ICMA Australia hosts insightful session on bridging generational divide in the workplace

The Institute of Certified Management Accountants (ICMA) of Australia hosted a thought-provoking evening themed ‘The Gen Z Equation: What Every Leader Needs to Know,’ designed to address one of today's most pressing workplace challenges of understanding and effectively managing generational differences.

Current workplaces have become increasingly multifaceted across generations, harnessing the strengths of each generation while addressing their unique needs has become critical for organizational success. Through the event, ICMA sought to provide attendees with practical tools and insights to transform these differences from workplace challenges into competitive advantages.

The session united seasoned leadership expertise with authentic Gen Z perspectives to help leaders build stronger, more collaborative workplaces, unpacking intergenerational dynamics, challenging common myths, and sharing research-backed insights.

Participants included leaders, managers, HR professionals, and team members working in inclusive, multigenerational environments committed to building future-ready workplaces.

The evening featured a unique father-daughter facilitation team, combining decades of leadership. The two comprehensive presentations were followed by a moderated panel discussion that delivered practical insights from both sides of the divide.

The main presentation, ‘A Leader's Guide to Bridging the Generational Gap,’ was led by globally experienced leadership trainer Vidusha Nathavitharana. He holds global leadership training experience and HR thought leadership, specializing in intergenerational workplace dynamics. His expertise combines deep theoretical knowledge with practical, real-world applications.

Vidusha’s presentation explored whether the generation gap is real or perceived, examined why age-related differences matter more than ever, and provided practical strategies for creating alignment across generations. Participants gained insights into addressing low engagement and learnt from case studies of high-engagement and workplace harmony has driven impressive results.

The co-presentation was on ‘The Gen Z Voice—Straight from the Source’ delivered by Shaakya Nathavitharana, a Gen Z with academic research in workplace psychology. She has unique Gen Z perspectives grounded in academic research and professional experience in learning and development. Her work focuses on practical solutions for bridging age-diverse gaps in modern workplaces.

During her presentation, she challenged common myths about her own generation, presenting data-driven insights into Gen Z workplace expectations. Her presentation demonstrated how meeting Gen Z's needs benefits all generations and explored the powerful potential of generational collaboration.

The evening concluded with a vibrant discussion moderated by Lien Keerthisinghe featuring the facilitators and Dulani Nissanka, Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Abans Group Sri Lanka, providing attendees with opportunities to engage directly with the experts and explore practical applications of the insights presented.

Established in 1996 in Australia, ICMA is a global accounting body dedicated to advancing management accounting expertise. With a growing presence across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa, ICMA's workshop modules are recognized up to Level 9 by the New Zealand Qualification Agency (NZQA).

ICMA has established a strong presence in Sri Lanka since 1998, through a partnership with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka.