Digital Workplace Conference Blog

Digital Workplace Conference Australia: What We Learned About AI, Governance, and Why People Still Matter

Debbie Ireland — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:38:07 GMT

There’s a moment at in-person events that never shows up in the agenda. It’s when someone says, “Oh good - it’s not just me.”

That moment came up again and again at the Digital Workplace Conference Australia - not necessarily in the sessions, but in the conversations in between.

Across keynotes, panels, and feedback, a few clear themes emerged about AI, governance, and the reality of working in a digital workplace right now.

If you only take three things away:

AI is accelerating - but few feel fully “on top of it”
Strong data and governance foundations are more important than ever
The real challenge isn’t the technology - its helping people adapt

Key Takeaways from Digital Workplace Conference Australia

1. The pace is real - and no one has it all worked out

People spoke openly about how fast things are moving, and how hard it is to stay on top of it. There was relief in hearing others say the quiet part out loud: it’s okay not to have all the answers. Even experts are working through it in real time.

That honesty changes the conversation. It moves us from trying to keep up, to learning together.

2. AI is important - but foundations matter more

One of the strongest and most consistent messages was this: AI isn’t the starting point. Good data, clear ownership, and solid governance still underpin everything. Without that, even the most advanced tools struggle to deliver value.

This wasn’t framed as a blocker - but as a reminder. There’s real opportunity in getting the basics right.

3. It’s still about people

Even in a conference heavily focused on AI, the strongest message wasn’t about tools - It was about people.

Helping people understand how to work differently, build confidence, and adapt to change is still the hardest - and most important - part.

Technology continues to evolve. That part isn’t slowing down. But supporting people through that change is where the real work is.

4. Community is the real accelerator

Again and again, people spoke about the value of being in the room with others facing the same challenges.

Not just sitting in sessions - but the conversations in between. Those informal discussions, shared experiences, and honest exchanges create a very different kind of learning. One that’s hard to replicate online.

In a world that’s becoming more digital, these moments of connection matter more, not less.

Why in-person still matters

In a digital workplace, efficiency often wins: short meetings; quick updates; constant context switching. What people valued most at this conference was the opposite:

Time to think
Space to learn
Conversations that weren’t rushed

Stepping away from day-to-day work created room for reflection and perspective - something that’s increasingly hard to find.

The bottom line

The main ideas the conference reinforced for us were:

The pace of AI is real — but no one has it fully figured out
Foundations like data, governance, and ownership matter more than ever
The biggest challenge is helping people change how they work
Learning happens faster when we do it together

The tools will keep evolving but bringing people together - openly and honestly - is what helps us make sense of it all.

Looking ahead

To everyone who joined us at the Digital Workplace Conference Australia - thank you. You brought your experience, your questions, and your willingness to engage. That’s what made the event what it was.

If you’ve been considering attending an in-person conference, it’s worth it. The content matters. But it’s often the conversations - especially the unexpected ones - that make the biggest difference.

More than anything, this event was a reminder: we’re not doing this in isolation and that makes the work easier.

Known Problems, Faster Solutions: How Rapid Build Closes the Enterprise Delivery Gap

Rapid Circle — Tue, 19 May 2026 19:51:11 GMT

Every enterprise has operational friction that someone has already identified. Not next quarter. Not in the strategic roadmap. Now.

It's the Friday afternoon workflow your team runs manually because the three systems don't talk to each other. It's the pipeline forecasting that's actually just Jira exports dumped into Excel. It's the reporting process that requires someone to consolidate data from four different places every single week.

Your team knows exactly what this costs. Eight to ten hours per week. That's 416 to 520 hours a year of pure operational drag. Three months of person-years burned on something that should have been solved years ago.

But the real cost isn't the hours. It's the cognitive load. Your best people aren't analyzing patterns or driving strategy. They're maintaining spreadsheets. They're consolidating data. They're fixing errors that shouldn't exist. When someone leaves, all that knowledge walks out the door because it was never supposed to be permanent.

Community: The Secret Ingredient of DWC

Debbie Ireland — Thu, 07 May 2026 04:40:44 GMT

If the Digital Workplace Conference had a soul, it would be the community. People always tell us the connections, conversations and the feeling of being surrounded by people who “get it” during the 2-day event is invaluable.

Interested in knowing more about this secret ingredient? Here are two real stories from attendees:

The Power of Showing Up: Why Human Connection Makes the Digital Workplace Conference Unforgettable

How to Get the Most Value from the Digital Workplace Conference

Expert Community of MVPs

What is a Microsoft MVP?

Microsoft MVPs are independent experts who Microsoft recognises each year for helping others use Microsoft technology better — by teaching, sharing, writing, speaking, or answering questions. Want to find out more about the Microsoft MVP Program? Here's the official overview

Insights and expertise from MVPs speaking in Melbourne

MVP's are an integral part of the DW Community. Catch one of these sessions to hear from these exceptional community leaders. They willingly share their technical expertise, leadership, experience, and commitment to solving real world problems.

