Agenda

20 May, 2026 (Wednesday)
8.15am

Registration

9.00am

Welcome address

Aditi Sharma Kalra

Aditi Sharma Kalra

Editor-in-Chief

Human Resources Online
9.20am

[Thought leadership keynote]

Rise of agentic AI and the human-machine hybrid: Making the leap into the augmented workforce 
As agentic AI automates routine work, organisations are shifting from thinking about “headcount” to thinking about “human judgement”. The word ‘hybrid’ has a new meaning, as we stop debating WFH vs WFO, and instead recognise that the future workforce itself is hybrid. Digital agents will take over tasks that require scale and repetition, while humans lead conversations around ambiguity, ethics, and creativity.

In this opening keynote delivered by a recognised thought leader and AI authority, we set the stage with questions around:

  • How to reframe roles around orchestration of tasks, decision-making and collaboration with AI, not mere replacement of humans.
  • Strategies to rescope jobs, design human + AI workflows, and prioritise development of skills that AI cannot replicate.
  • Guidance for HR leaders to craft new role taxonomies and rework performance definitions to reward outcomes, not tasks.
Speaker:
Josh Skorupa

Josh Skorupa

Head of Digital Transformation & Capability

GovTech
10.00am

[Interactive discussion]

Learning circles: Network, co-create ideas, and solve real-life challenges on today’s biggest workforce issues 

Let us dive into short, solution-oriented peer-to-peer discussions to set the tone for the day ahead. This segment will allow delegates to get to know each other better, start the day fresh with networking, as well as quickly pivot into solution mindset, by discussing real-life solutions to some of the key challenges being faced across the industry.

Topics of discussion comprise the following:

  1. No one left behind: Scaling bottom-up AI learning
    • How do we ensure every employee – not just digitally-fluent generations – can work with AI effectively?
  2. Redesigning roles for the human + AI workforce (*Terence Kok)
    • What’s the fastest way to re-map tasks between people and AI without disrupting operations?
  3. Trusting the machine: Building confidence in AI outputs (**Ilja Rijnen)
    • How can organisations teach teams to trust, question, and calibrate AI recommendations responsibly?
  4. Winning hearts, not just adoption rates
    • How can we make change management stick when employees resist new tools?
  5. FOBO and burnout: Tracking the hidden cost of AI adoption
    • How can we measure and reduce technostress without slowing down innovation?
  6. Empowering the middle: Managers as AI multipliers(***Ilham Maulana)
    • What do managers need to lead effectively in an augmented workplace?
*Led by:
Terence Kok

Terence Kok

Chief AI and Innovation Officer

Meinhardt Group

**Led by:

Ilja Rijnen

Ilja Rijnen

VP People Partner APAC & Global Head of Talent Development NPE Division

GEA Group

***Led by:

Ilham Maulana

Ilham Maulana

HR Director for Oral Care, Asia Middle East Africa (AMA) and Product Supply, AMA

P&G
10.40am

Morning break

Take a breather, grab a cup of coffee, and connect with fellow attendees before we dive back into the morning sessions.

11.10am

[Case study]

From pilot to permanence: A case study in AI-enabled organisational change 
Learn from a speaker who will ground this presentation in a real organisational use case, sharing how AI was integrated not just as a tool, but as a strategic capability that reshaped workforce models, productivity, and leadership behaviours.

As such, this keynote speaker will share their integration journey and provide a forward lens into what the next phase of AI-enabled organisations will look like:

  • How their organisation shifted from fragmented automation pilots to a unified AI ecosystem embedded across operations, leadership, and human resources.
  • Real life examples of successes and missteps in their journey.
  • How they built trust in AI: transparent governance, psychological safety, and communicating the “why” behind AI decisions.

11.50am

[Panel discussion]

Reimagining the HR operating model: From services to products 

This session reimagines HR as a product organisation – where Centres of Expertise (CoE) potentially become product teams; HRBPs become talent portfolio managers; and HR tech becomes a business capability.

In this discussion, our panellists will share their perspectives on the future HR operating model, offering concise insights and practical approaches to how HR can evolve in a rapidly changing landscape.

The goal: make HR more scalable, data-driven and outcome-focused.

Expected discussion points include:

  • Blueprints for converting the HR operating model into one that is more agile and responsive to changing needs.
  • New HR KPIs that would tie directly to business outcomes (such as time-to-skill, talent yield, internal mobility).
  • How to balance the speed of experimentation with milestones to measure progress, as well as budgeting & resource allocation.

