Join us as we embark on a total rewards journey. Together, we will work on amplifying agility and unlocking human potential in a machine-augmented world — to embrace a future where fairness and innovation go hand in hand.
Explore the latest trends and strategies shaping the world of work and discover the transformative power of rewards in driving change. From leveraging technology to enhancing employee experience to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion, this conference will empower you to drive positive change and create a workplace where everyone can thrive. Secure your seat now!

Highlights 2023

Working agenda

The conference includes one and a half days of plenary sessions, breakout discussions, and keynote addresses, along with networking breaks and an evening event.

Day 1

We are experiencing unprecedented technological and societal shifts, reshaping workforce expectations and culture. In "HR 2.0: Shaping the future of work and empowering the workforce," Ollie Henderson will provide insights into these changes, focusing on key trends like AI, flexible work and distributed teams. This session will explore HR’s crucial role in reimagining talent strategy, personalizing worker experiences and designing dynamic organizations.
 

Speaker:

Ollie Henderson, Future of Work expert, and experienced Founder and CEO

Speaker:

Zoltán Bán, Head of Group Downstream HR & HR Director, MOL Group

Imagine a future where AI not only drafts your emails and summarises your calls but also automates and improves your levelling and benchmarking practices. This future is closer than you think.

Join this engaging session to discover how AI is revolutionising rewards systems amidst evolving regulatory and market dynamics. Gain visionary predictions on AI-driven developments set to reshape the landscape of compensation and benefits. The presentation will transition from theory to practice, showcasing the transformational initiatives at Roche where AI is already enhancing areas such as levelling, benchmarking and pay equity.

Attendees will receive valuable, actionable insights on leveraging AI to elevate their own rewards programmes, driving greater effectiveness and engagement. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in a live Q&A and interactive discussions, ensuring a collaborative learning experience.


Speaker:

Alexander Legel, Global Practice Lead Compensation, Roche

Speakers:

Alexander Legel
, Global Practice Lead Compensation, Roche
Martin Smit, Head of Global Compensation Solutions, Takeda
Thomas Grule, Workforce Products / Mobility Leader for Germany & Austria, Mercer

Update on European rewards trends

Discover the latest insights on how cutting-edge technology and changing workforce demographics are influencing organizational, talent and rewards trends and how employers are evolving their strategies to attract and retain critical talent.

As companies look to supercharge their growth potential and enhance their digital capabilities, it is crucial to understand how employees' expectations for their employers are changing and how organizations can continue to be compelling employers in the future.

Join us for an informative session to gain valuable insights into how companies are embracing innovative approaches and redefining their value propositions to compete for critical expertise.
 

Speakers:

Gaurav Dutt, European Consulting Leader - Technology and Life Science Sectors, Mercer
Carolina Vorster, Private Equity Commercial Leader, Career Europe, Mercer


Executive rewards: What’s next in a globalizing market for talent?

This session will consider the possible future direction of travel for executive reward in a world where talent markets are increasingly globalized but with Boards needing to balance this against national/European investor attitudes plus wider social and political concerns.

The session will consider how pay varies across the continent and how companies can make sense of international data and benchmarks.
 

Speakers:

Peter Boreham, UK & European Practice Leader, Executive Reward, Mercer
Debbie Chan, Principal, Mercer


Paving the path to equity

This breakout session will explore the importance of pay transparency and pay equity in creating a fair and inclusive workplace, considering an ever-evolving legislative landscape — particularly in the EU. We will discuss real-life examples from global clients who are advancing their pay transparency preparations and share global insights from Mercer’s 2024 Global Pay Transparency Survey. We will also discuss the benefits of promoting transparency and equity, as well as the challenges organizations may face in implementing these practices. Join us for knowledge-sharing and interactive discussions that promise to be engaging and valuable.
 

Speakers:

Lea Grubb Lønsted (Lonsted), Pay Equity Lead for Europe & UK, Mercer
Lucye Provera, Senior Principal, Pay Equity Leader Europe & UK, Mercer


Job architecture: The foundation for a skills-powered organization

Embark on a journey towards becoming a skills-powered organization with the support of a skills-powered job architecture. Join us in this session as we explore the practical application of a job architecture linked to skills, enabling multiple use cases. Gain valuable insights into the key components of a skills-based job architecture and leave equipped with actionable strategies to unlock the full potential of your job architecture for a skills-powered future within your organization.