	Build Your Own M365 Copilot Reporting Dashboard, Loryan Strant, Microsoft MVP
	You have no idea what Copilot can do now, Daniel Anderson, Microsoft MVP
	The Future of Intranets: AI Meets SharePoint, Steve Knutson, Microsoft MVP and Regional Director
	The PowerPoint hacks you wish you knew 20 years ago, Sharon Connolly, Microsoft MVP
	Novice to Nimble: Mastering Microsoft 365 Copilot Prompts, Kirsty McGrath, Microsoft MVP
	Data Security Considerations for M365 Copilot and Agents, Andrew O'Young, Microsoft MVP
	From SharePoint Foundations to AI Agents: The Blackmores Journey, Liza Tinker, Microsoft MVP
	Who Am I Now? Evolving Roles in the Modern Digital Workplace, Mathew Gilbertson, Microsoft MVP
	Side by Side with Copilot Cowork: Reimagining Collaboration with AI, Lisa Crosbie, Microsoft MVP
	From Copilot Pilots to Business Impact: Turning AI Hype into Measurable Workplace Value, Daniel Brown, Microsoft MVP
	Closing the Digital Gap with Human Connection, Brett Gilbertson, Microsoft MVP
	Closing the Digital Gap with Human Connection, Debbie Ireland (Not an MVP but a Microsoft Regional Director)

You’re Not Behind - You’re Just Too Busy to Think

Shannon Donovan — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 03:04:59 GMT

Recently a previous DWCAU attendee, Kimberley Tunbridge, said to us "I really feel like your conference is the only event that understands where people are at digitally and takes them on a supported journey forward together. It’s remarkable." It kicked off a discussion amongst the conference team about how many times we hear this sentiment.

This article is for people working in digital workplaces with Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint, Copilot who feel overloaded, constantly reacting, and short on headspace. It explains why DWCAU providing dedicated time away from day‑to‑day work is so important, and why practical,foundational sessions are often the most valuable — not because people are behind, but because they’re busy.

You don’t attend a conference because you’re behind

You attend because you care about doing your work well

If you’ve ever looked at your backlog, your inbox, or your Microsoft 365 tenant and thought: “There are things I know we could be doing better… I just don’t have the headspace to stop and figure it out.” That’s not a personal failing. That’s modern work.

Day‑to‑day roles are relentless. You’re expected to deliver, adapt, support others, keep up with constant change — and somehow also reflect, learn, and improve along the way. Most people don’t lack motivation or capability. They lack protected thinking time. And that’s one of the most underrated reasons conferences exist.

The conference is space you can’t create at your desk

One of the most valuable things the conference gives you isn’t information, it’s permission.

Permission to step out of urgency mode.
Permission to stop reacting and start thinking.
Permission to focus on how work gets done — not just getting it done.

You can read blogs at night, watch videos between meetings, skim updates on your phone. But it’s very hard to meaningfully connect the dots while notifications are pinging, emails are coming in, and someone needs an answer “just quickly.”

The Digital Workplace Conference creates dedicated headspace — and that matters more than we often admit.

The value is often in the reassurance

Something that comes up again and again is relief. Relief that:

Other organisations struggle with the same things
You’re not “doing it wrong” — you’re doing it under pressure
The gaps you feel aren’t because you’ve missed something obvious
Small, deliberate changes really can make a big difference

Sometimes the most valuable outcome of a session isn’t a checklist or a feature. It’s walking out thinking: “Okay. That makes sense. I can work with that.”

That confidence carries back into your role long after the conference ends.

Practical conference sessions aren’t “basic” — they’re foundational

There’s a quiet myth in our industry that says: If you’re experienced, you should already know this. The reality is very different.

Most people are operating on:

Partial knowledge
Inherited setups
Decisions that made sense years ago
Tools that evolve faster than organisations do

So when a conference session helps you:

Clarify where files should live
Make sense of how Teams, SharePoint, Planner, Loop, or Copilot fit together in real life
Reduce friction instead of adding more tools
Understand why something feels messy — not just that it is

That’s not “entry‑level.” That’s exactly the work that makes everything else easier.

Many attendees describe these sessions as moments where things finally click — less overwhelm, more confidence, clearer next steps. Because it fills real gaps.

You don’t need everything. You need the right few things.

Another unspoken pressure people feel at conferences is the idea that they should come away “fully across everything.” That’s not the goal.

The goal is usually much smaller — and much more powerful:

One clearer way of working
One insight that saves you weeks of trial and error
One confirmation that you’re not alone in the challenges you’re facing
One idea you can actually apply when you get back

That’s why we put together the “One idea. Big impact” video series - with our speakers sharing their expertise. They’re designed for real people, in real roles, with limited time to discover these nuggets on their own. Thank you to our speakers, see the results here.

And which conference sessions are most likely to hit the foundational target?

We've put this list together for you!

We can't wait to see you there!

Can I Make Microsoft 365 Copilot Sound Like Me? How Copilot Personalisation Works

Shannon Donovan — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:19:25 GMT

Yes — you can influence how Copilot sounds and behaves, but there is no single “make it sound like me” setting. Personalisation is split across Custom Instructions, Saved Memories, Outlook‑specific instructions, chat history, and Agents — and not all of them apply everywhere you use Copilot.

Today I had a Copilot pop up question after I deleted a cancelled calendar invite – asking me ‘do you want me to automatically delete cancelled meeting invites?’ – to which I said yes.

Then, I got two more offers from Copilot – I chose “Help me set up more calendar instructions”.

