Join us for The Frontline Summit '25 – shaping the future of frontline work. June 4th | 3pm GMT+1 / 10am EST
Workvivo Engage – Melbourne
ACMI, Federation Square, Melbourne | Thursday 29th May, 2025
Jamie Getgood
International Keynote Speaker & CEO for People Avenue
Natalie Savkoski
Regional Head of Customer Experience, APAC
Cassandra Thurston
Global Corporate Communications Leader for Flight Centre
Catalina Woodward
Account Executive
Register
Turning Adversity into Opportunity: How Jamie Getgood Transformed GM Holden
Jamie Getgood, renowned international keynote speaker and CEO of People Avenue, will deliver the keynote address on transforming workplace culture and leadership. He will share his firsthand experience leading GM Holden’s remarkable turnaround. The event continues with a dynamic panel discussion hosted by Natalie Savkoski, Regional Head of Customer Experience (APAC), and featuring Cassandra Thurston, Global Corporate Communications Leader for Flight Centre.
Be part of Workvivo ENGAGE Melbourne—a must-attend event for Internal Comms, HR, and People professionals ready to drive real change. Connect with industry peers, access practical strategies, and find fresh inspiration to elevate your employee engagement approach.
The Highlight: Awarded Australian Leader of the Year, Jamie Getgood brings powerful lessons from transforming GM Holden into one of General Motors’ top-performing plants during its final months. Jamie’s keynote will reveal how people-focused leadership, strong culture, and innovative engagement create resilient, high-performing organisations—whatever the challenge.
Our expert panel, hosted by Natalie Savkoski and featuring Cassandra Thurston (Global Corporate Communications Leader for Flight Centre), will share proven strategies for culture, change management, and engagement, and answer your most pressing questions live.
May 29th - ACMI, Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia
Agenda
Keynote with Jamie Getgood: 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
The Remarkable Transformation of GM Holden: A Story of Leadership, Culture & ChangeRoundtable: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Building Trust in Times of ChangePanel Discussion: 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Panelists: Cassandra Thurston & Jamie Getgood
Jamie Getgood – International Keynote Speaker & CEO for People Avenue
Awarded Australian Leader of the Year at the Australian Excellence Awards, Jamie Getgood travels the globe as an International Keynote Speaker to share his People-focused approaches that have transformed the many organizations he has worked in. With General Motors Holden closing its manufacturing operations in Australia, he took on the leadership of the closure of the Automotive industry, oscillating the focus around culture, people leadership, change management, and employee engagement principles. Through his approach, he & his team transformed GM Holden from a bottom-quartile performer to one of the best General Motors quality plants in the world during the last 8 months of its existence.
Shortly after the successful Holden Closure and Transition program, Jamie established Getgood Consulting, which quickly grew to be a highly sought-after HR service provider supporting companies across Australia and Asia/Pacific.
Jamie is now the CEO for People Avenue. People Avenue is an offshore marketing, sales and recruitment accelerator agency driving innovation and revenue growth for its clients globally.
Photos and videos captured at this event may be used for Workvivo marketing and advertising purposes. Should you wish to be excluded, please advise our Campaigns Manager, James McCarthy at: james.mccarthy@workvivo.com.
Please note that each registration is subject to approval at the discretion of the Workvivo team. You will receive a confirmation email once your registration has been accepted and confirmed
Jamie Getgood
International Keynote Speaker & CEO for People Avenue
Awarded Australian Leader of the Year at the Australian Excellence Awards, Jamie Getgood travels the globe as an International Keynote Speaker to share his People Focussed approaches that have transformed the many organisations he has worked in. With General Motors Holden closing its manufacturing operations in Australia, he took on the leadership of the closure of the Automotive industry oscillating the focus around culture, people leadership, change management and employee engagement principles. Through his approach, he & his team transformed GM Holden from a bottom quartile performer to one of the best General Motors quality plants in the world during the last 8 months of its existence.
Shortly after the successful Holden Closure and Transition program, Jamie established Getgood Consulting which quickly grew to be a highly sought after HR service provider supporting companies across Australia and Asia/Pacific.
Jamie is now the CEO for People Avenue. People Avenue is an offshore marketing, sales and recruitment accelerator agency driving innovation and revenue growth for its clients globally.
Natalie Savkoski
Regional Head of Customer Experience, APAC
Natalie is a recognised leader in employee engagement and strategic communication, with over 15 years of experience helping organizations create meaningful connections with their workforce.
As Head of Customer Experience - APAC at Workvivo, Natalie plays a pivotal role in aligning her expertise with Workvivo’s mission to elevate employee engagement and foster vibrant workplace cultures. She is dedicated to empowering organizations to connect, communicate, and inspire their people through innovative technology and purpose-driven strategies.
Throughout her career, Natalie has partnered with hundreds of large-scale organizations, spanning industries and workforce types, to design and implement impactful communication and engagement programs. She specializes in crafting strategies that bridge the gap between leadership and employees, ensuring communication is effective, inclusive, and drives meaningful action.
Previously, Natalie held key leadership roles at Reward Gateway, where she delivered award-winning engagement programs and developed forward-thinking solutions to enhance employee experiences.
Cassandra Thurston
Global Corporate Communications Leader for Flight Centre
Global communications professional with 22 years of experience working for international leaders in travel, retail, resources and horticulture.
Catalina Woodward
Account Executive
Catalina has built her career around connection—helping organisations engage, inspire, and communicate effectively with their people.
Starting out in the events industry, she worked with some of Australia’s largest brands to deliver high-profile experiences that brought teams and audiences together. As workplace dynamics evolved, Catalina transitioned seamlessly into the internal communications and employee experience space, helping companies navigate the challenges of engaging a modern, distributed workforce.
With deep expertise in virtual and hybrid engagement strategies, Catalina is passionate about empowering HR and internal comms leaders with the tools they need to foster culture, enhance collaboration, and amplify their company’s voice.