Speakers:

Martin Smit, Head of Global Compensation Solutions, Takeda
John Langenius, European lead for skills-powered job architecture, Mercer


Transforming the rewards function: From insights to impact through data analytics and technology

Join us for an engaging session where we will explore the world of data analytics and technology to transform the rewards function. Learn how to leverage data-driven insights to design and implement innovative reward strategies that drive employee engagement and business success. Gain practical knowledge and actionable takeaways to make a lasting impact on your organization's rewards function.


Living wage journey. Challenges in implementing living wage concept into local remuneration systems.

During this session we will talk about:

  • Recent legislation and requirements: CSRD and Minimum Wage Directives
  • How to manage salary budgets in dynamic markets when living wage costs grow much above inflation, etc.
  • Living wage values and market benchmarking data
  • Recent update of ILO living wage definition vs current companies’ practices

We believe that this session will provide information for our clients regarding how other companies and Mercer deal with typical problems while implementing global living wage policies. This session will help companies interested in living wage in preparation for this important action and will help them prepare activities which will prevent them from incurring typical challenges and problems associated with the implementation of this topic.
 

Speaker:

Andrzej Narkiewicz, Partner, Innovation leader Europe & UK, Mercer


Beyond compensation: Bringing the employee voice to strategic rewards

Pushed by new technological capabilities we see our clients drive many initiatives to gather more frequent, more detailed and more relevant feedback from their employees. One area to benefit from this development is strategic rewards.

Companies strive to better understand how their offering matches employees’ needs and expectations that evolve as employees grow and develop in both their career and personal life. Using detailed insights in employee expectations and how they match reality can drive attraction, retention, performance and lower costs.

In this session we will help you understand how strategic rewards benefits from modern listening programs, how to apply the insights for an optimal fit between what’s offered and what’s expected and how that drives business success.


Speaker:

Joost Houtman, Employee Experience Strategist, Mercer

Join us for an insightful plenary session where NCC Group will present their compelling case study on how they are laying the foundations and transforming their total reward proposition in alignment with their global operating model.

 In this session, NCC Group, a leading global cybersecurity and risk mitigation company, will share their experiences and strategies in redefining their job framework and revolutionising their total rewards approach.


Speakers:

Michelle Porteous, Chief People Officer, NCC Group
Katherine Edgington, Director of Global Reward and Benefits, NCC Group
Willam Brown, UK Career Growth Leader, Mercer

Discover how Tetra Pak leveraged technology and streamlined operations to create business value through rewards programmes. This session will explore the effectiveness and transformation of rewards, showcasing Tetra Pak's use of technology and templates to streamline operations and provide true value to internal stakeholders.

The session will also touch on EU pay transparency issues and share insights into the renumeration market. Attendees can expect a deeper understanding of the rewards effectiveness and the transformation landscape, as well as practical insights that can be applied across various organisations.


Speaker:

Akos Jakobsen, Director, Global Head of Rewards, HR Technology and People Analytics, Tetra Pak

Day 2

Speakers:

Ilya Bonic
, President, Career and Head of Mercer Strategy, Mercer
Gordon Frost, Global Rewards Solution Leader, Mercer

Update on European rewards trends

Discover the latest insights on how cutting-edge technology and changing workforce demographics are influencing organizational, talent and rewards trends and how employers are evolving their strategies to attract and retain critical talent.

As companies look to supercharge their growth potential and enhance their digital capabilities, it is crucial to understand how employees' expectations for their employers are changing and how organizations can continue to be compelling employers in the future.

Join us for an informative session to gain valuable insights into how companies are embracing innovative approaches and redefining their value propositions to compete for critical expertise.
 

Speakers:

Gaurav Dutt, European Consulting Leader - Technology and Life Science Sectors, Mercer
Carolina Vorster, Private Equity Commercial Leader, Career Europe, Mercer


Executive rewards: What’s next in a globalizing market for talent?

This session will consider the possible future direction of travel for executive reward in a world where talent markets are increasingly globalized but with Boards needing to balance this against national/European investor attitudes plus wider social and political concerns.