It made me think about all the places and ways you can add a bit of personalisation to the way Copilot works with you – and I wonder how many of them you are using or even know are there. I get asked “Can I make it sound like me?” regularly when running Copilot training. There are actually a few things you can do to personalise the way Copilot responds to you.

One thing most Copilot users miss

Copilot does not have a single, global personality. Personalisation behaves differently depending on where you are using Copilot — Chat, Outlook, Word, Teams, or inside an Agent.

You might already know about Custom Instructions and Copilot Memory? They’re in the Settings:

Custom Instructions control how Copilot responds — not what it knows or does. If it’s about response style, structure, or habits Copilot should follow, it belongs in Custom Instructions.

These are all behavioural standards you want Copilot to follow every time, regardless of topic.

Instruction	Why it belongs in Custom Instructions
“When I ask for summaries or explanations, include next steps (especially for meeting summaries).”	This defines how outputs are structured, not a fact about you.
“Always call out risks, limitations, or gotchas.”	A response rule you want applied consistently.
“Summaries should fit on one screen.”	A formatting / brevity expectation, not memory.
“Explain things assuming the reader is not technical.”	Defines default audience assumption.
“If something is unclear or uncertain, say so rather than guessing.”	A behavioural guardrail for how Copilot answers

Saved Memories control what Copilot remembers about you. If it’s about who you are or what you generally prefer, it belongs in Saved Memories.

These are stable facts or preferences about you, not rules for behaviour.

Memory	Why it belongs in Saved Memories
“I am working on a lot of Health and Safety projects.”	This is ongoing contextual background about the type of work you are frequently involved in. Remembering it helps Copilot bring relevant examples, terminology, and considerations without needing to be told each time. It’s not a behaviour rule — it’s situational context that may change over time.
“I am always looking to consider multiple viewpoints.”	This reflects a decision‑making preference and mindset, not a formatting or structural rule. Storing this as memory helps Copilot frame responses more thoughtfully and balanced by default, while still allowing flexibility depending on the question.
“My professional expertise is mainly around risk.”	This is a stable fact about your professional background. Remembering it helps Copilot calibrate explanations (e.g. not oversimplifying risk concepts, surfacing implications others might miss) without changing its core response behaviour.
“Most reporting I do is to the Executive Team.”	This is audience context, not an instruction to always write executives summaries. Keeping it as a memory helps Copilot prioritise clarity, conciseness, and impact when relevant, while still allowing you to override audience expectations when needed.

But this is not the only place – and these settings do not necessarily apply across all Copilot ‘surfaces’ – ie everywhere you use Copilot. Here’s a summary:

Mechanism	What it is	Where you configure it	What it’s best for	Where it applies	Key limitations / gotchas
Outlook Draft Instructions	Email‑specific instructions for how Copilot drafts emails in Outlook.	Outlook (new Outlook or Outlook on the web) → Copilot settings → Draft instructions	Enforcing email tone, length, and structure without touching global Copilot behaviour.	Copilot email drafting in new Outlook only.	– Does not apply anywhere else (not Chat, not Word, not Teams). – Classic Outlook does not support this. – Controls drafting style, not sending/triage decisions.
Outlook Calendar Instructions	Rules that tell Copilot how to automatically handle meeting invites (e.g. accept, decline, follow, or remove cancelled meetings).	Outlook (new Outlook or Outlook on the web) → Copilot settings → Calendar Instructions (or ask Copilot to	Automating calendar actions and meeting hygiene without manual triage.	Outlook calendar only.	These control actions, not wording or reasoning. They are completely separate from Custom Instructions and Saved Memories
Custom instructions	A standing brief that tells Copilot how you want it to respond (tone, structure, level of detail).	Copilot Chat → Settings → Personalisation → Custom instructions	Setting default response style (plain English, bullets, call out risks, etc.) so you don’t repeat yourself every time.	Copilot Chat conversations (this is the only place Microsoft clearly guarantees it applies).	– Shapes responses, not actions. – Not guaranteed to apply consistently inside Word/Excel/PowerPoint or agents. – If “Enhanced personalisation” is turned off by admin, instructions stop applying (but aren’t deleted).
Copilot Memory (Saved memories)	Things Copilot remembers about you (role, preferences, recurring patterns).	Copilot Chat → Settings → Personalisation → Saved memories	Reducing repetition (“I prefer bullet points”, “I’m non‑technical”, “I work in comms”).	Copilot Chat (used alongside Custom instructions).	– Turning memory off does not delete existing memories – you must delete them. – Copilot decides what’s “memory‑worthy” unless you explicitly say “remember this”. – Stored in your Exchange mailbox (hidden folder, same compliance rules).
Chat history personalisation	Copilot infers preferences from previous chats (even if nothing was explicitly saved as a memory).	Automatic (if enabled); controlled under Personalisation settings	Explains why Copilot feels “smarter over time” for frequent users.	Copilot Chat.	– Two users asking the same question may get different answers because their chat history differs. – Disabled entirely if Enhanced personalisation is turned off by admin.
Temporary Chat	A one‑off Copilot chat that doesn’t use or update personalisation.	Copilot Chat → New chat → Temporary chat	Sensitive topics, clean‑slate thinking, or testing answers without bias from memory/history.	That single chat only.	– Message doesn’t appear in chat history. – Copilot can’t reference it later. – Content may still be retained under organisational retention policies.
Prompt‑level instructions	Instructions you put directly into a prompt that guide the way Copilot will respond within that session.	Anywhere you type a prompt	Overriding defaults for a specific task (audience, format, constraint).	That session only.	– Easy to forget to include. – Inconsistent across users. – Not personalisation – just good prompting.
Agents	Purpose‑built Copilot experiences designed to perform specific tasks or roles, often with defined goals, data sources, and tools.	Within the Agent configuration itself (not via Copilot Chat personalisation settings).	Automating or guiding specific workflows (e.g. research, analysis, content creation) where behaviour and scope need to be tightly controlled.	Only inside the Agent where it is defined.	Custom Instructions and Saved Memories from Copilot Chat do not reliably apply to Agents. Agents run independently, so behaviour must be configured and governed at the Agent level rather than assumed from Chat‑level personalisation

