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In this milestone episode of the Reimagined Workforce podcast, I’m joined by Professor Barney Glover, Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia, to explore how data, insights and emerging technologies are reshaping the future of work.

Professor Glover leads a national body of work connecting labour market dynamics, skills systems and workforce planning. Supported by Deputy Commissioners Megan Lilly and Trevor Gould, the agency provides critical evidence to help individuals, organisations and governments make better workforce decisions.

In this conversation, we unpack key insights, including:

• Jobs and Skills Report 2025 – highlighting the need to align productivity, participation and skills. Nearly 90% of employment growth has come from service industries, and AI is augmenting rather than replacing work, increasing demand for human skills like communication and problem solving.
• VET National Data Asset Report – demonstrating strong employment outcomes and income uplift for those completing vocational education.
• Higher Education Outcomes Report – providing longitudinal insights into career pathways and earnings growth following university study.
• Generative AI insights – reinforcing that most roles will be augmented, reshaping tasks and elevating cognitive and human capabilities.
• Emerging priorities – including a shift to a skills-first economy and development of a National Skills Taxonomy to better define and deploy capability.

We also explore key workforce challenges, including:

• Misalignment between career aspirations and labour market demand
• The growing importance of vocational pathways alongside higher education
• The need for large-scale AI capability uplift
• Persistent participation gaps, including young people not in education, employment or training
• The role of inclusion and diversity in addressing skills shortages and improving productivity

What becomes clear is that workforce planning is no longer just about headcount. It is about capability, adaptability and informed decision-making, underpinned by high-quality data.

As Professor Glover AO shares, the opportunity is not just to respond to change, but to anticipate it—

The Reimagined Workforce podcast is brought to you by Workforce Transformations Australia Pty. Ltd.
All opinions expressed are the speaker's and not the organisations they represent.
If you have a story about a workforce transformation to share and would like to be a guest on this podcast, please contact us at kathhume@workforcetransformations.com.au.
Connect with Kath Hume on LinkedIn

Purchase Kath's book Learn Solve Thrive: Making a difference that matters in a fast and complex world:
Learn Solve Thrive: Making a difference that matters in a fast and complex world : Hume, Kathryn Lee: Amazon.com.au: Books

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The Reimagined Workforce podcast is brought to you by Workforce Transformations Australia Pty. Ltd.
All opinions expressed are the speaker's and not the organisations they represent.
If you have a story about a workforce transformation to share and would like to be a guest on this podcast, please contact us at kathhume@workforcetransformations.com.au.
Connect with Kath Hume on LinkedIn

Purchase Kath's book Learn Solve Thrive: Making a difference that matters in a fast and complex world:
Learn Solve Thrive: Making a difference that matters in a fast and complex world : Hume, Kathryn Lee: Amazon.com.au: Books

Send us Fan Mail

After leaving school in Year 11 and becoming Australian Trainee of the Year 2023, Bridie Searle saw a gap in practical life skills education and created Ready Skills. The program equips young people, career changers, and those re-entering the workforce with the confidence and capabilities they need to thrive in work and life.

We explore how Ready Skills is helping organisations by:

• Building employees with strong financial literacy, workplace confidence, and professional communication
• Reducing onboarding time through staff who are better prepared for the realities of work
• Supporting personal branding and self-management skills that enhance employee contribution
• Offering accessible programs that extend opportunities to regional and rural talent pools
• Developing well-rounded employees who are more likely to grow and advance within the organisation

Bridie’s story is an inspiring example of how practical education can transform both individual lives and workforce outcomes.

Learn more at readyskills.au or connect with Bridie via bridie@readyskill.com.au

The Reimagined Workforce podcast is brought to you by Workforce Transformations Australia Pty. Ltd.
All opinions expressed are the speaker's and not the organisations they represent.
If you have a story about a workforce transformation to share and would like to be a guest on this podcast, please contact us at kathhume@workforcetransformations.com.au.
Connect with Kath Hume on LinkedIn

Purchase Kath's book Learn Solve Thrive: Making a difference that matters in a fast and complex world:
Learn Solve Thrive: Making a difference that matters in a fast and complex world : Hume, Kathryn Lee: Amazon.com.au: Books

Send us Fan Mail

The Reimagined Workforce podcast is brought to you by Workforce Transformations Australia Pty. Ltd.
All opinions expressed are the speaker's and not the organisations they represent.
If you have a story about a workforce transformation to share and would like to be a guest on this podcast, please contact us at kathhume@workforcetransformations.com.au.
Connect with Kath Hume on LinkedIn

Purchase Kath's book Learn Solve Thrive: Making a difference that matters in a fast and complex world:
Learn Solve Thrive: Making a difference that matters in a fast and complex world : Hume, Kathryn Lee: Amazon.com.au: Books

Send us Fan Mail

Susan Nancarrow shares her journey from podiatrist to healthcare workforce revolutionary, explaining how invisible structures maintain inefficiencies while restricting innovation. She explains the need for healthcare workforce transformation, challenging outdated professional boundaries that have defined our system since the Industrial Revolution.

