2026 is the year psychological safety, psychosocial risk and the employee value proposition collide. The organisations that treat wellbeing as a “nice-to-have” will pay for it in turnover, performance decline, rising claims risk, and leadership instability.
For years, workplace health and safety focused on life and limb. Today, leading organisations are evolving to protect life, limb and mind – not just to meet compliance expectations, but because the mental and physical state of the workforce directly shapes commitment, behaviour, decision-making and discretionary effort.

In this session, CU Health CEO Patrick Aouad will connect the dots between wellbeing and the outcomes leaders are measured on: Retention and attraction, productivity and project performance, absenteeism and presenteeism, workers’ compensation risk and psychosocial hazards, engagement, leadership capability and culture.

You’ll learn a practical model for wellbeing that protects people, prevents harm, and rewards the behaviours that sustain performance, helping you reduce risk, improve workforce stability, and future-proof your business in a tightening talent market. If you’re responsible for WHS, HR, People & Culture, or operational performance – this session will give you a clear framework you can act on immediately.