In Summary

Microsoft 365 Copilot personalisation isn’t a single on/off switch. How Copilot responds, what it remembers, and what it can act on are controlled in different places — and they don’t apply everywhere. Understanding those boundaries is key to getting predictable, useful results, and it doesn’t remove the need to review what Copilot produces before you rely on or share it.

Love what you learned in this article? Contact us to find out about our training, or attend our conference in Melbourne this May!

References:

Include External Users in Business Processes at Scale

Olena Grischenko — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 05:50:02 GMT

Power Pages is a powerful technology that enables faster development and the creation of deeply connected business processes to bridge the gap between internal and external parties. The most important thing is to understand the framework and its best application. And this is where we see some customers and consultants struggle. That’s one reason “Power Pages Use Cases and Examples” is among the most popular articles on the Technomancy website.

Another topic we get asked a lot about is “How do we scale our Power Apps and M365 solutions we built for external users, staying within the Microsoft ecosystem?”

As both topics discuss the “external users” involved in the core business processes, it’s not surprising that they’re connected. And this article is the first in the series, starting the conversation about what we call “external user interactions” in the Microsoft 365 world. We will look at some recent scenarios we worked with to help our customers scale. Hope it clears up some of the questions, and if you have more, I am always happy to discuss them as well.

Let’s start with the business needs. In the Microsoft 365 world, the organisation and its staff members reside inside the tenant. As a staff member, you would have a Microsoft 365 license. Within the tenant, you will have access to emails, structured data, and documents via the Office apps, as well as other Microsoft and third-party apps.

As a staff member, you need to engage with the external parties as part of your business process. Pretty much any business will have these types of activities as a part of the engagement:

conversations
data collecting
data sharing
document collecting
document sharing

Who said “emails”?!

The old, good Outlook is always the first to come to the rescue. It’s a solution. Not the best, though.

In Outlook:

Business-critical emails may get lost easily.
Emails are out of context for your business, and you have to open apps to make sense of the information.
You may need to open multiple apps and type the information from the email.
Then go to the SharePoint to save the attached documents.

It’s not ideal, as you may already see: it’s time-consuming, labour-intensive, and costly. If you have SLAs attached to the processes, inefficiency may result in penalties.

So what do you do?

If your organisation has adopted Power Platform, you may have already started using Power Apps to cover some or all of these activities.

Let’s say you have a partner or a customer organisation you want to share some data and documents with. The way to do it with a Power App is to create guest users and assign licenses to them. Then create an app linked to the SharePoint and/or a SharePoint list. Share files by placing them in the SharePoint library connected to the app. Collect data or files from the guest user via the app and save them in SharePoint lists and libraries. This scenario will work perfectly if you have one, two or even five organisations you need to engage with.

In practice, even five organisations can become unmanageable. The things you need to set up are five times as many, and if you make a change to one of the apps, you then need to take care of the other four to roll out the updates. It just doesn’t scale.

What worked for one customer app won’t necessarily work if your other customers want to join the party. Let’s say your business is growing and your customers love to engage with you, not just via email. They want to be included in business processes so it feels like they are part of your organisation, but they are not. As much as you want your external peers to have the best user experience, you also want your data to be safe: you want the customer to see only what’s meant to be shared with them, not other customers’ information or internal information. Also, you don’t want maintenance overhead and a support nightmare.

Is it even achievable? Yes, it’s possible, and you don’t need to go beyond the Microsoft tech stack to support your business growth.

We see the exact scenario I described transformed into a scalable solution. But first, you need to transform the way you think.

There are things you need to rethink:

What type of access and licenses do your external users need?
Where is your shared data located, and how is it structured?
Where is the line to draw for “internal” and “external”?

Power Pages is a part of the Power Platform family designed with the external user experience in mind. It has a strong security model. It’s seamlessly integrated with your internal apps and automations. It allows third-party integrations as well.

By bringing Power Pages, you set up the foundation for your processes at scale. Adding another partner organisation, vendor, or contract is nothing but a configuration step. Another bonus is a standardised process for all your external players – the thing you always dreamed about but never managed to implement.

Before we move to the next step, let’s summarise what we learned.

If you use Power Apps with guest users to share organisational data and documents, the approach works at a small scale.

As the number of external organisations grows, so does complexity, risk, and maintenance overhead.

Introducing Power Pages allows external user interactions to scale through configuration rather than duplication, while maintaining security, governance, and a consistent experience.

In the next article, we will discuss how we helped one of our customers scale the process they shared with their business partners, moving them from apps shared with external users and Power Pages.

Scaling external user interactions doesn’t have to be complex. If this article resonates with your experience, connect with Technomancy to discuss practical, secure ways to support business growth using Microsoft technologies. Email: experts@technomancy.com.au

Website: https://technomancy.com.au/

Connection Over Code: Reflections from the Digital Workplace Conference NZ 2026

Debbie Ireland — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 05:05:06 GMT

At Digital Workplace Conference NZ 2026, the conversations were as much about people as they were about technology. Among all the AI, Microsoft 365, governance, and change sessions, one idea kept resurfacing: the strongest digital workplaces are built on connection, not just capability.

Highlights at a glance

AI with intention: responsible AI, Copilot, agents, and prompt craft – with loads of practical use cases.
Readiness matters: data quality, information architecture, and governance are the key to unlocking better AI outcomes.
Redundant, Obsolete, and Trivial (ROT) information truly exists: reducing ROT content improves findability and Copilot results.
Change is human: adoption succeeds when people feel supported, not overwhelmed.
Community is a multiplier: peers, speakers, and lunch break conversations turn ideas into action.

Every conference has a theme - but the most useful themes are the ones you can take back to work. This year, the signals were clear in the questions people asked, the stories they shared, and the ideas they told us they’re going to do next.

This year, at Digital Workplace Conference NZ 2026 (DWCNZ), one truth rang out again and again:

Communication is dealt. Connection is felt.

In an era where AI is rewriting the rules of work at lightning speed, that message couldn’t have been more timely. Dynamic leadership Strategist Renee Walker introduced this during her well-received keynote.

The Human Pulse Behind Every Digital Workplace

From the opening keynote to the final conversations over afternoon tea, attendees spoke about something deeper than technology. They described a sense of belonging: shared curiosity, shared challenges, and the quiet relief of realising they weren’t navigating through the issues alone.

Three themes came through strongly:

Human-first storytelling brings ideas and issues to life – those sessions were real, brave, and deeply honest.
Unexpected connections formed at shared tables, in breakout rooms, or in passing between sessions.
The relief and reassurance of realising that “other businesses are also working in the same bleeding edge environment.”

AI With Intention: Realistic, Responsible, Remarkably Useful

Yes, we explored AI - Copilot, agents, large language models, and use cases that were practical, immediate, and human-centred (not just hypothetical demos). What made this year stand out wasn’t just excitement - it was the maturity of the conversation: responsible AI, AI readiness, and adoption grounded in data quality, governance, and change management.

People appreciated the realistic, thoughtful framing of AI:

The reminder that “AI is truly reliant on the information it is given - clean and relevant data is key.”
The courage to say “not every problem is a good candidate for AI.”
The clarity that “AI will not replace human connection.”

This wasn’t about hype. It was about practical, actionable wisdom.

Governance, Clarity and the Discipline of Letting Go

A strong heartbeat of DWCNZ 2026 was governance - not as bureaucracy, but as the foundation that makes AI, automation, and modern work actually succeed.

Some really interesting insights from attendees shone through for me:

“Information overload is a decision problem, not a content problem.”
Up to 50 - 70% of what we store is junk - and it’s time to let it go.
The realisation that the impact of ROT on Copilot results is profound.
Governance isn’t control - it’s a guide, an enabler, a source of clarity and confidence.

One attendee captured the collective mood when they said “the world is moving fast, but people remain at the center of the transformation journey.” And that’s the heart of governance: creating clarity so people can thrive.

Practical Insights You Can Use the Next Day

One of the hallmarks of the Conference is that it doesn’t just inspire - it equips. People left with practical ideas they could apply immediately across Microsoft 365, Copilot, and the day-to-day reality of leading change.

Everyone loved that it wasn’t theory - it was real work, real tools, and real transformation people could start immediately. As usual, there were some crowd-favourites in terms of sessions: read more about that in this blog post Speakers on Fire - 6 of the Top Sessions at DWCNZ come to Australia in May!

Community: The Secret Ingredient of DWC

If the Conference had a soul, it would be the community.

Attendees consistently identify that it is

“The best place to connect with people facing the same struggles as us.” There were two stories I heard that really warmed the cockles – the first about a friendship forged at the pre-Conference workshop and the second about one attendee’s extraordinary transformation
and that “everyone seemed very engaged” and a sense that the event is “an unmissable place to learn, reflect and grow.”

I just loved this comment we received:

“I’ve lost count of the number of DWCs I’ve attended, and they NEVER disappoint… It’s phenomenal how much learning takes place in 2 days.”

And this one:

“The Digital Workplace Conference helps bridge the gap between technology and people. I learn something from every session.”

That’s the magic - and why so many people come back: the learning is strong, but the shared perspective is what makes it stick.

Why being in the room matters

If 2026 reinforced anything, it’s that the digital workplace is now moving at two speeds: the technology accelerates - and people need time, clarity, and community to keep up in a healthy way.

DWC is so valuable because it compresses the learning curve: you hear what’s working, what’s not, and what people are doing next across AI, Microsoft 365, and governance - then you pressure-test your own thinking with peers. You leave with more than notes: you leave with language, priorities, and practical next steps you can take back to your organisation.

People told us they came looking for things like:

Real-world AI insights
Practical Microsoft 365 strategies
Clarity around governance and data

And what they valued most were:

The connections
The conversations
The feeling of being surrounded by people who “get it”
The sense of leaving with renewed purpose

Because in the end, this conference isn’t about tools. It’s about transformation. It’s about people. And it’s about creating workplaces where humans feel empowered, connected, and equipped for the future.

If you were with us in Christchurch this year, thank you for bringing your energy and insight. If you’re shaping what comes next in your organisation, we hope these themes help you focus on what matters - and we’d love to continue the conversation at the next DWCNZ.

We can’t wait to see what DWC brings in Melbourne in May 2026!

How to Get the Most Value from the Digital Workplace Conference: Start with One Conversation

Shannon Donovan — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 04:54:32 GMT

Every conference has its own rhythm. You can feel it in the hum of the lobby, the movement between sessions, the mix of anticipation and curiosity from people who’ve come to learn, connect, and be challenged. The Digital Workplace Conference is no exception — and this year in Christchurch, that rhythm revealed something important.

It showed up in the form of one person: Arthur.

This was his third time attending the Digital Workplace Conference, but his story isn’t really about how many conferences he’s been to. It’s about how differently he approached each one — and how much the experience changed when he decided to truly engage with other attendees and the event community.

Year One: A Quiet Start

Arthur’s first year was purely obligation.

He was told to attend.
He showed up.
He listened, learned, and left.
But he didn’t talk to anyone.
No networking.
No mingling.
Just sessions, notes, and a quick exit.

He still enjoyed it — but only at the surface level.

Year Two: A Small Mindset Shift

The following year, Arthur returned.

He didn’t overhaul his approach, but he loosened the edges.
He spoke to a couple of people.
He asked a few questions.
He treated the agenda as something he could shape, not just follow.

And the experience was noticeably better.

Year Three: Full Engagement, Full Value

This year, the Arthur I met was nothing like his year‑one self.

Front row of every session I saw him in.
Asking smart, practical questions.
Connecting dots between topics.
Talking to speakers and attendees during breaks.
And for the first time — joining the networking drinks.
Not just joining… thriving.
He won the game we played.
He sparked conversations among people who hadn’t spoken all day.
He created a little orbit of collaboration around him without forcing anything.

He didn’t wait for the value to appear. He stepped into it.

Why This Matters for Anyone Attending Digital Workplace Events

Arthur’s journey is such a clear example of something people underestimate:

Attending the Digital Workplace Conference is valuable — but participating in it is transformational.

If you’re:

Not talking to anyone during breaks
Skipping networking drinks
Sitting quietly through sessions without engaging
Staying in your bubble…you’re only accessing a fraction of what the conference offers.

Connection isn’t a bonus. Connection is the multiplier.

It’s where practical solutions come from.

It’s where unexpected insights surface.

It’s where opportunities start.

Heading to Melbourne in May?

Our next Digital Workplace Conference Australia is coming up in May in Melbourne, and Arthur’s evolution is the perfect reminder of what’s possible for anyone who walks through the door.

You don’t need to be the loudest voice.

You don’t need to know everyone.

You don’t need to arrive confident.

You just need to be willing to show up — not just physically, but mentally and socially.

Say hello to someone new.
Ask the question.
Join the conversations.
Stay for the networking drinks (even if you think “that’s not my thing”).

Because the truth is simple: the more you participate, the more you gain.

And who knows — Melbourne 2026 might be the year your story changes too.

The Power of Showing Up: Why Human Connection Makes the Digital Workplace Conference Unforgettable

Debbie Ireland — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 23:00:06 GMT

In today’s fast-moving digital workplace world - where AI, Microsoft 365, and new ways of working reshape our organisations daily - it can feel easier to stay behind our screens. Yet the most transformative growth doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when we choose to show up.

At this year’s Digital Workplace Conference in Christchurch, I witnessed a powerful reminder of why in-person events matter more than ever. It’s a simple story about two attendees who didn’t know each other… until a moment of courage changed everything.

If you’re considering attending the next Digital Workplace Conference, let this be the story that nudges you from “maybe” to “I’m in.”

Two Attendees. One Workshop. A Shared Moment of Courage.

Both arrived alone.

Two professionals from completely different industries. Two people who weren’t sure if they’d know anyone, fit in, or find what they were looking for.

At the pre-conference workshop, they happened to sit near each other.

A smile. A comment about how they were tackling the practical exercise. A shared laugh. That tiny moment of vulnerability was the spark.

By lunchtime, they were swapping stories about digital transformation challenges, Microsoft 365 adoption wins, and the hilarious reality of hybrid work. Their industries might have been different, but their lived experiences were uncannily similar.

That afternoon, instead of retreating to their hotel rooms, they ventured out to explore Christchurch together - talking ideas, swapping notes, sharing perspectives, and building a connection they didn’t expect.

