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Episode 109 - What are you looking forward to at Talent X 2025?
105 Plays7 days ago
Episode 109 - What are you looking forward to at Talent X 2025?
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Transcript
Talenex Partnership Highlights
00:00:08
Speaker
Bullhorn will be Talenex partner again this year. Make sure you visit their stand and check out the special offers they have, even if you're not a customer. You can grab one of their trademark squeezy bulls and enter any of their competitions.
Sydney Fundraiser Event Details
00:00:23
Speaker
Also, if you're in Sydney the evening before Talent X, I'm speaking at an event at Henley's Kitchen in Kings Wharf. It's fundraiser for my 2025 Mother's Day Classic Appeal. Sponsored by Roll Relay and Infinity Staffing Global, it's a free event but ticketed and there are fewer than 25
Talent X Event Overview
00:00:40
Speaker
tickets left.
00:00:40
Speaker
Just Google An Evening with Ross Klenit to find the Eventbrite link to book your ticket. We'll see you at Talent X on Thursday the 22nd of May at the ICC in Sydney.
00:00:53
Speaker
This is the news for the 13th of May, 2025. I'm Ross Clennett.
Changes at Lotus People
00:00:58
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Lotus People co-founder and CEO, Sinead Connolly, has announced her resignation from her executive role, although she will remain on the company's board.
00:01:07
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In a LinkedIn update posted last week, Connolly said, personally, it's been a tough year. I've taken time away from the business while sadly navigating miscarriage and pregnancy loss, and I've been doing some deep reflecting on what my next chapter might look like.
00:01:20
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While I'll no longer be involved in the day-to-day, I will remain on the Lotus board, guiding strategy and direction of the business alongside my wonderful board members, Laura Cole, Hopes and Martin O'Donnell.
00:01:31
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No announcement was made about a new CEO appointment, with Connolly indicating the current leadership team of Michelle Barrett, Sophie Thomas, Amy Locke and Iona Colville would continue in their existing roles.
00:01:44
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Sydney-based Lotus People was established by Connolly and Hopes in 2015 and recruits white-collar office-based roles. According to the company's website, they currently employ 19 staff across their Sydney and Brisbane offices.
00:01:57
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Last year, Lotus People won Recruiter Insiders Candidate Experience Excellence Award for the fifth consecutive year.
Director's Asset Seizure
00:02:06
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A labour hire company director has had assets seized for his failure to pay penalties imposed by the Supreme Court of Victoria following legal action by the labour hire authority.
00:02:18
Speaker
Under instruction from the LHA, high-value items were seized from the individual's home, including a luxury Maserati motor car, a one-kilo bar of gold bullion worth around $160,000, various jewels and numerous Louis Vuitton accessories.
Industry Warnings and Financial Updates
00:02:33
Speaker
The assets will be auctioned, with proceeds going toward paying the penalties imposed initially for non-compliance with the Labor Hire Licensing Act. Any Labor Hire operator who thinks it's okay to flout the law and flaunt their wealth at the expense of vulnerable workers Should expect to hear from us, said Commissioner Steve Dargavel.
00:02:51
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Legitimate businesses are as sick of rogue labour operators as we are, he said. Japanese recruiter Will Group has announced a prospective impairment loss and goodwill related to its Australian consolidated subsidiary Ethos Beach Chapman Australia.
00:03:06
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The group said in a statement that a review of EBA's business plan and an impairment test determined that the recoverable amount of goodwill is expected to be lower than its book value and have therefore decided to record an impairment loss of $5 million Australian dollars.
00:03:19
Speaker
As a result, the company issued a profit downgrade for the current reporting period. Ethos Corporation and Beef Chapman merged in 2014 and the new entity Ethos Fish Chapman sold a majority stake in the business to Will Group in early 2017, which subsequently acquired other local brands, key appointments, UNU recruitment partners and DFP recruitment.
00:03:44
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The ADECO Group reported revenue of €5.57 billion euros during the first quarter ended 31 March 2025, down 2% year-on-year on an organically and trading day's adjusted basis.