• Healthcare's professional boundaries are among the most socially entrenched structures in our society
• Current systems create unnecessary bottlenecks, such as requiring GP referrals to access specialized mental health services
• Artificial intelligence is democratizing medical knowledge, shifting power from practitioners to patients
• Traditional workforce pipelines are being disrupted as AI takes over entry-level tasks
• Dual career pathways can recognize skills developed on-the-job while creating progression opportunities
• Communities of practice across countries enable leaders to share challenges and build confidence to drive change
• More flexible workforce models organized around competencies rather than professional identities can better serve patient needs

The impact of AI on professional roles

From Bureaucratic Closure to Algorithmic Governance: AI and the Neo-Weberian Crisis of the Professions

How we unpack the professions through a managerialist framework - which could result in the end of the professions as we currently know them

The Two-Sided Ledger: Managerialism, AI and the Unmaking of the Professions

The Reimagined Workforce podcast is brought to you by Workforce Transformations Australia Pty. Ltd.
All opinions expressed are the speaker's and not the organisations they represent.
If you have a story about a workforce transformation to share and would like to be a guest on this podcast, please contact us at kathhume@workforcetransformations.com.au.
Connect with Kath Hume on LinkedIn

Purchase Kath's book Learn Solve Thrive: Making a difference that matters in a fast and complex world:
Learn Solve Thrive: Making a difference that matters in a fast and complex world : Hume, Kathryn Lee: Amazon.com.au: Books

Send us Fan Mail

Cole Napper explores how people analytics can transform from a support function to the future center of HR itself. Drawing from his extensive experience across major corporations and his upcoming book, he challenges traditional thinking about workforce planning in an era of demographic shifts and AI disruption.

• Connecting internal workforce analytics with external labuor market intelligence is crucial for meaningful insights
• Two economies exist simultaneously: knowledge workers facing wage pressure and blue-collar workers seeing unprecedented wage growth
• Demographic shifts and labour shortages aren't predictions but inevitabilities that organizations must plan for
• Cole's new book offers a provocative roadmap for people analytics professionals to lead business transformation
• Four operating principles for analytics teams: alignment, innovation, credibility, and accountability
• HR leaders must make concrete financial commitments about their value ($50M+ ROI)
• Workforce planning must balance quarterly business needs with 5-20 year talent development horizons
• The future of HR could be analytical, with people analytics professionals becoming the strategic drivers

Pre-order Cole's book "People Analytics: Using Generative AI and Data-Driven HR to Make Business Impact" coming August 2025 from Kogan Page or Amazon.

People Analytics: Using data driven HR and Gen AI as a business Asset | Kogan Page

The Reimagined Workforce podcast is brought to you by Workforce Transformations Australia Pty. Ltd.
All opinions expressed are the speaker's and not the organisations they represent.
If you have a story about a workforce transformation to share and would like to be a guest on this podcast, please contact us at kathhume@workforcetransformations.com.au.
Connect with Kath Hume on LinkedIn

Purchase Kath's book Learn Solve Thrive: Making a difference that matters in a fast and complex world:
Learn Solve Thrive: Making a difference that matters in a fast and complex world : Hume, Kathryn Lee: Amazon.com.au: Books

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David Boyle shares his fascinating journey from military operations to the corporate world, revealing how his unique background informs his innovative approach to workforce planning. Discover the hidden parallels between military operations and HR strategies, as David emphasises the importance of integrating finance and strategy to tackle organisational challenges.

David explores the possibilities of utilising artificial intelligence to support workforce planning by using it as a coach, tutor, or brainstorming partner, enhancing creativity, productivity, and even emotional well-being.

He weights up the undeniable benefits against privacy and confidentiality concerns to explore how AI is poised to reshape workforce planning, offering new avenues for efficiency and innovation.

Finally, we spotlight workforce planning as a strategic business process that transcends traditional HR boundaries. By fostering storytelling and stakeholder collaboration, this approach aligns workforce planning with broader business strategies, facilitating smoother budgeting and decision-making. Through David’s experiences and our engaging dialogue, we illustrate how workforce planning can support organizational goals and drive a cycle of continuous improvement. Prepare to reimagine the workforce and harness human potential for a more fulfilling future.

The opinions and insights shared by David are his own and not that of his employer.

The Reimagined Workforce podcast is brought to you by Workforce Transformations Australia Pty. Ltd.
All opinions expressed are the speaker's and not the organisations they represent.
If you have a story about a workforce transformation to share and would like to be a guest on this podcast, please contact us at kathhume@workforcetransformations.com.au.
Connect with Kath Hume on LinkedIn

Purchase Kath's book Learn Solve Thrive: Making a difference that matters in a fast and complex world:
Learn Solve Thrive: Making a difference that matters in a fast and complex world : Hume, Kathryn Lee: Amazon.com.au: Books

Send us a text

Unlock the secret to maximising women's economic power with insights from Ellen Sullivan, co-founder of EVEN.

Discover innovative strategies to propel women’s career development as we address the need for equal access to high-profile assignments and the reduction of non-promotable tasks. Ellen introduces EVEN’s unique approach—a year-long membership that provides women with a personal board of directors, designed foster growth. We emphasise the necessity of aligning personal values with organisational goals, maintaining a learning mindset, and understanding future skill demands to effectively plan career paths that benefit both individuals and organisations.

Uncover the unique challenges women encounter, from health issues like menopause to limited access to leadership roles, and understand the crucial importance of addressing skill gaps to prepare women for future careers.

Access the EVEN website at:

even-careers.com

Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn:

Ellen Sullivan | LinkedIn

The Reimagined Workforce podcast is brought to you by Workforce Transformations Australia Pty. Ltd.
All opinions expressed are the speaker's and not the organisations they represent.
If you have a story about a workforce transformation to share and would like to be a guest on this podcast, please contact us at kathhume@workforcetransformations.com.au.
Connect with Kath Hume on LinkedIn

Purchase Kath's book Learn Solve Thrive: Making a difference that matters in a fast and complex world:
Learn Solve Thrive: Making a difference that matters in a fast and complex world : Hume, Kathryn Lee: Amazon.com.au: Books