The session will consider how pay varies across the continent and how companies can make sense of international data and benchmarks.
 

Speakers:

Peter Boreham, UK & European Practice Leader, Executive Reward, Mercer
Debbie Chan, Principal, Mercer


Paving the path to equity

This breakout session will explore the importance of pay transparency and pay equity in creating a fair and inclusive workplace, considering an ever-evolving legislative landscape — particularly in the EU. We will discuss real-life examples from global clients who are advancing their pay transparency preparations and share global insights from Mercer’s 2024 Global Pay Transparency Survey. We will also discuss the benefits of promoting transparency and equity, as well as the challenges organizations may face in implementing these practices. Join us for knowledge-sharing and interactive discussions that promise to be engaging and valuable.
 

Speakers:

Lea Grubb Lønsted (Lonsted), Pay Equity Lead for Europe & UK, Mercer
Lucye Provera, Senior Principal, Pay Equity Leader Europe & UK, Mercer


Job architecture: The foundation for a skills-powered organization

Embark on a journey towards becoming a skills-powered organization with the support of a skills-powered job architecture. Join us in this session as we explore the practical application of a job architecture linked to skills, enabling multiple use cases. Gain valuable insights into the key components of a skills-based job architecture and leave equipped with actionable strategies to unlock the full potential of your job architecture for a skills-powered future within your organization.


Speakers:

Martin Smit, Head of Global Compensation Solutions, Takeda
John Langenius, European lead for skills-powered job architecture, Mercer


Transforming the rewards function: From insights to impact through data analytics and technology

Join us for an engaging session where we will explore the world of data analytics and technology to transform the rewards function. Learn how to leverage data-driven insights to design and implement innovative reward strategies that drive employee engagement and business success. Gain practical knowledge and actionable takeaways to make a lasting impact on your organization's rewards function.


Navigating change: The power of effective communication and management

Implementing a thoughtfully considered communications strategy is crucial to successfully guiding your business through change. Getting it right from the start mitigates risk and maximizes impact.

In this breakout session, we'll use a real-life client case study to guide you through our holistic approach to change comms. We'll discuss the tools you need to communicate and manage change effectively and provide essential tips to win over your audience and avoid common pitfalls. Join us and take your change initiatives to the next level. See you there!


Speakers:

Tricia Maskell, Head of Employee Change Communication, Mercer
Kaivai Andrews, Senior Digital Comms Strategist, Mercer


Beyond compensation: Bringing the employee voice to strategic rewards

Pushed by new technological capabilities we see our clients drive many initiatives to gather more frequent, more detailed and more relevant feedback from their employees. One area to benefit from this development is strategic rewards.

Companies strive to better understand how their offering matches employees’ needs and expectations that evolve as employees grow and develop in both their career and personal life. Using detailed insights in employee expectations and how they match reality can drive attraction, retention, performance and lower costs.

In this session we will help you understand how strategic rewards benefits from modern listening programs, how to apply the insights for an optimal fit between what’s offered and what’s expected and how that drives business success.


Speaker:

Joost Houtman, Employee Experience Strategist, Mercer

Don't miss this engaging and interactive fireside chat with Michele Hanley, Director of Human Resources for Energia Group, and Lucy Brown, Mercer UK DEI and Pay Equity Consulting Leader.
Join us as they share their journey of creating a tailored and meaningful approach to rewarding Energia Group employees within a challenging political and social landscape and how they tackled an engagement problem without relying solely on pay increases.

During this session, learn how Energia Group embarked on a transformative 12-month journey, gaining a profound understanding of their current situation, empowering their leaders to take charge of the initiative and creating a roadmap for the evolution of their employee value proposition (EVP). The successful implementation of the "Energised for Better" EVP has not only led to heightened employee engagement but has also been recognised within the industry and won multiple awards.


Speakers:

Michele Hanley, Group HR Director, Energia Group
Lucy Brown, UK DEI and Pay Equity Consulting Leader, Mercer UK

The session aims to provide insights and practical examples for organisations to navigate economic crises while maintaining motivation and engagement among employees. The focus will be on developing resilient reward strategies that are secure and sustainable. The discussion will cover various topics, including maintaining motivation during downturns, the significance of non-cash rewards, ensuring basic needs, balancing cost-cutting with employee trust and the concept of rewards by choice. The session will conclude with a thought-provoking open-ended question, encouraging the audience to reflect on the presented ideas and share their perspectives.
 

Speaker:

Mariia Lytvyn, Global Head of Reward & Talent, GFG Alliance

Meet the speakers

Get ready to be inspired by our exceptional lineup of speakers who will be sharing their expertise and insights at the event.

Register now!

Click here to register today for the European Rewards Conference 2024.

Tickets are available at the regular event fee of €1,699. Stay flexible with the option to cancel or amend your registration by 20 September 2024.

  • Tickets

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Conference Venue

Anantara New York Palace Budapest

Erzsébet Korut 9-11
Budapest 1073
Hungary
+36 1886 6111    

Click below to view hotel gallery and further information.

Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel | Luxury hotel in Budapest

 

Terms and conditions

  • It is important that all delegates represent the target audience for the conference.
  • Mercer has the right to decline any registrations received from companies with conflict of interest (instead of “competitors”) and other potential delegates that do not match the target audience.
  • Registrations for delegates with commercial roles of any kind will not be accepted.
  • With your registration, we will add your name and company to the participant list to be shared with other conference participants.
  • Each conference participant that is part of a group booking must register individually in order for Mercer to collect their registration information sufficiently. Participants must remember to add the discount code so that they can be grouped together by company and billed accordingly.

  • All conference participation fees are payable by invoice or credit card in Euros (EUR). 
  • An invoice will be sent to your given address once you have submitted your confirmation via the registration site. Payment must be made by the date detailed on the invoice.

Only a limited number of places are available for this event. Please register early to avoid disappointment.

  • Force Majeure - Mercer shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing an obligation relating to the conference that is due to any of the following causes, to the extent beyond our reasonable control: acts of God, accident, riots, war, terrorist act, epidemic, pandemic (including the COVID-19 pandemic), quarantine, civil commotion, breakdown of communication facilities, breakdown of web host, breakdown of internet service provider, natural catastrophes, governmental acts or omissions, changes in laws or regulations, national strikes, fire, explosion, or generalized lack of availability of raw materials or energy. For the avoidance of doubt, Force Majeure shall not include (a) financial distress nor the inability to make a profit or avoid a financial loss, (b) changes in market prices or conditions, or (c) the financial inability to perform its obligations relating to the conference.
  • Mercer shall not be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tort, arising out of or in connection with the conference or use or access of any content relating to the conference. If, notwithstanding the other provisions, Mercer is found to be liable to you for any damage or loss which arises out of or is in any way connected with the conference, Mercer’s aggregate liability shall in no event exceed the conference participation fees that you paid to Mercer with respect to the conference to the extent permitted by law.
  • We reserve the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the format, timing, location and content of the conference or use substitute speakers at any time without prior notice. Conference topics are subject to change as the agenda develops.
  • The conference and the content of the conference may contain views and opinions which are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other speaker, agency, organization, employer or company, including Mercer. Mercer accepts no responsibility for the views or opinions of the speakers or any other persons at the conference.
  • Any booking or arrangement of accommodation is between you and the hotel and is subject to the terms and conditions as agreed between you and the hotel. Mercer may assist, at its sole discretion, but Mercer is not a contractual party to the booking or arrangement of accommodation. Mercer will not be responsible and liable for such booking or arrangement between you and the hotel and is therefore not responsible or liable for any disputes that arise from cancellations or no-shows.

We will use your registration data only for limited purposes, as disclosed in detail on our website, www.mercer.com. For more information, click on Mercer's Privacy Notice. Please note that when you register, you are giving us permission to pass your personal details on to the event app platform provider.

Mercer may take photographs/videos during the conference. By taking part and attending the conference, you hereby consent and authorize Mercer’s use, disclosure, processing and production of the photographs/videos and Mercer may use the photographs/videos for any purpose including, but not limited to, promotion, advertising and public relations without further compensation or consent.

  • Cancellations received before 20 September 2024 will be refunded in full.
  • No-shows on the day of the conference will not be refunded.
  • Participants may substitute a colleague at any time before 30 September 2024.

Cancellations should be sent in writing to:

Gemma Clifton
MMC
mercerglobalevents@mercer.com

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