Held on 17 June 2026 at Meers Hall, Art Gallery of NSW, the Summit covered the economic outlook, AI, workplace performance, employee expectations and the changing role of the office.
The day included a keynote from Mark Bouris AM, a cross-industry panel discussion, an Innovation Showcase, exhibitor activations and prize giveaways, giving guests a practical view of how workplace strategy, technology and experience are evolving.
What was the Spaceful Workplace Summit 2026?
The 2026 Spaceful Workplace Summit was a workplace strategy event hosted by Spaceful for business leaders, HR leaders, property leaders and workplace decision-makers. The event explored how organisations can make more confident workplace decisions while economic pressure, AI, hybrid work and changing employee expectations continue to reshape the way people work.
The central message from the day was clear: workplace strategy needs to become more intentional, more measurable and more closely aligned to business performance. Watch the video here.
A keynote on the global shifts shaping business
The Summit opened with keynote speaker Mark Bouris AM, who shared a forward look at the economic signals, market shifts and emerging opportunities influencing business in 2026 and beyond. His session explored inflation, business confidence, AI, productivityand the broader economic pressures shaping organisations. It also reinforced the need for leaders to build resilience and make more deliberate decisions when conditions are harder to predict.
For workplace leaders, the message was practical. The office now sits closer to core business decision-making. It affects how people work, how teams connect and how organisations respond to pressure.
Read more here.
A cross-industry discussion on AI, productivity and workplace experience
Guests also heard from a panel featuring Shruti Ganeriwala from Unilever, Lachlan Jenson from Netflix, Dawid Naude from Pathfindr and James Bleakman from Spaceful. The discussion was hosted by Rebecca Moulynox from Great Place to Work.
The panel explored how organisations are responding to AI, productivity, culture, workforce change and workplace experience. One of the key themes was that performance and employee care need to be treated as connected priorities. The discussion also reinforced that AI should be embedded into business strategy, rather than managed as a separate initiative.
The panel made clear that the office still matters, but its role has changed. If people are expected to travel into the office, the workplace needs to offer clear value once they are there.
Read more here.
What were the key workplace themes from the day?
The key themes from the 2026 Spaceful Workplace Summit were economic uncertainty, AI adoption, workplace performance, purpose, belonging and the changing role of the office.
Across the keynote, panel discussion and Innovation Showcase, the Summit highlighted four major shifts shaping workplace strategy:
- Performance and employee care need to be treated as connected priorities.
- Offices need to offer clear value if people are expected to use them.
- AI should be embedded into business strategy, rather than managed as a separate initiative.
- Workplace investment needs stronger data to help leaders measure impact and make confident decisions.
The Innovation Showcase
A major part of the Summit experience was the Innovation Showcase, which brought together leading organisations shaping the future of work through innovation, technology and workplace strategy.
Exhibitors included Coffee On Cue, Pro AV Solutions, Spacesuit&Co, Yellowbox, Valeo Technology, Acoufelt and Scent Central.
Together, these exhibitors demonstrated how workplace performance is influenced by more than layout alone. AV, acoustics, storage, scent, hospitality, digital experience and immersive technology all play a role in how people experience and use the office. Prize giveaways from a number of exhibitors, added another point of connection and energy throughout the day.
Why does the office still matter?
The office still matters because it creates value that people cannot easily get elsewhere. This includes faster decision-making, stronger collaboration, mentoring, onboarding, informal learning, trust-building and shared moments that strengthen culture.
To remain valuable, the office needs to remove friction. That includes poor meeting room availability, unreliable technology, noise, unclear zoning and layouts that no longer match how teams work. The strongest workplace strategies align space with real work patterns, rather than assumptions. They consider what the business is preparing for, then make decisions about space, flexibility, density and experience that support that direction.
For many organisations, a relocation creates the opportunity to reset the workplace around current business goals, employee needs and future growth.
Why does workplace data matter?
Workplace data matters because leaders need stronger evidence to make confident decisions about office investment. In a cautious market, every major investment is under greater scrutiny. Workplace strategy is no exception. Leaders need clear answers to questions such as what the office is for, what value it is creating and how it supports the way the business needs to perform.
The Summit highlighted the need for offices to become more flexible, more measurable and more closely aligned to how work is actually happening.
What should leaders take away from the Spaceful Workplace Summit 2026?
The main takeaway from the Spaceful Workplace Summit 2026 is that the office needs to be planned with the same commercial discipline as any other major business investment. For leaders, that means:
- Use workplace strategy to support business resilience, not just space planning.
- Measure the value of the office through performance, purpose and belonging, rather than attendance alone.
- Treat AI as part of the broader business strategy, with clear implications for how people work, learn and collaborate.
- Design the office around high-value moments, including focus, mentoring, collaboration, client experience and team connection.
- Use workplace data to build confidence in decisions about relocation, investment, space mix and employee experience.
Building workplaces for what comes next
As work continues to evolve, organisations need workplaces that are adaptable, purposeful and commercially aligned. A well-planned workplace can help people do their best work, strengthen culture and support business performance through whatever comes next.
Spaceful hosts events focused on the future of work and workplace throughout the year. You can find out more about what’s coming up on our LinkedIn and by signing up to the Spaceful newsletter.
For questions or comments about this or future Spaceful events, please contact our team at comms@spaceful.com.au.