00:03:56
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Gross profit declined 5%, operating profit dropped 9%, and net income declined 19%. to 60 million euros compared to the March 2024 quarter.
00:04:08
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ADECO APAC was one of the few bright spots with revenue up 9% to 645 million euros, although revenue in ADECO ANZ was 9% lower. All service lines reported a revenue decline except career transition up 3%.
00:04:23
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three percent Japanese staffing giant Recruit Holdings, owner of local brands, People Bank and Chandler McLeod, reported revenue for the fourth quarter ended 31 March of US$5.93 billion, u s dollars an increase of 2.1% compared to the same period last year.
00:04:42
Speaker
Revenue in its ah HR tech and matching and solution segments increased year over year. Consolidated EBITDA increased 17.9% and operating income for the fourth quarter increased 45.7% to $81.1 million. dollars In the staffing segment, revenue in the non-Japanese markets covering Europe, the US and Australia decreased 7.7%.
00:05:05
Speaker
seven point seven percent ASX-listed B2C talent platform Airtasker reported group revenue of $13.6 million, dollars up 11.6% from the year prior in its Q3 quarterly activity report.
00:05:19
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Group EBITDA stood at a loss of $11.4 million. dollars Global search firm Hydric & Struggles reported 2025 revenue 8.1% on a constant currency basis million region was 3.5% $23.6 million.
Hydric & Struggles Revenue Growth
00:05:36
Speaker
compared to the corresponding period last year operating profit was thirteen point three million down five point two percent revenue in the aac region was up three and a half per cent to twenty three point six million dollars Strength in Kelly Services' education business, along with demand in the semiconductor and renewable sectors, fuelled growth in its first quarter, President and CEO Peter Quigley said.
00:06:00
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Revenue was up 0.2% on an organic basis to one point one six
Melbourne Firm Fined for Exploitation
00:06:05
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billion. u s dollars gross profit was up to million, although net earnings dropped by seventy eight percent to five point six million dollars A Melbourne law firm has been fived fined over $50,000 for exploiting a junior lawyer.
00:06:24
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The woman was underpaid, made to work up to 24-hour days, forced to share a bed with the office manager and forced to watch an ice hockey movie to understand her boss's philosophical reasoning.
00:06:35
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The string of exploitive acts saw Melbourne magistrates court rule erudite legal breach workplace laws. Magistrate Catherine Fawcett found that Erudite required the junior lawyer to work days ranging from 12 hours to 18 hours as well as to 24-hour days, all within the three weeks she was employed.
00:06:56
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Erudite did not defend the case or comply with a court order to rectify the underpayments. The magistrate called this a striking lack of contrition by the firm. The court heard that the firm's sole shareholder, Shevesh Cussell,
00:07:10
Speaker
would lecture the lawyer about philosophy and his superior IQ and instructed the woman to watch the movie Miracle to illustrate a philosophical point. While the woman finished the film at 3.20am, Cussell texted her throughout to ensure she was watching, texting her the quote, Gentlemen, you aren't talented enough to win on talent alone.
00:07:30
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For more than 225 hours of work over three weeks, the firm only paid the woman $1,000 of the she was owed.
International Recruitment Agreement
00:07:39
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The firm was fined $22,200 failing to pay on and $26,640 for the unreasonable worked.
00:07:43
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and twenty six thousand six hundred and forty dollars but the unreasonable hours worked A new agreement between environmental health professional bodies in the UK and Australia aims to ease recruitment difficulties by creating cross-country career pathways.
00:07:59
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The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and Environmental Health Australia have signed a memorandum of understanding that enables environmental health officers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to practice in Australia and vice versa.
00:08:13
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The two organisations stated that the agreement results from years of collaboration to align professional competencies and help alleviate ongoing recruitment challenges. The agreement is expected to help relieve workforce pressures by broadening employment opportunities and encouraging more candidates to enter the profession.
Hancock Prospecting's Internal Culture
00:08:31
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CIEH President Mark Elliott said, The signing of the MOU with our counterparts in Australia marks a significant milestone as we share ongoing challenges in terms of recruitment.
