Melbourne Executive Leaders Breakfast
December 1 @ 7:00 am - 9:00 am
Human Intelligence in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is transforming how organisations think about capability, productivity and performance. Yet as AI becomes increasingly capable, a deeper leadership question is emerging:
What becomes the distinctive work of human leadership?
Join Professor Eugine Yafele, CEO of Monash Health, and Kate Dundas, CEO of UN Global Compact Network Australia, and a select group of Melbourne-based CEOs and senior executives for a private breakfast conversation exploring leadership in an age of artificial intelligence.
As leaders navigate rapid technological change, many are discovering that success depends on more than adopting new tools. It requires the capacity to exercise judgement, build trust, remain anchored in purpose, and create direction when the future is uncertain.
This breakfast invites leaders to explore what it means to lead at the threshold between what has served us in the past and what is now emerging.
The Conversation
Artificial intelligence can process information, identify patterns and generate answers at extraordinary speed. But leadership involves something more.
It requires the capacity to discern what matters, navigate ambiguity, make value-based decisions, foster human connection and shape a future that does not yet fully exist.
Together, we will explore questions such as:
- What leadership assumptions and habits have served us well, but may now limit our effectiveness?
- What becomes more important as artificial intelligence becomes more capable?
- How do values and purpose guide decision-making when certainty is unavailable?
- What helps leaders distinguish meaningful signals from constant noise?
- How can leaders create the conditions for innovation, experimentation and meaningful action?
- What future might be trying to emerge through our organisations and leadership?
At the heart of the discussion is a simple but important question: In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, what kind of human leadership do we now need to become?
What to Expect
This intimate breakfast is designed for a small group of executive leaders, and the experience will include:
- Insights and reflections from our featured guests
- Facilitated executive dialogue
- Peer discussion and shared learning
- Exploration of what leaders must preserve, release and create in an AI-enabled world
- Opportunities to build meaningful connections with fellow senior leaders
The tone will be thoughtful, candid and practical, prioritising conversation over presentation and connection over conventional networking.
Event Details
Melbourne Executive Leadership Breakfast
Human Intelligence in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Date: Tuesday 1 December 2026
Time: 7.00am – 9.00am
Venue: Pullman Melbourne City Centre
By invitation and expression of interest only.
Express Your Interest
and a member of the team will be in touch
Who Should Watch?
Designed for leaders and professionals working across local government and the public sector who:
- Lead councils, teams, functions or community-facing services
- Work closely with councillors, communities and diverse stakeholder groups
- Are dealing with incivility, hostility or declining trust
- Are responsible for organisational culture and employee wellbeing
- Want practical approaches to building respectful, constructive relationships
Meet your Host:
Zoe Dattner – CEO, Dattner Group
Zoe works with many of Dattner Group’s clients, primarily in local government and collaborates with the DG team to remove obstacles, build capacity, and enable the company to grow.
Zoe’s driving purpose reflects the culmination of the many years of learning, growing, and collecting people’s stories. She courageously meets challenging conversations head-on to develop better self-awareness in leaders, for the sake of our planet and the richness of a well-examined life.
Featured Guests:
Professor Eugine Yafele
Chief Executive Officer, Monash Health
Professor Eugine Yafele leads one of Australia’s largest public health services and is widely respected for his values-based approach to leadership. Eugine will share reflections on leading through complexity, navigating uncertainty and sustaining purpose in environments where the stakes are high and the future is constantly evolving.
Kate Dundas
Chief Executive Officer, UN Global Compact Network Australia
Kate Dundas works with organisations committed to advancing responsible business leadership and sustainable outcomes. She will bring a unique perspective on purpose, values and the role leaders play in shaping organisations that can thrive amid accelerating technological and societal change.
Rather than keynote presentations, Eugine and Kate will provide stimulus for a facilitated conversation among participants, creating space for reflection, challenge and shared learning.
About Dattner GroupÂ
Dattner Group is one of Australia’s most accomplished and trusted consultancies, helping to build sustainable, purposeful leadership for almost forty years. We work closely as a culture and leadership development partner for many councils, large and small, around Australia.
And we are ready to help you create big change, little by little.
