Rethinking Working Time: Productivity, Fairness and Wellbeing

Australia’s leading academics, policymakers and sector leaders will gather at the University of Melbourne on 12 November 2026 for the conference Rethinking Working Time: Productivity, Fairness and Wellbeing.

Bringing together experts across economics, history, industrial relations, sociology and law, the event will create space for timely and practical conversations between research, policy and industry on the future of work. Across a full day of discussions, speakers will explore how working time has evolved, and where it is heading in an era shaped by productivity pressures, care demands and rapid technological change.

Please see below for a list of speakers:

• Professor Brendan Burchell | Internationally recognised sociologist and expert on working time, wellbeing and labour markets

• Professor Ross Garnaut AC FASSA | Leading economist, public policy leader and former Australian Ambassador to China

• Professor Sean Scalmer FASSA | Historian and expert on the histories of social movements, class, and democracy

• The Hon Andrew Charlton MP | Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy

• Alan Oster | Former Chief Economist, NAB

• Greg Jericho | Economist, author and leading national commentator

• Angela Jackson | Economist and productivity specialist

• Professor Roy Green AM | Innovation, industry and economic policy expert

• Professor Rae Cooper AO FASSA | Expert on work, leadership and gender equality

• Padma Raman PSM | Executive Director, Office for Women, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

• Annie Butler | Federal Secretary, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation

Full program here: https://socialsciences.org.au/events/rethinking-working-time-productivity-fairness-and-wellbeing/