00:08:43
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The future of the profession is under threat without action such as this being taken. The Guardian yesterday reported on the unusual culture at Hancock Prospecting, owned by Australia's richest person, Gina Reinhart.
00:08:58
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Company insiders report that annual requests to employees to thank Australia's richest person are solicited before Christmas when Reinhart gives out lucrative staff bonuses as part of what is known as the Chairman's Profit Scheme.
00:09:10
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Guardian Australia reported seeing several internal messages sent to staff, one of which reads, Please take the time to think about what these bonuses and benefits mean to you and your family. I know that Mrs Reinhart loves to read all of your messages.
00:09:23
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Another former employee points to a broader culture within Hancock prospecting in which adulation of Reinhardt, who was referred to as the chairman or Mrs. Reinhardt, is encouraged. At Christmas one year, there was a request for everyone in the building to join the chairman in the foyer.
00:09:38
Speaker
Then people were told they had to applaud the chairman. It was very dear leader type stuff. It's bizarre, but no one really talks about it. People just look at each other and say, just take the paycheck, it's a good paycheck.
00:09:50
Speaker
At a recent staff dinner attended by about 450 people, a video was shown which included almost two dozen thank you messages from employees, most of which were directed at Reinhardt. These included praise for her vision, patriotism, tenacity and leadership.
00:10:05
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Insiders have told Guardian Australia that staff are frequently exposed to political material with an email seen by the Guardian encouraging workers to listen to US President Donald Trump's inaugural address. Reinhardt's fortune generated by iron ore production in WA...
NPA Worldwide Leadership Election
00:10:20
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and nationwide ownership of beef industry assets was recently estimated by Forbes at $46 billion, dollars about 60% higher than Australia's second richest person, apartment developer and real estate investor, Harry Trigaboff.
00:10:35
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NPA Worldwide, the Global Recruitment Network, has announced Andrew Thosby from First Executive in Melbourne has been re-elected as the NPA Worldwide Director for ANZ, along with re-elected US Representatives Phil Chappell and Patrick Long.
00:10:51
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In other election results, Patti Steen was elected as Chair-Elect and Tim Lane as Secretary-Treasurer. And that's the news for the 13th of May 2025.
00:11:03
Speaker
I'm Adele Last. Stay tuned now for question of the week.
TalentX: Technology in Recruitment
00:11:20
Speaker
Question of the week. What are you looking forward to at TalentX 2025? Well, we probably should tell people what TalentX is just in case they don't know. It is a trade show type event that's happening on the 22nd of May in Sydney, just before the awards dinner that the RCSA is holding. So it's a full day event. It's aimed at anyone and everybody in the recruitment industry.
00:11:45
Speaker
Has a bit of a slant towards tech um and technology in our space, but it's a full day conference essentially. That's right, starting at nine and finishing a bit after four o'clock.
00:11:57
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The structure of the day is it's a big hall with exhibitors throughout the hall and there are three stages.
00:12:08
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There is a main stage which kicks off at 9.45 with Chris Helder, useful belief, managing mindset and people. Then there are two side stages. One is the operation operations stage hosted by Dean Morrison and the top builder stage hosted by Michael Jones.
00:12:32
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Each of those stages has 30-minute slots. And it's a mixture of single presenters, panels, and sponsors that are talking about, well, hopefully, things of interest to the audience.
00:12:49
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The side stages finish at 3.30. And the final speaker, who will have the main stage, Nick Bell, investor and rich lister who aims to live beyond 150 years of age. So, Adele, before we circle back to what you're looking forward to um firstly, do you want to live to 150 or more?
00:13:16
Speaker
I could not think of anything worse, to be honest, Ross, but I'm really interested to understand why he thinks he can live to 150, how he's going to actually do it as well. Well, he's already 44. I don't watch Shark Tank, who haven't for a long time, not since Andrew Banks departed.
00:13:34
Speaker
But it it tells me that he's the newest Shark Tank judge and he's been responsible for creating a $500 million dollars empire.
