DDD Perth 2026 Agenda

Organisations today are navigating relentless change—restructures, evolving ways of working, workforce fatigue, rapid advances in AI, and ongoing uncertainty about what comes next. During these periods, psychological safety is tested. As uncertainty grows, the gap between what leaders believe they are communicating and what their teams are actually hearing can widen dramatically. Messages intended to reassure may be interpreted as ambiguity, silence can be perceived as avoidance, and constant change can leave people feeling disconnected, exhausted and hesitant to speak up. When people don't feel safe, they cant innovate. Their productivity drops. When the brain is wired to scan for threat and not opportunity, relationships are strained. And when leaders don't know what's happening themselves - how can they create psychological safety for their teams? This talk delves into: *How uncertainty affects the brain, behaviour and workplace relationships. * Insights into the hidden gap between leader intent and employee experience during periods of change. * Practical strategies to strengthen psychological safety, maintain trust and communicate effectively when certainty is not possible. * Evidence-informed approaches to supporting teams through change, disruption and transformation. How can we lead teams to thrive - not just survive, during change and uncertainty.