ones I've experienced. There are so many positive aspects."
General Manager, Student Experience
“The Sonder Summit 2025 delivered an outstanding experience from start to finish. The lineup of expert speakers was a clear highlight—engaging, professional, and genuinely inspirational. While the program was centred on People and Culture themes, the breadth of the discussions ensured strong relevance for those working directly with students, clients, and broader University services.”
Manager, Wellbeing Services
"It’s refreshing to see a wellbeing first approach as a given, rather than fighting for wellbeing to have a voice in the conversation."
Wellbeing Specialist
"All so relevant, personal stories impactful, great choice of speakers, well thought out program, venue & catering excellent"
People & Culture Officer
“The speakers were vulnerable and open, allowing me to fully immerse myself and get the most out of it - also highly relevant to my work and workplace."
Head of Corporate Services
"All speakers and sessions were exceptionally engaging, very good topics, and each speaker made an effort to engage the online audience. I think Sonder excelled themselves, and I felt very fortunate being able to attend. Huge thank you team Sonder and to all the guest speakers and facilitators."
Psychological Technical Specialist
"Fantastic summit! I have spent a lot of money on other conferences and found nowhere near the quality of information or speakers. The entire day was a fantastic, insightful and relevant (so important) experience. I was engaged the entire day, and for an online attendee this is difficult to achieve! Well done to Sonder for a fantastic event, can't wait for the next one."
Head of Corporate Services
"The sessions gave a strong balance between practical insights and strategic thinking. It provided actionable ideas I can bring back to my workplace."
Senior Human Resources Business Partner
"I've been to a lot of events like this, and host similar events in my role, and this was far and away one of the best run ones I've experienced. There are so many positive aspects."
General Manager, Student Experience
“The Sonder Summit 2025 delivered an outstanding experience from start to finish. The lineup of expert speakers was a clear highlight—engaging, professional, and genuinely inspirational. While the program was centred on People and Culture themes, the breadth of the discussions ensured strong relevance for those working directly with students, clients, and broader University services.”
Manager, Wellbeing Services
"It’s refreshing to see a wellbeing first approach as a given, rather than fighting for wellbeing to have a voice in the conversation."
Wellbeing Specialist
"All so relevant, personal stories impactful, great choice of speakers, well thought out program, venue & catering excellent"
People & Culture Officer
“The speakers were vulnerable and open, allowing me to fully immerse myself and get the most out of it - also highly relevant to my work and workplace."
Head of Corporate Services
"All speakers and sessions were exceptionally engaging, very good topics, and each speaker made an effort to engage the online audience. I think Sonder excelled themselves, and I felt very fortunate being able to attend. Huge thank you team Sonder and to all the guest speakers and facilitators."
Psychological Technical Specialist
"Fantastic summit! I have spent a lot of money on other conferences and found nowhere near the quality of information or speakers. The entire day was a fantastic, insightful and relevant (so important) experience. I was engaged the entire day, and for an online attendee this is difficult to achieve! Well done to Sonder for a fantastic event, can't wait for the next one."
Head of Corporate Services
"The sessions gave a strong balance between practical insights and strategic thinking. It provided actionable ideas I can bring back to my workplace."
Senior Human Resources Business Partner

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