InspireHR 2026

Wednesday, 7 October 2026

8:30 AM

REGISTRATION & REFRESHMENT

9:00 AM

Welcome remarks

9:10 AM

[Opening Fireside Chat]

Beyond headcount: From talent scarcity to talent renewal

Reframing workforce restructuring beyond headcount reduction, using reskilling, redeployment, and role redesign to renew critical capabilities.
Applying a risk and resilience lens to workforce decisions, balancing immediate business pressures with longer-term talent and organisational needs.
Using clear and strategic HR communication to build trust, strengthen culture, and help employees navigate workforce change with greater confidence.

Moderator:

Aditi Sharma Kalra

Editor-in-Chief

Human Resources Online

Speaker:

Dr Sabrina Tin

Group Chief People Officer

Hop Lun Group

9:40 AM

[Case Study]

High performance without burnout: Building healthy performance culture where people thrive

How to identify key characteristics of organisations that predict success when it comes to achieving performance goals.
How to balance high expectations and support in the workplace.
The impact and ROI for organisations when employees feel supported.

Russell Flint

Vice President, Asia Pacific

O.C. Tanner

Gina Lee

Lead Advisor, Workplace Culture and EX Asia

O.C. Tanner

10:10 AM

[Case Study]

Employee benefits in 2026: Cost, prevention & technology

Tackling rising healthcare costs through smarter cost-containment strategies, care navigation and alternative healthcare options, including access across the Greater Bay Area.
Moving from reactive to preventive benefits, with more personalised support that reflects employees’ different life stages, health needs and expectations.
Leveraging technology and AI to make benefits work smarter, from improving access and employee engagement to using data and digital tools to drive better decisions and outcomes.

Jason Armer

Global Head of Account Management Operations

Pacific Prime

Heidi Jezard

Head of Commercial

Pacific Prime

10:40 AM

MORNING COFFEE & NETWORKING

11:00 AM

[Case Study]

The future of employee benefits: Connecting health, mental wellbeing, and retirement readiness through digital innovation

Connecting physical health, mental wellbeing, and financial wellness under a more holistic benefits strategy.
How digital platforms can lower barriers to support, especially for mental health and retirement planning.
Exploring how benefit providers can help employers make support more accessible, personalised, and action-oriented.

Andrew Lee

Head of Corporate Solutions Strategy and Business Development, Partnership Distribution

AIA Hong Kong & Macau

Ben Siu

Associate Director, Corporate Solutions Business Development, Partnership Distribution

AIA Hong Kong & Macau

11:30 AM

[Case Study]

Building a high-trust culture: How flexibility, growth and connection help people thrive

Unlimited paid leave as a trust-based benefit
Investing in employee growth through development initiatives that enhance skills, career progression, and long-term organisational capability
Building meaningful connections through engagement programs that foster inclusion, collaboration, and a strong sense of belonging

Samantha Che

Head of People and Culture

Sun Hung Kai & Co.

12:00 PM

[Case Study]

Translating insights into action: Using data to effectively implement DEIB strategy

How to connect workforce data with strategy development and implementation
How to identify and plug data gaps for more comprehensive analysis
How to use evidence-based insights to increase your credibility and influence with the business

Sonal Chugani

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Lead

Cathay Pacific Airways

12:30 PM

[Flash Talk]

The future of global HR: Unified global payroll, borderless teams, and AI that works

Why global HR is becoming a board-level growth issue as Hong Kong companies look beyond local talent markets and expand in APAC and beyond.
How unified global payroll is evolving from an administrative function into strategic workforce infrastructure: connecting employee data, benefits, compliance, payments, and reporting across markets.
How HR leaders can reduce cross-border complexity as they scale: strengthening compliance, multi-currency payments, local employment support, and data visibility.

Eli Chuah

Senior Solutions Consultant, APAC

Remote

12:45 PM

NETWORKING LUNCH

1:45 PM

[Case Study]

Agentic AI in HR: Empowering employees at every stage of the journey

Mapping HR queries where AI agents can safely support employees without creating unnecessary risk
Setting escalation points for sensitive, unclear, or policy-heavy cases that need human HR judgement
Monitoring agent performance through accuracy, resolution quality, and employee trust

Bobby Wu

Head of Enterprise Architect

Workday

2:15 PM

[Panel Discussion]

Digital adoption: Improving HR technology uptake by designing around real employee use cases

Identifying the employee tasks where HR platforms need to feel easier, faster, and more useful
Guiding adoption through in-flow support and practical user habits
Reading adoption signals beyond logins and leveraging feedback loops for better business outcomes

Moderator:

Sherman Lo

Director of Human Resources

Intertek

Panellists:

David Henderson

Global Head of HR Vendor Management

JPMorganChase

Edward Ng

Regional Human Resources Director

Vita Green

2:45 PM

[Fireside Chat]

The new HR operating model: What should HR stop, pause, start, and automate?

Examine new ways of structuring HRBPs, centres of excellence, shared services, and digital delivery teams for sharper business impact.
Clarify ownership across HR, managers, technology, and regional teams to reduce duplication and decision bottlenecks.
Discuss what it takes to build an HR function that is lean, consistent, commercially aligned, and responsive to change.

Moderator:

Tracy Chan

Deputy Editor, North Asia

Human Resources Online

Speaker:

Thierry Kun

Head of Human Resources Business Partner-Asia Pacific

Longchamp

3:15 PM

NETWORKING DRINKS

3:35 PM

[Global Perspective]

Workforce planning in an uncertain economy: The art of scenario planning for HR leaders

Ways to balance workforce cost, capability, productivity, and readiness for growth in a slower, more uncertain business cycle.
Approaches to using scenario planning to prepare for shifts in headcount demand, critical skills, redeployment needs, and role redesign.
How HR can support more confident workforce decisions when market conditions, talent supply, and business priorities keep changing.

Moderator:

Kristy Lam

Senior Global HR Lead

EP Cube Canadian Solar

Speakers:

Cheri Hurtubise

Director of Global Early Careers

Hasbro

Charlotte Chan

Senior Director, People and Culture

Klook

4:05 PM

[Panel Discussion]

C-suite conversation: Strengthening leadership effectiveness by equipping managers to deliver business priorities

Aligning C-suite leaders on how managers can carry change, communication, and business priorities more effectively
Equipping managers with the tools, data, and decision rights needed to act with confidence
Measuring leadership effectiveness through execution quality, employee trust, and consistency of organisational messaging

Moderator: