David Ky

Chief of Staff to the Global Head of People & Talent at Airwallex

David Ky is Chief of Staff to the Global Head of People & Talent at Airwallex. A former product strategist, he brings a design and systems-thinking lens to People Ops. He’s passionate about using experimentation to build better people experiences—and avoid costly mistakes. David is also a Global Shaper with the World Economic Forum and a board member of Enactus Australia.

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Can we really 'fail fast' in HR?

‘Fail fast’ works for products—but does it work for People? David Ky explores how HR can apply lean startup thinking to test ideas, validate assumptions, and learn faster. Drawing on his background in product and strategy, David shares a toolkit for HR experiments that reduce wasted effort and increase impact. You’ll leave with practical ways to try, test, and pivot—before investing in months of change. If you’ve ever built a people initiative that flopped, this one’s for you.

The value of outside perspectives for today’s People leaders

What happens when People leaders stop going it alone? In this panel, Ashleigh Loughnan, David Ky, KP Ponti, and Nic Hopkins share how external perspectives — fractional execs, coaches, operator-advisors, and agency partners — sharpen strategy, challenge assumptions, and unlock clarity. Ashleigh draws from her COO role at Hutly; David brings a systems lens from Airwallex; Nic shares lessons from scaling as a VP of People; and KP adds experience leading Humankind, advising organisations on how to scale humanity and performance side-by-side. Together, they explore how outside expertise helps founders and People leaders cut through complexity, avoid blind spots, and move with more confidence. This is a conversation for anyone feeling stuck in the weeds — and ready to see further.