With insights from over 33,000 people worldwide, the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer identifies a defining challenge for organisations today: Trust Amid Insularity.

Building on recent years of rising polarisation and grievance, the report highlights a growing reluctance to engage with those holding different views which is now impacting collaboration, workplace culture, and productivity.

This year’s global report highlights the real and growing impact of division inside organisations, with almost half of respondents indicating they would rather switch departments than work under a manager with differing views, and more than a third acknowledging they would put in less effort if their team leader held different political beliefs. However, almost half of those surveyed believe insularity has reached near-crisis levels and that action is needed to rebuild trust.

Join Edelman Australia CEO, Tom Robinson, for an in-depth briefing on the report’s key insights and how the Australian results align to or differ from those around the globe. He will also discuss what the results mean for Australian workplaces, and how leaders can respond to strengthen trust, cohesion, and performance in an increasingly fragmented environment.