27/11/2025
With a few weeks having passed since our IEP Summit Australia, we are still delighting in the positive feedback and reviews we have received.
Our hope now is to harness those good vibes to propel the IEP mission in Australia, while also looking ahead to our next Summit.
The most recent edition, held at Sydney’s beautiful 12-Micron during October, was pitched as the “anti-conference”, giving attendees the opportunity to discuss the rapidly-changing employability landscape in Australia.
“We want everyone to be in the room constantly together,” Scott Parkin, IEP Group CEO, said. “To talk, to debate, to engage with each other, and above all – learn together.
“It’s a really, really great opportunity to get with friends, colleagues and peers from the sector and as I say, learn together.”
And this was exactly how it panned out! Attendees have told us they loved the extended opportunities to meet new peers and catch up with old friends from across the industry.
They loved the “engaging conversations and really interesting speakers”, all coming from a diverse range of backgrounds.
“I think every person in this room is somebody that I would love to connect with professionally,” Amber Kaiwi, Strategic Partnerships Lead at Everway, told us.
“The wealth of knowledge [in the] room alone is very inspiring. And certainly as well, just to find new, fresh perspectives, ideas, and learn from industry professionals.”
Bigger focus
One of those industry professionals to lend their experience was Bec Jackson FIEP, Principal Policy Advisor at APM, who also participated in a panel discussion during the day.
She told us experiences such as our Summit were extremely valuable for the sector.
“In Australia, we have had quite a narrow focus on employability,” Bec said.
“We think about employment services, but the employability sector is really so much bigger than that.”
“I think if you are someone who’s working in the employment space, who’s working in education in training skills, or working within organisations doing learning development, I think there’s absolute benefit in joining an organisation like the IEP.”
Thought leadership
Someone who connected with IEP from outside the industry for our Summit was Mark Watt AM, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia and also the Managing Director of Social Engine Australia.
He described the Summit as a great chance to learn from the different perspectives on offer as someone involved in social enterprise.
“We have a lot of people from the [employability] industry coming to look for jobs in our areas, but also a lot of our young people need jobs,” Mark said.
“I think it’s great to have that interaction, the thought leadership, and being able to struggle and wrestle through a few issues that are going on and how we can do better together.”
Looking ahead
That theme of working together to do better will continue to stimulate conversation and underpin the IEP’s work in Australia, as we look ahead to our next Summit, to be held in Brisbane in November 2026.
As the flagship event of the Institute of Employability Professionals (IEP), the Summit is where ideas spark change. It’s your chance to:
- Connect with top industry leaders and forward-thinking peers
- Explore cutting-edge policy, practice, and innovation
- Advance your career with insights you can act on
- Influence the future of employability in Australia
Whether you’re shaping policy, leading delivery, or driving innovation—this is your platform.
Learn more and register your interest in attending here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/theinstituteofemployabilityprofessionalsaustralia/1918784