Workplace Intelligence
for Business Transformation

4th Annual Conference & Exhibition

Thursday, Sept 30, 2021

Rikli Balance Hotel, Bled, Slovenia

Workplace Intelligence
for Change and Success

WDC21 = STRATEGY + WORKPLACE + TECHNOLOGY + PEOPLE

Learn practical business lessons from successful business people.

Meet experts from WarnerMedia, SAP, Haltian, and more.

TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS SINCE 2018

WDC21 was a great success. We had over 100 attendees, 10 sponsors and exhibitors, and a new media partner.

Workplace Design Conference is an experience-based, results-oriented, super practical event bringing together business leaders and professionals. They attend WDC to create more efficient workspaces for their companies. And more successful businesses.

A day full of questions and answers, challenges and solutions.  And best practice case studies from local and international workplace strategy projects.

Alenka Kragelj Eržen

FOUNDER & CEO
Kragelj Architects, Slovenia

YOU'LL MEET...

Workplace Design Conference is designed for Business Leaders, Workplace Strategists, HR Professionals, Facility Managers, Real Estate Professionals, Interior Architects, Designers and other key people who want to improve performance, collaboration, and talent retention in their organizations by matching design and technology with strategic vision and sound management.

WDC21 SPEAKERS

Asif Sadiq, MBE

Senior Vice President, Head of Equity and Inclusion,
Warner Media, UK

Asif Sadiq is Senior Vice President at WarnerMedia, having previously held senior positions at Adidas, Telegraph Media Group, EY Financial Services and the City of London board. He is a member of the AICPA Board of Directors and a member of the Board of Advisors at Hedley May. In his 20-year career, he has worked in Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.  At WDC21, Asif will present the concept of “inclusive workplace” and how it contributes to greater employee satisfaction and productivity on the examples of successful global companies.

Dr. Ken Dooley

Chief Strategy Officer for Empathic Building
Haltian, Finland

Dr. Ken Dooley is a Chief Strategy Officer at Haltian, a hugely successful high-tech spin-off from Nokia.  Ken is also a Postdoctoral Researcher in Smart Buildings at Aalto University.  He has 20 years of experience in the built environment and has worked in London, Sydney, Dublin, and now Helsinki.  At WDC21 he will explain an innovative concept of Empathic Buildings which focuses on employee performance, well-being, and happiness.  It’s a complete smart office solution that combines physical space, corporate culture, and technology.

Peter Baumann

Global Head of Real Estate & Facilities Projects
SAP, Switzerland

Peter Baumann is Head of Workplace and Projects in the Global Real Estate & Facilities department at SAP where he facilitates alignment of global project standards with local and regional plans.  You can expect to take a lot of sound advice from his presentation at WDC21.  Office Design with the people for the people. SAP as a technology leader wants to make sure the most precious asset, the employee, feels well at work. This is why Global Facility Management @SAP takes a people centric approach when it comes to office and environmental planning. 

Jacqueline Stuart

Founder & CEO
Slovenia Invest, Slovenia

Jacqueline Stuart is the founder and Director of Slovenia Invest, Hotelinvest International, and S-Consult. Her work encompasses sales and acquisitions of real estate assets, landlord and tenant representation, feasibility studies, valuations, and other advisory services.  She became a member of the RICS in July 2017 and is a registered valuer. Jacqueline holds the EPC card and is licensed and insured to work as a real estate agent and valuer all over Europe.  At the WDC21 conference, she will present her best advice on how to successfully conclude a corporate real estate project.

Dr. Nigel Oseland

WP Strategist & Change Manager
Workplace Unlimited, UK

Dr. Nigel Oseland is a workplace strategist, environmental psychologist, and change manager who understands the human experience, specifically what sort of behaviors can lead to greater engagement in the workplace, more ideas, and higher productivity. Nigel Oseland is a sought-after international speaker, and author of several papers and books, including “Improving Office Productivity – A Practical Guide for Business and Facilities Managers”.  He will be the chair of WDC21 conference and also conduct a break-out session Post Occupancy Evaluation: Measuring the success of the workplace.

WDC21 AGENDA

9.00

Reception Opens / Morning Coffee

9.25

Main Stage

Welcome and Introduction to Day

Alenka Kragelj Eržen

9.30 - 10.20

Main Stage

WDC21 Keynote Speech
Creating truly inclusive and sustainable Workplaces

Asif Sadiq, MBE (live from London)

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In 2019, Leesman teamed up with Delos (founders of the WELL Building Institute) to create a specific set of questions to better understand how the workplace supports wellbeing and productivity of people working there. Having now collected over 100,000 responses on the topic, Leesman are in a unique position to interprete the findings. Kyle will show you how your workspaces support your employees and what you can do to improve this.

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10.20 - 11.10

Main Stage

Supporting Business Leaders in Real-Estate Decisions

Jacqueline Stuart

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Best practice case studies of 2020 by Kragelj. Alenka will present strategies, execution, results and lessons learned for selected workplace projects; young, progresive companies such as Geneplanet, Adrial and Nexter and established corporations such as Zavarovalnica Triglav, A1 and BSH.

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10.20 - 10.40

Breakout Session in Conference Room Voda

Your Workplace as a Brand

Workshop for marketing professionals

Barbara Babnik

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Best practice case studies of 2020 by Kragelj. Alenka will present strategies, execution, results and lessons learned for selected workplace projects; young, progresive companies such as Geneplanet, Adrial and Nexter and established corporations such as Zavarovalnica Triglav, A1 and BSH.

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11:10

Coffee Break

11.15 - 11.30

Conference Room Voda

WHAT IF?
Decorative materials for interior and exterior design

Promotional presentation

RSN Media & Avery Dennison

11.30 - 12.20

Main Stage

People Centric Approach
for Workplace Planning

Peter Baumann  (live from Zurich)

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Best practice case studies of 2020 by Kragelj. Alenka will present strategies, execution, results and lessons learned for selected workplace projects; young, progresive companies such as Geneplanet, Adrial and Nexter and established corporations such as Zavarovalnica Triglav, A1 and BSH.

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11.35 -12.05

Breakout Session in Conference Room Voda

Post Occupancy Evaluation:
Measuring the Success of the Workplace

Workshop for HR professionals

Dr. Nigel Oseland

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Best practice case studies of 2020 by Kragelj. Alenka will present strategies, execution, results and lessons learned for selected workplace projects; young, progresive companies such as Geneplanet, Adrial and Nexter and established corporations such as Zavarovalnica Triglav, A1 and BSH.

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12.20

Lunch Break

12.45 - 13.00

Conference Room Voda

i.triglav and insurance digitalization

Promotional Presentation (in Slovene)

Zavarovalnica Triglav

13.05 - 14.00

Main Stage

Empathic Buildings:
How to Improve Employee Well-being and Performance

Dr. Ken Dooley

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Already a highly innovative business and one of the leading technology companies in the world, Merck has gone one step further and built an innovation center that boasts landmark architecture and a completely new operating system. Thomas Fundneider, a CEO of the company that has co-created the project, will tell the WDC audience how it all started, what were the goals, the challenges and creative solutions, and how the new building supports Merck, their employees and its business vision.

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13.05 -13.25

Breakout Session in Conference Room Voda

Costs vs. Investment in Workplace Change Projects

Workshop for Finance professionals

Aljoša Merljak

13.35 - 13.50

Conference Room Voda

Smart lockers: Improving Safety, Hygiene, Work Efficiency and Wellbeing in Workplaces – Tips and Case Studies

Workshop for Business Leaders and Workplace Professionals - Promotional Presentation

Metra | smarter locker system

14.00

Main Stage

Expert Panel
Workplace Intelligence for Change & Success

 Jacqueline Stuart, Dr. Ken Dooley, Dr. Nigel Oseland

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We are currently in the most cataclysmic and disruptive decade in human history. And the speed of change is increasing. Workplaces will need to change, organizational culture will need to change, and most importantly, leaders will need to change. The solutions to many of the challenges you’ll be facing haven’t even been developed yet.

