Melbourne Talent Meetup #33 – From Order-Taker to Strategic Thinker: An Interactive TA Leadership Workshop

TA friends in Melbourne,

We're ditching the usual panel discussion format and bringing you something you can actually use the next day.

We're hosting a Talent Alignathon - an interactive, hands-on workshop experience with the man himself Trevor Vas, Co-founder of the Australasian Talent Conference (ATC), and Co-founder of Aligned to Achieve (A2A) - a visual strategic mapping process that gets leadership teams on the same page in just one session.

What you can expect:

Think strategy workshop meets board game. A2A uses a gamified approach where we'll collaboratively:

Map business goals (and identify where TA actually drives them)
Uncover the specific blockers preventing success - not generic problems, but the real obstacles in your current role
Develop targeted strategies to eliminate those blockers
Apply AI Enablers to fast-forward your progress

This is the same framework that has already helped leadership teams clarify strategic alignment, refocus effort away from legacy activities, and create a cohesive action plan.

Why this matters for TA Leaders right now

We are all being asked to do more with less. To prove ROI. To become an AI enabler. To position ourselves as a strategic talent advisor, not just a recruiter. And we also know there are many reasons that are blocking you:

Leadership doesn't see the connection between TA initiatives and business outcomes
Your team is overwhelmed by operational noise and can't focus on strategic work
Stakeholders still treat you as transactional ("just fill this role")
You know AI could transform your function, but you're not sure where to start or how to bring others along
Internal misalignment means your best ideas never get traction

Sound familiar?

Well, then you’ll need to attend because our meetup will give you a practical framework to:

Increase stakeholder engagement and buy-in, and show how TA directly enables business goals
Map talent requirements and allocation strategically to connect hiring to outcomes, not just headcount
Identify where AI can accelerate your impact by using 52 curated AI capability cards designed for real-world application
Uncover internal communication breakdowns, so you can fix them before they derail your plans
Build scenario plans to mitigate risks because reactive TA is exhausting
Develop your team in targeted ways, based on actual gaps, not generic training

So one session. Tangible outcomes. No more rowing in different directions.

Who Should Attend

This meetup is designed for TA Leaders, Talent Partners, People & Culture professionals, and anyone in recruitment who wants to:

Position themselves as a strategic talent advisor
Drive AI enablement in their organisation
Prove the value of TA beyond just "bums on seats"
Build stakeholder alignment around talent initiatives
Future-proof their career with practical, applicable skills

Whether you lead a team of 2 or 20, this framework scales.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, 6th November 2024
Venue: BOQ Group, Level 28, 360 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne CBD
Format: Interactive workshop (not a presentation, so you’ll have to bring your thinking cap)
Value: A practical framework you can apply immediately + networking with Melbourne's best TA minds
Food and drinks provided, including dietary options and non-alcoholic beverages
$10 per person to attend (Trevor's workshop itself is valued at $3.500, so you're getting a good deal 👀)

And let's be honest - how many conferences (and maybe even meetups) have you attended where you walked away with slides you'll never look at again?

Spots are limited. This format only works with an engaged, intimate group.

If you're tired of being reactive, tired of fighting for alignment, and ready to position yourself as the strategic leader your organisation needs, this meetup will be your opportunity.

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About Trevor Vas

Trevor Vas has spent more than two decades helping organisations reimagine how Talent Acquisition connects to business strategy. Through HCMS Consulting, he’s partnered with companies including BHP Billiton, Westpac, and New Zealand Post to build high-performing TA functions across Australia and New Zealand.

As Co-founder of the Australasian Talent Conference (ATC), Trevor has brought together thousands of TA and HR professionals through over 50 major events and 200+ meetups, over 20 years shaping how our profession learns, shares, and grows.

Today, Trevor leads two innovation platforms that are changing how teams work together:

Aligned 2 Achieve (A2A), a gamified strategy framework that helps teams uncover blockers, align on priorities, and create clear actions that drive business results
TCS Insights, which benchmarks and develops TA professionals to become true Talent Advisors who can guide the business on Build–Buy–Borrow–Bot strategies.

In the Talent Alignathon, Trevor brings these worlds together — showing how alignment, curiosity, and collaboration can turn a TA team from order-takers into strategic thinkers influencers who shape the future of work.

About our Sponsor - Onboard Express by Affirm Software

Onboard Express by Affirm Software is proud to support the Melbourne Talent Meetup - a community bringing together the people shaping the future of talent acquisition. Our platform helps HR and Talent teams streamline onboarding, elevate candidate experience and focus on what matters most: people. As a thank you to the community, Meetup attendees can book a complimentary onboarding audit before 15 December 2025 - standby for more details.

About our Venue Host - BOQ Group

Thank you to our friends at BOQ Group for hosting this event!

BOQ Group is one of Australia's leading regional banks and proudly independent since 1874. As an S&P/ASX 100 company, BOQ stands apart from the big four with a refreshingly personal approach to banking.

Operating across Australia through brands including Virgin Money Australia, BOQ Finance, BOQ Specialist, and ME Bank, the Group delivers simple, straightforward financial solutions to individuals and businesses alike. Their commitment? Building genuine customer relationships based on mutual respect and actually getting to know the people they serve.

With over 150 years of heritage and the strength of a top 100 ASX-listed company, BOQ combines stability with the personalised service that sets regional banking apart.

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🔥 LIMITED SEATS ➡️ Reserve your spot via Humanitix, please!

NOTE: This event is strictly for professionals who work in the talent industry (this includes talent leaders and (senior) professionals in the TA and agency recruitment space, as well as leaders in P&C, HR and L&D). The MTM Organising Team reserve the right to return and refund your ticket if don't meet these requirements.

We can’t wait to see you,
Nat, Matt & Stefan