A Year to Reflect. An Evening to Reset.
You’ve given so much to this year. Take an evening for yourself.
Join Krista Laios for a thoughtfully curated evening of connection, reflection and renewal.
As the year draws to a close, take a moment to step away from the demands of everyday life and reflect on what it means to live, lead and perform at your best, while making space for yourself along the way.
Begin with drinks, canapés and conversation before hearing from Krista Laios, Dr Marcele De Sanctis and Nina Azzopardi. Drawing on extensive careers in leadership and business, alongside their own defining personal experiences, each speaker will share a unique perspective on ambition, resilience, change and the realities of navigating a demanding professional and personal life.
Beyond their professional achievements are deeply human stories, experiences and lessons that many of us will recognise. Together, their reflections invite us to reconsider what success looks like, what truly matters and how we choose to approach the year ahead.
An immersive experience to close the evening.
Following the presentations, settle in for a one-hour immersive sound bath led by Jayden McGrath, one of Australia's leading sound bath practitioners.
Through a journey of sound and stillness, you'll be invited to slow down, let go of the demands of the day and experience a moment of deep calm.
An opportunity to simply be, with nothing to achieve and nowhere else to be.
Each guest will also receive a thoughtfully curated gift bag featuring products from our carefully selected wellness and environmentally conscious partners - a little something to take home and enjoy.
With limited places available, early bookings are encouraged.
Presented by VĀYU
High performance, redefined.
Launching in 2027, VĀYU is a premium corporate retreat and offsite destination on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, designed for executive and leadership teams.
At its heart, VĀYU explores the relationship between performance, recovery and the environments in which we work and lead. We believe that creating space for perspective, meaningful connection and restoration is essential to sustaining performance over time.
This evening offers an introduction to the thinking behind VĀYU and a first look at what is coming in 2027.
Lineup
Krista Laios
Financial Services Executive · Investment Professional With over 15 years experience in investment management, Krista has held senior roles across some of the world’s leading financial institutions. Her personal experience of burnout and recovery inspired a deeper exploration of neuroscience, human performance and sustainable success. Combining personal storytelling with science-backed insights and practical strategies, Krista shares how we can regulate stress, restore clarity and sustain high performance without sacrificing ourselves along the way.
Dr Marcele De Sanctis
Managing Partner, Future Leadership Advisory With 15 years’ experience supporting boards, CEOs and senior leaders, Marcele brings an evidence-based perspective to leadership and change. She holds a PhD in Psychology/Leadership and a Master of Organisational Psychology from Deakin University. Her work spans leadership development, assessment and executive coaching, with a particular interest in enterprise leadership and women in leadership.
Nina Azzopardi
Founder & Principal, Executive HR Advisory Drawing on more than 30 years in people and culture leadership, Nina explores the human experiences behind organisational change. Her work encompasses psychological safety, wellbeing and resilience. Research into grief in organisations, alongside experience as a Lifeline crisis supporter, informs her perspective on care, connection and making space for what people carry.
Jayden McGrath
Sound Bath Facilitator · Musician & Producer With more than a decade spent exploring conscious breathing and sound, Jayden brings a thoughtful, intuitive approach to his practice. His sessions create a supportive space for self-discovery, reflection and connection with the present moment. Through carefully guided experiences, he invites participants to slow down, explore new perspectives and reconnect with themselves.
Agenda
- 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Arrive & connect
Enjoy canapés, non-alcoholic drinks and conversation before the presentations begin.
- 6:00 pm - 6:20 pm
Keynote · Krista Laios · Beyond Achievement: Making Space for What Matters
Krista shares her personal story of ambition, high performance and burnout, and the shift towards a more intentional way of living. An invitation to reflect on identity beyond achievement, recognise what matters most, and consider what to carry forward - and what to leave behind.
- 6:20 pm - 6:40 pm
Keynote · Dr Marcele De Sanctis · The Person Behind the Leader
What does it take to bring out the best in the people around us? Drawing on her expertise in psychology and leadership development, alongside her experience as a business leader and mother, Marcele explores how our everyday choices shape the way others experience us. Through her own story, she invites us to reflect on how we lead at work and at home - and the difference we can make in our next conversation.
- 6:40 pm - 7:00 pm
Keynote · Nina Azzopardi · What I Changed This Year
How do you find the courage to step away from a career you’ve spent thirty years building - and create something new? For Nina, an accomplished executive leader and mother of three, this year became a turning point. She made the leap from corporate leadership earlier than planned and began building the next chapter of her career. Nina shares what inspired her decision, what she has discovered along the way and how she is redefining success on her own terms. Her story invites us to reflect on our own choices - and the possibilities that open up when we stop waiting for the perfect time.
- 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Sound bath · Jayden McGrath · Pause & Reset: An Immersive Sound Journey
Settle comfortably as Jayden guides a one-hour immersive sound bath. An opportunity to slow down, listen and spend some quiet time with yourself, bringing the evening to a gentle close.
FAQs
- Who is this event for?
This evening is for anyone balancing ambition and the demands of a full life who would welcome time to pause, connect and reflect.
- What does my ticket include?
Canapés and non-alcoholic drinks during the opening networking session, three keynote presentations, an immersive sound bath and a curated gift bag featuring samples from our wellness and environmentally conscious partners. Please advise any dietary requirements when purchasing your tickets at the checkout.
- Where is the event?
The Executive Centre, Level 30, 35 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000. Detailed arrival instructions will be shared before the event.
- What time should I arrive?
Please arrive from 5:15pm to enjoy canapés, drinks and conversation. Keynote presentations begin at 6:00pm, followed by the sound bath at 7:00pm. The evening finishes at 8:00pm.
- Do I need to know anyone to attend?
Not at all! Everyone is welcome, whether you're coming on your own, with a friend or with colleagues. This evening is all about connection, shared experiences and taking a little time for yourself.
- Do I need anything for the Sound Bath?
Wear something you feel comfortable sitting and relaxing in. You’re welcome to bring an extra layer for warmth during the sound bath like a warm blanket and a cushion if you'd prefer to sit on the floor rather than in a chair.
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