Join thought leader Randy Gage for a provocative and candid exploration on the challenges you will face ahead as you lead your teams and your organization. You will discover what the future of leadership is going to look like, how to best “see around the corner” to anticipate it, and how to prepare yourself to lead in this new reality. Pre-conference read: Bostjan Erzen interviews Randy Gage for Slovenia Times.

Randy Gage was brought to WDC20 with the support of

 

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15.00

Closing remarks

Live Streaming only for Main Stage and Promotional Presentations.
Breakout Sessions for Marketing and Finance Professionals are in Slovene language.

VENUE & LOCATION

Lake Bled, Slovenia

WDC20 Gallery

Everything is in place for the start of the conference – reception staff are ready to welcome attendees with a smile
Attendees enjoy a drink while reviewing the program or networking before the first session
Dr. Nigel Oseland engages in a passionate conversation with Brane Krajnik, CEO at Slovenia Times
Management and staff from Delight, WDC’s Founding Partner, pose for a quick photo before the first session
Boštjan Eržen, cofounder and director of WDC, welcomes attendees and opens the conference with thought-provoking questions
Event host Petra Kovič introduces Kyle De Bruin, Development Director at Leesman, UK, prior to his presentation on ‘The Wellbeing Benchmark: How Your Workplace Supports Your Employees‘
Though socially distanced, the live audience is deeply engaged, while a great number of professionals all over the world participate via live-streaming and online conversations
Attendees take in the insights from the Leesman Home Working Survey, in an intelligently designed environment that facilitates focus and learning
We learn that the home-working environment presents a range of challenges and benefits, and that employees’ experiences vary greatly
Alenka Kragelj Eržen, CEO and Principal Architect at Kragelj, commences her presentation about latest workplace change projects and lessons learnt this year
Before diving into best practice case studies, Alenka runs through the basics of people-centered workplace design and effective change management practices
Through a handful of case studies (Triglav, BSH, GenePlanet, etc.), Alenka explains how smart solutions can enhance employee experience and performance, workplace culture and business success
Alenka demonstrates a live shopping experience at the innovative A1 Live Shop, the first virtual store in Slovenia, opened in 2020 by one of Kragelj’s long term clients
In her answers to questions from the audience, Alenka reveals her favorite design projects, along with the keys to successful change management
Event partner Velux measures air quality in the conference room using sensors, and participants can see the data on the screen – as explained by event host Petra Kovič
Thanks to the efficient building systems, the air in the room is fresh and comfortable, and the live audience enjoys optimal conditions for learning
Attendees and event partners network during the coffee break, in a welcoming and friendly atmosphere
People take a break and enjoy the warm autumn sun outdoors, surrounded by beautiful greenery
The Brdo Congress Center is a state-of-the art, multi-award-winning facility – the perfect environment for exchanging ideas and building meaningful connections at annual Workplace Design Conferences
During the time of restrictions, people are naturally hungry for face-to-face interaction, and the venue offers ample opportunities for participants to connect with each other
What better place to chat about great design and build business relationships than such a friendly and prestigious venue?
Alenka Kragelj Eržen talks with loyal WDC participants from Ekipa2 and answers questions during the break
A quick photo moment with the inspired management and staff from Kauch, WDC’s Founding Partner before the start of the next presentation
Dr. Nigel Oseland, workplace expert, psychologist and change manager, presents the results of the Slovenia Workplace Survey 2020 which measures the impact of work environments on employee satisfaction and business performance
As revealed by the survey (completed by over 500 respondents), a large proportion of employees expect to work differently after the covid measures are lifted
We learn that Slovenian employees respond to the measures in unique ways, and most of them have a greater desire to see their colleagues in person than many other nationalities
Alja Ceglar, architect and project manager at Kragelj Architects, explains how qualitative data can help us understand people’s views and needs, and thus develop effective change strategies
Nigel invites the audience to rethink the workplace based on the insights gained from various sources, and to find a path moving forward by making the best of the current situation
In the Q&A session (with questions coming from as far as Canada and Australia), Nigel talks about the preferred work practices of people with different personality traits, and what he finds most surprising about the survey results
Participants take a break and chat with each other while enjoying the delicious, catered lunch
Thomas Fundneider, founder and CEO of knowledge and innovation architects theLivingCore, Austria, presents ‘The Genesis of Merck Innovation Center’
As Thomas explains, theLivingCore first explored how innovation could be optimized within their client’s organization to ensure long-term success, and his team only started to look into design after understanding the activities the building needed to support
Randy Gage, bestselling author, speaker and thought leader from Miami, begins his talk on ‘The Future of Leadership’, sharing his vision on how to succeed in the new economy
Randy’s engaging presentation offers a lot of food for thought, including a new definition of leadership: inspiring people to become the highest possible versions of themselves and creating the environment that facilitates that process
Bostjan, who worked with Randy on projects around Central Europe in the 1990’s, asks a few lighthearted closing questions such as why Randy loves Slovenia so much
For those who were unable to attend the Workplace Design Conference in person, virtual participation was available via live-streaming and online conversations
WDC20 received praise for the programme and execution, but also for courage to keep on going when just a few events were held near and far. Stay tuned for WDC21, same venue, the date will be announced soon

SPONSORS & EXHIBITORS

STRATEGIC & FOUNDING PARTNER

PRODUCTION PARTNERS

FOUNDING PARTNERS

PARTNERS

MEDIA PARTNER

INSURANCE PARTNER


Feedback from past attendees

You could tell that people were eager to learn

“ Simply put, this was a GREAT conference! You could easily tell that people were eager to learn; a few hands were always up, taking photos of slides. Myself included. 🙂 There is nothing sweeter than “stealing” a little piece of inspiration. As far as I know, this was one of the first regional Workplace Design conferences, which is surprising when you think of the amount of time we spend in offices. Keep up the great work, and see you next year! “
Luka Milković
Business Manager Hungary & AdriaticsSteelcase

Excellent topics and speakers

“ I was very pleased with the conference topics and how the speakers presented them in a simple and practical way. I was also positively surprised that so many agile, high-performance workplaces have already been designed in Slovenia. Congratulations! Gantner works on similar projects internationally and I learned many new concepts that I will be able to apply in my work. “
Gorazd Golob
Business Development Manager, GANTNER Electronic GmbH

A perfect blend of practice and theory

“ The Workplace Design Conference was a perfect blend of practical examples and theoretical insights into workplace strategies and design. Through presentations, networking, and a lively panel discussion we learned about the importance of creating a work environment that fosters employee engagement and innovation. Which is really essential for any company’s success. “
dr. Katarina Katja Mihelič
Associate Professor, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Economics

I got a lot of great ideas

“ The link between psychology and physical spaces as explained to us by dr. Oseland was unknown to me, yet is completely logical. His presentations gave me a number of ideas on how to make our people at A1 feel better and more productive. A simple fact is that satisfaction with the work environment leads to more creativity and innovation. “
Ana Špec Brezovar
HR Expert, A1 Slovenija

We will definitely attend the next WDC 

“ At the Workplace Design conference, which I attended with my colleagues, we got lots of new ideas on how to improve our workspaces and make them user-friendlier. We are an international organization that conducts educational events in the field of public finance so it’s very important for us to provide a productive work and learning environment for our people and clients. We will definitely attend the conference next year. “
Cvetka Mozoli
Office Manager, Center of Excellence in Finance

Useful, thought-provoking presentations

“ Thank you very much for everything. The presentations were very useful and thought-provoking, and the organization of the conference was excellent. “
Peter Razpotnik
Finance Director, Loterija Slovenije d.d.

Thursday, September 30, 2021
 Rikli Balance Hotel, Bled, Slovenia

COPYRIGHT 2022 KRAGELJ ARCHITECTS LTD., WORKPLACE DESIGN CONFERENCE 2021