Annual Reward Event

On Tuesday Peoplecorp had the pleasure of partnering with Aon for the 2026 Reward event down in Melbourne.

This thought-provoking session brought together over 80 reward professionals for an insightful discussion about this rapidly changing landscape. The conversation focussed on AI and Australia’s 2026 remuneration outlook which is defined by steady but constrained salary growth against a backdrop of ongoing inflation and economic uncertainty.

With inflation still elevated, real wages are under pressure, driving higher employee expectations. In response, organisations are shifting towards more targeted reward strategies focusing investment on critical talent, managing pay equity, and strengthening EVP beyond salary.

We were also lucky enough to hear from three senior HR leaders who shared powerful, real-world perspectives on how AI is reshaping the people landscape. From redefining job architecture and rapidly evolving skill requirements, to challenging traditional approaches to performance management and transforming how rewards are designed and delivered. The impact is both immediate and evolving. It’s clear that AI isn’t just a future consideration; it’s actively rewriting the rules for how we attract, develop, and retain talent today.

And to close things out, we held the much loved Jobbie Awards, hosted by Nick Screech. Drawing on millions of job titles from Aon’s global database, he ran us through a brilliantly entertaining countdown of the year’s most inventive, unusual, and head scratching titles. A fun reminder that even in a rapidly evolving world of work, creativity is alive and well. 

Many thanks to our speakers and panel members for their insights and sparking such a dynamic conversation.