GPA Payroll Symposium
Date: 5th February 2026
Time: 8.30am - 12.30pm
Cost: FREE
Location: The Leinster - 7 Mount Street Lower, Dublin 2, D02 WK3
Join us where Payroll & HR professionals will come together for a morning of insightful discussions, networking, and collaboration. Whether you’re reconnecting with familiar faces or expanding your network with new industry peers, this symposium offers a unique platform to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and stay ahead in the evolving payroll landscape. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and build meaningful connections in a vibrant professional setting!
Session One
What is a Payroll Strategy? Why is it important now, more than ever? What does it really mean and what does it take to develop one?
In this session, Simon will unpick what makes-up a Payroll Strategy, some of the challenges often seen and how best to tackle them. He will walk you through a step-by-step approach and bring it to life with real examples and hints and tips that you can take back with you to your business.
Speaker: Simon Puryer, Executive Director – Head of Payroll, Lace Partners
REGISTRATION AND REFRESHMENTS
NETWORKING AND REFRESHMENTS
Session Three
The future of Pay: Transforming potential – how AI will elevate the way we work
Touted as the 4th Industrial revolution, AI is on the upwards trajectory, despite a lack of pragmatic case studies in recent years (and a lot of marketing buzz words). Pay has been slow to change over the years. It’s consistently viewed as a non-profit, yet business critical transactional function and usually the largest cost output to a business with significant compliance requirements; however investment typically comes only when there’s an issue. Whether you're a skeptic or a strategist, this is your invitation to see how AI can elevate your role, your impact, and your potential. AI is transformational change, it will enhance industry - your job isn’t likely to disappear anytime soon - it will make you more agile, seeing responsible leadership emerge.
Speaker: Lara Smart, Director @LSC Group
Session Three
The Evolution of Global Payroll: What’s Next in 2026
As organisations expand into new markets and workforces become increasingly distributed, the world of global payroll is evolving at record pace. In 2026, payroll teams will be expected to deliver more than accuracy—they’ll need to navigate shifting regulations, embrace smarter technology, and manage complex cross-border payments with precision. This session explores what’s coming next, the trends shaping global payroll, and how leaders can prepare for a future where people, processes, and payments must work seamlessly together.
Presenters: Stephane Baranzelli, Vice President, Global B2B & Strategic Partnerships @ Currencies Direct
The Agenda
The Speakers
The Venue
7 Mount Street Lower,
Dublin 2,
D02 WK33
The Sponsor
TransferMate is an international payments solution that helps companies save thousands on global payroll payments. TransferMate also integrates with the most popular accounting and payroll software, so it’s even easier and faster to pay your international employees.
Melanie Pizzey
CEO
Global Payroll Alliance
Lara Smart
Director
LSC Group
Stuart Hyland
Partner
Ellason LLP
Simon Puryer
Executive Director - Head of Payroll
Lace Partners
Session Two
Pay Transparency Unpacked: What’s Changing and Why It Matters
Pay transparency is rapidly reshaping the way organisations think about compensation, equity, and employee trust. As new legislation rolls out across regions and employee expectations evolve, payroll and HR professionals are at the forefront of this transformation. Understanding what’s required — and how to communicate pay data responsibly has never been more important. In this session,Stuart Hyland unpack the latest developments in pay transparency, exploring how organisations can balance compliance with fairness and clarity. Stuart will share insights into what’s driving these global changes, how businesses are adapting, and what this means for the future of pay, engagement, and talent retention.
Speaker: Stuart Hyland, Partner @ Ellason LLP