The Payroll Leader of the Future

Thursday 14th May 2026 | QT Sydney | 18 Places
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Capability, confidence and leadership in the next three years of payroll.

The role is changing

The expectations on payroll leaders have quietly shifted. This morning helps you get ahead of them.
The payroll leader of 2027 looks different from the payroll leader of today. Senior stakeholders want confidence, not just compliance. Technology is reshaping what payroll functions do and who they need to be. Legislative change is accelerating faster than most teams can absorb.

The leaders who will thrive are those who can govern with authority, communicate with impact, oversee complex systems intelligently, and develop teams that are as future-ready as they are.

This roundtable is where that conversation starts.  

The skills that will matter most

Five capability areas reshaping the payroll leader role

  • Stakeholder Management — translating payroll outcomes into language the senior stakeholders understand 
  • Risk & Governance — owning compliance with confidence across an increasingly complex legislative landscape 
  • Data Literacy — using payroll data to tell a story, not just produce a report 
  • AI & System Oversight — leading technology adoption without losing control of compliance or accuracy 
  • Team Capability — building a function that is resilient, credible and future-ready 

These are no longer soft skills sitting alongside payroll expertise. For the leaders who will carry the most influence and credibility over the next three years, these are the core capabilities. 

Event Details

Date: 14 May 2026
Time: 7:30am - 9:30am
Location: QT Sydney
Catering: Complimentary breakfast, barista coffee and refreshments provided. 
Format: Roundtable format: active participation welcomed and expected.

Places are limited to 18. Be sure to register to secure your place. 

 

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How the session works

Each expert presentation is followed by open roundtable discussion giving you and your peers the chance to interrogate the content, share your own challenges and hear how others are navigating the same issues. You're not just attending. You're part of the conversation. 

Expert Presentation

From leading professionals and the regulator

Expert Presentation

From leading professionals and the regulator

Expert Presentation

From leading professionals and the regulator
Built around what matters to the people in the room

What we'll discuss

ONE

The Evolving Payroll Leader: What the Role Looks Like in Three Years

An honest look at how the expectations placed on payroll leaders are shifting from compliance custodian to strategic function. What are Boards and Executives now expecting and are payroll leaders positioned to meet it? 
TWO

Capability Gaps: Where Payroll Leaders Are Falling Short and Why

Data literacy, stakeholder communication, AI literacy, risk framing. These skills are rapidly becoming non-negotiable. This session examines where the gaps are emerging across the industry and what organisations are doing to close them.
THREE

Building a Future-Ready Payroll Function: Practical Steps for Right Now

This session moves from diagnosis to action covering what practical steps are leaders taking today to build team capability, leverage technology intelligently and strengthen their function's credibility and resilience.
What you'll walk away with

Practical. Honest. Immediately useful.

Together with Frontier Software this event aims to create a morning that is genuinely worth your time with honest conversation, relevant expertise and a room full of people who understand exactly what you are navigating. 
  • A clear picture of where the payroll leader role is heading and what that means for you personally 
  • Honest assessment of which capability gaps are most common and how other organisations are addressing them 
  • Practical frameworks for elevating your visibility and credibility with Boards, Executives and senior stakeholders 
  • Insight into how AI and system change is reshaping payroll leadership and what smart oversight looks like in practice 
  • A peer conversation with senior payroll professionals navigating the same pressures in a room small enough for real honesty 
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Expert voices. Direct access. A seat at the table.

Our Speakers & Facilitators

Ross Heron

Chief Executive Officer, Australian Payroll Association

Nick Southcombe

Chief Executive Officer, Frontier Software

Kim Boyd

National Sales and Marketing Manager, Frontier Software

Ross Heron

On realising that his dream job of professional football player for Dundee United wasn't going to fit with his immigration plans from Scotland to Australia, payroll was the obvious next step (naturally).

With a strong background in payroll technology and professional services, Ross leads APA as CEO, driving our national service and delivery teams with a focus on excellence, innovation and genuinely great customer experiences.  He’s passionate about raising the bar and occasionally reminding us that if things had gone differently, he’d be on the pitch, not in the boardroom.

Nick Southcombe

Nick Southcombe is Chief Executive Officer at Frontier Software; a role he has held since 2007. Leveraging nearly four decades of experience, Nick has overseen the development of the Frontier Software brand to the enviable market position it occupies today.

Nick is committed to building an exceptional client-focussed enterprise. He drives a corporate culture where business improvement, innovation, quality, and employee engagement are deeply connected with customer satisfaction.

Kim Boyd

Kim Boyd is National Sales and Marketing Manager at Frontier Software, where she has led sales and marketing across Australia and the Pacific since 2011. Based in Melbourne, she drives revenue growth, strengthens brand presence, and positions complex solutions for market success.

An experienced leader across technology, payroll, and HR, Kim is a clear and trusted communicator who engages effectively with stakeholders at all levels. She leads a high-performing, cross-functional team and is known for building strong client relationships, delivering strategic outcomes, and fostering a collaborative, results-driven culture.

 

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