EVP and Employer Branding Conference - Sydney.

Last week, Tamara Diveroli, our roving reporter had the opportunity to attend the 2005 EVP Summit.

What truly shapes powerful employer brands

The event was packed with bold ideas, thought-provoking insights, and refreshing reminders about what truly shapes powerful employer brands.

Key Takeaways

Here are some of the key takeaways that stood out to Tamara:

✨ 'Google' Dave Hazlehurst - Humans are the magic – Technology can support us, but the real brand experience starts with people. The more tech-enabled we become, the more human we need to be. Some key stats for me were that 80% of the workforce are disengaged and 92% of people trust people ‘like us’

🧠 Alex McVeigh - AI is a powerful tool – but it’s not the strategy. Use it for structure and support, not to replace insight and authenticity. Always ask, Why are we doing this?

📊 Doug Kelsall talking about global brand vs local experience. A consistent EVP must resonate internally and externally, across regions and teams. Map the moments that matter

🎓 Poncho Rivera-Pavon Design for the audience that’s not in the room. Gen Z expects relevance, clarity, and real opportunity, not broad corporate promises. Speak their language. Some scary stats he shared that 17% grads accept an offer and keep job searching, 47% of grads have multiple offers and 17% just vanish. It is critical to connect with them.

📢 Teena Wooldridge: Your people are your best advocates. Executives and employees with strong LinkedIn voices significantly boost brand reach and trust. Make sure your leadership team are being seen!

💡 Vanessa Riley It isn’t just a value on a wall—it’s the lived experience. Leaders shape it, recognition fuels it, and development sustains it—some incredible results of the impact made by focusing on culture first.

This summit was a brilliant reminder that a compelling EVP isn’t a one-off campaign—it’s the intersection of strategy, storytelling, and your people's everyday experiences.

A massive shout-out to Jess Vieira from Zarco Creative for some amazing conversations around how powerful video can be. She has some wonderful creative thoughts on how to bring your brand to life!

👏 Thanks to Sean Withford and all the speakers and organisers for an inspiring day.

At Hill Consulting, we understand that building a powerful employer brand and authentic EVP isn’t just about marketing — it’s about aligning strategy, culture, and people. Whether you're looking to attract the next generation of talent, boost retention, or bring your values to life through every stage of the recruitment journey, our team is here to help.

Ready to reshape your recruitment approach and build a brand that truly connects? Get in touch with Hill Consulting — your HRS recruitment experts.