Moderator:

Alex Png

Alex Png

Chief People Officer, Asia-Pacific

The Hoffman Agency

Panellists:

Claire Yu

Claire Yu

Senior Director, Talent, Asia Pacific

Otis

Kevin Shepherdson

Kevin Shepherdson

CEO and Founder

Straits Interactive
Dharma Chandran

Dharma Chandran

Chief Corporate Services Officer

Toll Group

12.30pm

Networking lunch

Recharge over a hearty lunch, exchange ideas, and make new connections, then return refreshed and ready for the afternoon ahead!

1.30pm 

[Speed meetings]

Structured networking session 
Join us for a networking experience designed to get you on your feet and help you make valuable connections! Stay refreshed post lunch by meeting your peers, exchanging ideas, and expanding your network through a series of brief, purposeful conversations.

1.50pm 

[Panel discussion]

Change management as the #1 leadership capability: Building agility and resilience into culture  
Leaders across industries have said time and again – adapting to technology, or procuring the latest tools, is not as much of a challenge as is the resistance to new tools, driven by old-school mindsets, that remains the single biggest blocker to impact.

In this lively on-stage panel discussion, get set to understand:

  • How to embed change management best practices into the culture and behaviours rather than as an after-thought.
  • Simplified and impactful solutions to foster agility, resilience, empathy, and future-readiness capabilities for leaders and people managers.
  • Practical tactics to convert tech investments into real productivity and value beyond frontline adoption targets or uptake metrics.

Moderator:

Sophie Liu

Sophie Liu

Director, Talent and Learning Development

CHAGEE University
Panellists:
Kingley Lim

Kingley Lim

APAC Head of Culture, DEI, CSR & Talent Head SEA ANZ

Henkel

Pauline Loo

Pauline Loo

SVP & Regional Hub Head of HR

Nippon Sanso Holdings Corporation
Zahina Bibi

Zahina Bibi

Head of Organisational Transformation

Standard Chartered Bank
2.30pm 

[Fireside chat]

Building the organisation of the future: Leveraging AI to drive a culture of agility and innovation

As AI continues to reshape workplaces, HR leaders must rethink how teams are organised to enable agility and innovation. Moving beyond efficiency gains, a strategic approach is required towards the new ways of working, while adopting AI responsibly.  

In this one-on-one conversation, we will explore how leaders at DBS are navigating digital transformation, and what this means to its people and culture. 

Key discussion points include:

  • Building an empathetic organisation that empowers employees with ownership, accountability, and confidence to work alongside AI. 
  • Enabling continuous reskilling and upskilling to support employees in adapting to evolving roles. 
  • Embedding responsible AI practices to ensure ethical and sustainable adoption across the organisation. 
  • Highlighting practical insights to encourage cross-functional collaboration and build customer-centric processes. 

Interviewer:

Priya Sunil

Priya Sunil

Deputy Editor, Southeast Asia

Human Resources Online

Speaker:
Harsh Narula

Harsh Narula

Head of Customer Experience and Business Transformation

DBS Bank

3.00pm 

Afternoon break

Refuel with a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy a quick chat with peers before we wrap up the day’s final sessions.

3.30pm 

[Training ground]

Translators of technology and talent: AI skills that every CHRO needs to know 
From understanding generative AI’s impact on workforce design to interpreting skills-gap analytics, it’s hard to be relevant as an HR leader today if we cannot speak both the language of the business and talent – and a third one, technology.

In this hands-on session, our guests will take away new skills that they can put into use right away – ensuring that the HR function leads, rather than follows, the AI revolution.

Speaker:
Ramya Balakrishnan

Ramya Balakrishnan

VP Global Talent & Development

Coty

3.50pm 

[Case study]

From fragmentation to flow: Building a tech-powered HR ecosystem

Spreadsheets, manual workarounds, and disconnected systems aren’t just HR headaches—they are barriers to growth. Yet, for many HR leaders, the road to a unified global system is littered with failed implementations and low adoption rates.

Forget the AI hype cycle. This session offers a grounded, battle-tested roadmap for HR leaders ready to move from manual chaos to a streamlined digital function. We’ll skip the futuristic fluff and focus on the practical steps needed to win over your team and deliver tangible results.

Key takeaways:

  • The blueprint for unity: How to successfully transition fragmented local processes into a unified global HRIS.
  • Practical AI: Real-world applications for AI in HR—from automating job descriptions to elevating performance management.
  • The adoption formula: Proven strategies to overcome resistance and turn low usage rates into high employee engagement.

4.20pm

Closing remarks

Aditi Sharma Kalra

Aditi Sharma Kalra

Editor-in-Chief

Human Resources Online

4.30pm

End of conference – start of networking drinks 
The conference may be all wrapped up, but we look forward to hosting all our delegates for an informal networking session where we can discuss some of our top learnings of the day. Unwind, exchange reflections, and toast to new partnerships!
6.00pm

End of networking drinks