How a Two-Day Digital Workplace Conference Turned into a Friendship

Over the next two days at the Conference, their experience only grew richer:

They shared session notes and insights.
They brainstormed how AI and Microsoft 365 could support their organisations.
They met other attendees together - making networking feel natural, not nerve- wracking.
They always had someone to sit with at lunchtime (which, let’s be honest, is a gift).
They realised they lived only minutes apart back home.
They even discovered mutual friends.

By the end? Numbers swapped. Plans to stay in touch. A genuine professional friendship forged through one shared decision: to show up.

Why This Matters: Connection Is the Real Digital Workplace Advantage

Here’s the deeper truth - one backed by research, leadership insight, and every Brené Brown book ever written:

Humans are wired for connection.
Innovation is built on connection.
Transformation accelerates through connection.

And that’s exactly what in-person conferences offer:

A space where learning isn’t just consumed… it’s shared.
Where insights aren’t just heard… they’re lived.
Where people don’t just attend… they belong.

The Digital Workplace Conference isn’t just about Microsoft 365, Copilot, Teams, SharePoint, or AI. It’s about everything those tools enable when people come together:

New ideas
Practical strategies
Real-world conversations
Human connection that supports your growth long after the conference is over

This Christchurch story is a perfect example. It’s not an anomaly - it’s the heartbeat of this event.

Thinking About Coming Alone? That Might Be Your Superpower.

If you’ve ever wondered… “Will I know anyone?”, “What if I feel awkward?”, “Is it worth attending alone?”

…here’s your answer: Yes. Absolutely. And it might be one of the most professionally rewarding decisions you make. Because attending a conference alone isn’t a disadvantage - it’s an opportunity.

It opens the door to:

serendipitous connection
meaningful conversations
unexpected collaboration
fresh ideas you can bring back to your workplace
people who challenge and expand your thinking

Showing up - especially alone - is courageous. But courage always creates space for transformation.

Join Us for the Next Digital Workplace Conference in Melbourne

If this story resonates with you, imagine what your story could be. The next Digital Workplace Conference is your chance to:

connect with like-minded professionals
learn from global Microsoft 365 and digital workplace experts
discover real-world solutions
explore AI and Copilot capabilities
reignite your curiosity and confidence
join a community that genuinely supports you

Whether you come with a team or come solo - you won’t leave feeling alone. The magic happens when you step into the room.

We can’t wait to welcome you.

Speakers on Fire - 6 of the Top Sessions at DWCNZ come to Australia in May! - DWCAU

DWCAU — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 00:37:35 GMT

Some sessions don’t just land well – they stick.

At Digital Workplace Conference New Zealand 2026 at the end of February, a handful of speakers lit up the room with the kind of practical, honest stories people kept talking about long after they’d left.

Below is a sneak preview of standout content – built from attendee evaluations and verbatim comments – featuring speakers you’ll also have the chance to hear in Australia May 28-29 when you come to the conference. Here’s what resonated most, in the words of the people who were in the room.

1) Kirsty McGrath

Novice to Nimble: Mastering Microsoft 365 Copilot Prompts

Kirsty’s session was high-energy with actionable insights – exactly the kind of momentum our community comes for.

Feedback from this session was strong, with attendees calling out “great practical advice” from an “engaging speaker”. It was clear the session landed at just the right moment, with “really useful insights” that people were keen to start trying straight away. Kirsty is always contagiously energetic, and one comment perfectly captured the vibe in the room: “fast, furious and informative.”

2) Steve Knutson

The Future of Intranets: AI Meets SharePoint

Steve brought strong demos and future-focused intranet ideas we could genuinely picture using in our own environments. He showcased a stack of new SharePoint features – some still in preview – and brought the room along as he walked through practical use cases and a few key gotchas. Attendees left with “pragmatic takeaways” and “really good tips”, plus some handy summary points to guide the work once we were back at our desks.

3) Sharon Connolly

Sceptics to Superfans: How to get everyone in your organisation excited about technology

Sharon delivered a change and adoption session that felt very “relatable” – a message that was story-driven, and packed with ideas people could take back to their teams. Attendees commended the session as being “very clear and having lots of good ideas,” and several comments mentioned how the human story “gave greater meaning” to illustrate the point and make it stick. Sharon definitely gained some superfans during this engaging presentation!

4) Shannon Donovan & Debbie Ireland

**Keepin’ it real: getting sh*t done**

We took a peek into Shannon and Debbie’s world of work, with ideas and tips that people could apply immediately. You could feel the “oh, I’d never thought of that” moments in the room as they showed an array of real-world demos. Attendees at this session consistently described the session as “super practical and relevant” with “engaging and useful content.”

5) Sutter Schumacher

Digital Governance That Guides, Not Grinds

Sutter made governance feel accessible – practical, engaging, and easy to understand even for non-technical audiences. The community feedback captured the tone perfectly: “very engaging, highly relevant, and thoroughly enjoyable,” with a genuine note of appreciation – “thank you for making governance straightforward and easy to understand.” Another attendee shared how it landed emotionally as well as practically: it “sparked a lot of ideas; validated a lot of feelings…”

6) Andrew Pope

Making Work Less Crap

Andrew delivered a lively, entertaining session that resonated across the room. Using memorable interactive exercises, he tackled the realities of hybrid work with practical, people-first tips. His presentation was described as “fantastic”, “engaging”, and “very entertaining”. He shared realistic strategies that apply in any organisation, in any industry. The clear recommendations and relatable stories made the content stick, and people left with actionable takeaways for their teams.

If this is the standard of conversation we’re already having, Digital Workplace Conference Australia 2026 is going to be something special. These are the sessions people were still buzzing about after they walked out of the room – and they’re just a taste of what’s coming to Australia, alongside plenty more speakers, stories, and practical takeaways.

We’re putting the finishing touches on the full agenda now – keep an eye out for it and start thinking about which challenges you want to tackle this year. If you want practical insights, you can use straight away (and a few laughs along the way), you’ll want to be in the room at DWCAU2026!

Digital Workplace Conference Blog

Digital Workplace Conference Australia: What We Learned About AI, Governance, and Why People Still Matter

If you only take three things away:

Key Takeaways from Digital Workplace Conference Australia

1. The pace is real - and no one has it all worked out

2. AI is important - but foundations matter more

3. It’s still about people

4. Community is the real accelerator

Why in-person still matters

The bottom line

Looking ahead

Known Problems, Faster Solutions: How Rapid Build Closes the Enterprise Delivery Gap

Community: The Secret Ingredient of DWC

Expert Community of MVPs

What is a Microsoft MVP?

Microsoft MVPs are independent experts who Microsoft recognises each year for helping others use Microsoft technology better — by teaching, sharing, writing, speaking, or answering questions. Want to find out more about the Microsoft MVP Program? Here's the official overview

Insights and expertise from MVPs speaking in Melbourne

MVP's are an integral part of the DW Community. Catch one of these sessions to hear from these exceptional community leaders. They willingly share their technical expertise, leadership, experience, and commitment to solving real world problems.

Build Your Own M365 Copilot Reporting Dashboard, Loryan Strant, Microsoft MVP

You have no idea what Copilot can do now, Daniel Anderson, Microsoft MVP

The Future of Intranets: AI Meets SharePoint, Steve Knutson, Microsoft MVP and Regional Director

The PowerPoint hacks you wish you knew 20 years ago, Sharon Connolly, Microsoft MVP

Novice to Nimble: Mastering Microsoft 365 Copilot Prompts, Kirsty McGrath, Microsoft MVP

Data Security Considerations for M365 Copilot and Agents, Andrew O'Young, Microsoft MVP

From SharePoint Foundations to AI Agents: The Blackmores Journey, Liza Tinker, Microsoft MVP

Who Am I Now? Evolving Roles in the Modern Digital Workplace, Mathew Gilbertson, Microsoft MVP

Side by Side with Copilot Cowork: Reimagining Collaboration with AI, Lisa Crosbie, Microsoft MVP

From Copilot Pilots to Business Impact: Turning AI Hype into Measurable Workplace Value, Daniel Brown, Microsoft MVP

Closing the Digital Gap with Human Connection, Brett Gilbertson, Microsoft MVP

Closing the Digital Gap with Human Connection, Debbie Ireland (Not an MVP but a Microsoft Regional Director)

You’re Not Behind - You’re Just Too Busy to Think

You don’t attend a conference because you’re behind

The conference is space you can’t create at your desk

The value is often in the reassurance

Practical conference sessions aren’t “basic” — they’re foundational

You don’t need everything. You need the right few things.

And which conference sessions are most likely to hit the foundational target?

We've put this list together for you!

Can I Make Microsoft 365 Copilot Sound Like Me? How Copilot Personalisation Works

One thing most Copilot users miss

In Summary

Include External Users in Business Processes at Scale

Who said “emails”?!

In Outlook:

So what do you do?

There are things you need to rethink:

Connection Over Code: Reflections from the Digital Workplace Conference NZ 2026

Highlights at a glance

The Human Pulse Behind Every Digital Workplace

AI With Intention: Realistic, Responsible, Remarkably Useful

Governance, Clarity and the Discipline of Letting Go

Practical Insights You Can Use the Next Day

Community: The Secret Ingredient of DWC

Why being in the room matters

How to Get the Most Value from the Digital Workplace Conference: Start with One Conversation

Year One: A Quiet Start

Year Two: A Small Mindset Shift

Year Three: Full Engagement, Full Value

Why This Matters for Anyone Attending Digital Workplace Events

Heading to Melbourne in May?

The Power of Showing Up: Why Human Connection Makes the Digital Workplace Conference Unforgettable

Two Attendees. One Workshop. A Shared Moment of Courage.

How a Two-Day Digital Workplace Conference Turned into a Friendship

Why This Matters: Connection Is the Real Digital Workplace Advantage

Thinking About Coming Alone? That Might Be Your Superpower.

Join Us for the Next Digital Workplace Conference in Melbourne

Speakers on Fire - 6 of the Top Sessions at DWCNZ come to Australia in May! - DWCAU

Some sessions don’t just land well – they stick.

Novice to Nimble: Mastering Microsoft 365 Copilot Prompts

The Future of Intranets: AI Meets SharePoint

Sceptics to Superfans: How to get everyone in your organisation excited about technology

Keepin’ it real: getting sh*t done

Digital Governance That Guides, Not Grinds

Making Work Less Crap

**Keepin’ it real: getting sh*t done**