WWPA 2025 Conference & Hui

Connect, be inspired, and learn alongside like-minded professionals! Following WWPA's exciting formal launch in June 2025, we are proud to present our inaugural Conference and Hui.

The journey of a workplace wellbeing practitioner has been dynamic, evolving to encompass critical elements like psychosocial risk management, innovative leadership and culture development, strategic organisational development, and robust occupational health practices. In today's landscape, where the value of wellbeing initiatives is increasingly recognised, professionals are expertly demonstrating their profound impact.

This landmark conference and hui is your chance to actively shape the future! We'll collaboratively define what it truly means to be a successful and impactful wellbeing professional, delve into the nuances of workplace wellbeing within the New Zealand context, and chart the inspiring course for our profession ahead.

This pivotal event is designed for you if you:

• Hold the reins of professional responsibility for workplace wellbeing

• Are driven to connect, collaborate, and learn from an thriving community of practice

• Seek to deepen your understanding of both the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ behind effective wellbeing strategies

• Are eager to contribute your voice and vision to sculpting the wellbeing profession's future.
  

Agenda

8.30 Registration and Coffee
9.00 Welcome and karakia
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9.10 Kia Ora WWPA: Introducing your new professional body

• Workplace Wellbeing Professionals Aotearoa was born out of a desire to connect, support, and grow the people shaping healthier workplaces across Aotearoa. In this session, members of the WWPA Steering Committee will share our vision, mission and strategy, and some of the key workstreams and projects we’ll undertake over our first 18 months.

• Speakers:
  - Terry Buckingham, ASB Wellbeing Lead, WWPA Chair
  - Sarah Rātima-Nolan, Te Whatu Ora National Programme Lead, WWPA Steering Committee
  - Chris Hewitt, TELUS Health Senior Customer Success Manager, WWPA Steering Committee

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10.00 Panel Discussion: Building a well-rounded wellbeing professional

• Workplace wellbeing practitioners come from a highly diverse range of professional backgrounds and experiences. This diversity means we have a wide range of skills, competencies and knowledge domains between practitioners, with little consensus on what it takes to be successful. This panel will discuss:
  - How professional background shapes wellbeing practice
  - What professional development options new or experienced practitioners should consider
  - The building blocks of a professional competency framework 

• Facilitator: Sarah Rātima-Nolan, Te Whatu Ora National Programme Lead, WWPA Steering Committee

• Panelists:
  - Prof David Tappin, Massey University Professor of Sustainable Work
  - Adele Saunders, Fonterra Head of Psychosocial Safety & Wellbeing
  - More to be announced

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10.45 Morning tea 
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11.10 Bringing wellbeing to the top table: Driving influential leadership and governance conversations

• One of the most pressing challenges for the wellbeing practitioner is influencing effectively at senior levels. While many senior executives or directors understand the importance of wellbeing on the surface, converting that into tangible action and resource is another challenge altogether.
  - How can wellbeing practitioners more effectively influence wellbeing at senior tables
  - The importance of asking better and more uncomfortable questions
  - Bridging the commitment gap: turning executive sentiment into management action

• Panelists:
  - Dr Philip Voss, Leading Safety Partner
  - Paul Robertson, Black Swan Safety
  - Wendi Bains, Fletchers Chief Safety and Sustainability Officer
  - More to be announced

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12.00 Member spotlight: celebrating impactful workplace wellbeing initiatives

• We realise that there is a lot of great work happening within our community of members and we want to highlight it! If you’ve undertaken a successful wellbeing initiative that you think other WWPA members can learn from, please drop us a note to events@wwpa.co.nz and we might feature your work at the conference! 

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12.45 Lunch
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1.45 Bringing the psychosocial risk guidelines to life

• Earlier this year, WorkSafe New Zealand released new guidance on managing psychosocial risks. This includes how to identify risks and hazards, how to implement the right controls, and how to monitor their effectiveness.

• Speaker:
  -Vanessa Cooper, WorkSafe Principal Advisor - Mentally Healthy Work, WWPA Steering Committee Member
  - More to be announced

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2.30 What does wellbeing mean in an Aotearoa context?

• Creating a culturally relevant framework for wellbeing in your organisation is more than simply matching a wellbeing calendar against Te Whare Tapa Wha. It’s a much more holistic approach, which encompasses organisational culture, belonging, diversity and inclusion and psychological safety. Jodhi Warwick-Ponga will challenge you to think beyond simple frameworks to create meaningful connection. 

• Speaker:
  - Jodhi Warwick-Ponga, Vertical Horizons Head of Programmes and Apprenticeships

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3.10 Afternoon tea
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3.30 Co-creation breakouts: your time to help shape WWPA

• As a new industry body, we’re here to serve you - our members and practitioners within the sector. As such, we want to give you an opportunity to have direct input into our workstream, priorities and sector resources. 

• For our closing workshop, attendees will breakout into facilitated groups to deep dive into various areas of focus for WWPA. As part of this, you can have input into our priorities, meet others that are focused on similar projects and be part of building a thriving professional body.

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4.45 Closing remarks from the MC and conference close 

Don't miss out! Join us at the inaugural WWPA conference and hui. It's where connections are forged, knowledge is expanded, and the future of workplace wellbeing is built.

More agenda and speaker announcements to come!