00:13:47
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um So, yeah, I'll be absolutely fascinated. I suspect you'll be talking about mindset and about the way he conducts his personal life with respect to eating, drinking, exercise. So, there you go for all of you There's a lot of entrepreneurs in that room. Once they find out he's a Shark Tank judge, maybe they'll be pitching to him too. This could get interesting. Yeah.
00:14:10
Speaker
Maybe. Anyway, no doubt we'll see the impact that it's had or Nick Bell's had when we get to the drinks at the awards dinner, which is that evening, whether it's the talk of the attendees or not. So anyway, apart from Nick Bell, Adele, who are you looking forward to hearing from?
00:14:30
Speaker
There are a number of really interesting speakers to to listen to. and like you said, Ross, there are three stages. So you're really going to have to Plan your day and choose where you want to be. I did find this cheeky little loophole, if that helps anybody.
00:14:43
Speaker
I found a seat where I could actually see all three stages. um And you're wearing a headset. this is um The audio for this event is all run through a headset system.
00:14:53
Speaker
And each stage has a different channel. So I sat in one seat and I just flicked my channel And I was able to listen to different speakers at different times without moving through the room. So there's a little bit of I think that I'm screwing my bit....insider tip. It was. There was a lot of information coming in, but if you want to try maximise your time there, that's a little tip I did. But there was one person in particular on the billing that I saw was Rachel Townsley from Indeed. She's an employee of Indeed, but she's going to provide a presentation on what job seekers want.
00:15:25
Speaker
So this is some insider...
RCSA Industry Census Findings
00:15:27
Speaker
research that indeed have done, Russ, it seemed like an interesting one.
00:15:33
Speaker
Yeah. um I mean, I suspect job seekers will be saying we want more information about jobs before we apply, more information before we go for an interview. i don't know. What do you expect?
00:15:46
Speaker
I think salary is going to appear there in my prediction on that. They want salaries on jobs and they want to know more about salaries before they are applying for jobs. I mean, that's a perpetual one that always comes up really.
00:15:58
Speaker
Yes, I suspect. And I also note Brittany Saunders. Not heard of Brittany Saunders. do you anything about Brittany Saunders, Adele? I do. i follow Brittany myself because ah she has her own fashion brand and she is quite ah prolific on social media.
00:16:16
Speaker
So I've come across her previously and been following her for some time. ah She has a podcast. She does lots of, as i said, active social media posts. and has a very successful fashion brand wholesaling women's clothing. So ah she's an interesting one. She will be pretty high energy. She might be a bit loose cannon, if I'm honest. Some of the stuff she does post is rather interesting online. You might want to check her out before the event, ah but she that could be a really interesting one.
00:16:44
Speaker
I see. Whenever people use the word interesting content online in that tone of voice, I'm always thinking, hmm, hmm. All right, we will see. Charles Cameron, I believe he's going to take to the stage. Of course, that's not a surprise given he is the RCSA CEO. What's he talking about, Adele?
00:17:06
Speaker
That presentation is to do with the recent census that they sent out, Ross. The RCSA sent a census across the industry to ask us a range of questions. It was purely voluntary. It was open to everyone, not just members of the RCSA.
00:17:21
Speaker
And I believe he's presenting the data they've learnt from the census. Although i have to say, Ross, I'm a bit surprised about the census. I don't know if you did it and any of our listeners did it It was pretty focused in just a couple of areas, didn't you find? I expected it to be a much broader census. What did you think?
Neurodiversity in Recruitment
00:17:40
Speaker
It was fairly narrow in the sense that it spoke ah about, or sorry, asked questions about professional development and development. The news service that RCSA is obviously considering or testing.
00:17:58
Speaker
um Yeah, so I mean, I think the response, assuming that they've got a big enough response, I'll certainly be fascinated to hear from Charles what conclusions have been drawn from the board based on those um completed surveys.
00:18:16
Speaker
Yeah, it's always good when the association, obviously, they have the widest reach. So if they get a good, have had a good response to that census, it will be interesting to hear what the results are. I was, as I said, a little surprised at how narrow it was. I was kind of hoping it might have been, when you hear the word census, you know, you think about a kind of ah countrywide census like we've had in Australia and it's much broader demographic information. And I was kind of looking forward to hearing some more about that. But anyway, we'll see how that one goes. All right.
