Design Leadership 2025

Kickstarting the event, our opening address will set the tone for the day, highlighting the key themes, challenges, and opportunities shaping design leadership today. This session will provide an overview of what to expect, introduce our speakers, and offer a shared vision for the discussions ahead.

In nearly every company I’ve worked, I’ve felt an invisible force working quietly to squeeze design into a narrow gap between product management and engineering — to make design merely a step in an assembly line rather than strategically integrated. Worst of all, over time I’ve noticed designers get used to this framing and start to believe that’s just how it is.

Drawing on my experience as Product Design Director at Airwallex and a career in Silicon Valley, this talk unpacks what’s going on here. My take: it’s a structural consequence of how most companies build software today. But this diagnosis points also points us toward a solution. And it starts by taking seriously the simple idea that a designer's job isn't just to design products, but to win.

Brad challenges design teams to shift from fighting for relevance to driving real business impact. This talk cuts through the noise and breaks down the playbook for embedding design as a strategic tool—one that moves beyond process to influence key business decisions. Through hard-earned lessons and failures, Brad will explore how balancing customer needs with commercial commitments transforms design into a force in demand. The outcome? A design team that’s credible, relevant, and in control, no matter the stage of maturity or chaos of transformation.

Design at ANZ has gained strong recognition and is delivering impactful, high-quality work that drives business value. However, the journey is far from over. As the organisation evolves, the ANZ Design team is defining the next phase of design excellence, focusing on how to adapt, lead, and integrate design more deeply into the business.

In this session, Steph will share insights into the shifting design landscape, the evolving role of design leaders, and the skills needed to navigate change. She will challenge leaders to think beyond trends and consider how they can use their experience to shape the next generation of design leadership.

Abi unpacks the unique challenges of scaling design in fast-growing companies, where leaders have the opportunity—but also the responsibility—to build capability from the ground up. Drawing from experience working with companies worldwide, Abi will share a practical approach to assessing design maturity, structuring a design operating model, and making smarter hiring decisions. Whether you’re in a scale-up or a corporate environment, this session provides real-world insights into shifting design from a delivery function to a business-driving force.

Angela explores how behavioural science, social anthropology and economics can transform the way we create. This session will challenge designers to think beyond usability and consider how human behaviour, decision-making and social systems can be embedded into the design process. Through real-world case studies, Angela will showcase how an interdisciplinary approach to design leads to stronger engagement, ethical innovation and lasting impact.

Led by Andrew, this session explores how design leaders can navigate team restructuring, resource challenges and cultural shifts in a rapidly evolving industry. With a focus on resilience and adaptability, this discussion will offer insights into fostering high-performance teams amid change.

Facilitated by Selin, this session delves into the challenges of balancing measurable business impact with design’s core values of inclusivity, accessibility and empathy. Leaders will discuss strategies for driving success while staying true to the principles that define great design.

Hosted by Michelle, this session looks ahead to the emerging frontiers of design leadership. From leveraging new technologies to addressing global challenges, participants will explore how design can shape the next era of business, society and innovation.