00:18:45
Speaker
I'm looking at Stuart Freeman and Matt Bennett, which is the top builder stage later on in the day. Trusted advisor, how to bill in recruitment without mentioning recruitment.
00:18:59
Speaker
ah Stuart Freeman, um probably not a name known to a lot of people, but one of the few recruitment entrepreneurs that have built and sold two different recruitment companies to two different publicly listed recruitment businesses. So he's a smart guy, Stuart. I'll be interested in 15 minutes to understand from he and Matt Bennett ah how to build a recruitment without mentioning recruitment. Also, Aisling Smith overlooked talent.
00:19:25
Speaker
Unlocking the power of neurodiversity in recruitment. I'm particularly interested in this. I have a friend who's a neurodiversity expert. She's a speaker and trainer in that area. And I do think neurodiversity is misunderstood by recruiters generally. we're fascinated to hear what Aisling has to say. And that's on the operational stage at one forty five pm Yeah, I agree with that one. I was lucky enough to have a guest speaker at an event that I hold called Captain's Table earlier um in the year and, sorry, end of last year, and she was an expert on neurodiversity.
00:20:01
Speaker
And we had a group of recruitment agency owners in the room and we were able to ask questions that we couldn't normally ask. It was really good. It was really interesting to find out the things that as you said, that recruiters misunderstand about how to work with, attract, recruit with people who might have neurodivergent needs.
Improving Reference Checks
00:20:19
Speaker
So, yeah, if you can get along to that one, that I would definitely encourage you.
00:20:23
Speaker
There's plenty of sponsors speaking. And I mean, just to give you an example, ah Luke and Chris from Referew, which is from bottleneck to competitive advantage, fixing the most broken step in recruitment.
00:20:39
Speaker
That's a big call, the most broken step in recruitment. I assume they're going to talk about taking reference checks. Not sure about whether it's the most broken step, but some fascinated to see what they have to say.
00:20:51
Speaker
It gets a lot of controversy, I think, recruitment ah reference checking because obviously a lot of people say, you know, they're not worth it and the process is that part of the process is kind of redundant. So I suspect they're going to go hard in that area. That's their product.
00:21:05
Speaker
We'll see what they have to say. Then we have Pete Watson, the power of collaboration and recruitment. Many of you would know Pete is the founder of Recruitment United, responsible for a community of ah business owners in the recruitment industry, those who are owning a sole charge business or with very few employees.
Collaboration and Ethical Outsourcing
00:21:32
Speaker
So I will be fascinated to hear. Sponsored by Roll Relay, who are also sponsoring my segment the evening before. So I'll be fascinated to hear what they've got to say.
00:21:44
Speaker
Absolutely. And there's a final one um by Ross Stewart called Unlocking Africa's Talent. Do you know much about that one, Ross? I suspect it'll be a um a version of what I heard at the RCSA conference in Noosa last year, where Ross is promoting African talent, effectively outsourcing jobs to talented people in Africa.
00:22:07
Speaker
And this is a very ethical way of outsourcing. Certainly, if what Ross shares is true, have no reason to doubt that. in fact, Charles Cameron told me he came back from Africa recently and he paid a visit to i think one or maybe even two of these centres so no doubt ah that will be interesting to hear what developments or what progress has been made in that area.
Networking at TalentX
00:22:29
Speaker
Excellent. Well I'm looking forward to it. I'm very much looking forward to your presentation the night before which is called An Evening with Ross Clennant look forward to hearing you speak as always Ross and connecting with the network from the night before then Talonix for the whole day and then the awards dinner in the evening.
00:22:47
Speaker
Look out for us at TalentX. You'll see us, well, we'll probably be walking around together at some point. We'll have our black ah RNA t-shirts on. Come up and say hello. It'll be a great day. Tickets are still left. Just go to the RCSA website and click on the relevant link. We look forward to seeing you there.
00:23:06
Speaker
um