Agenda

26 February 2025
Conference agenda
Interactive session topics

8.00am

Registration

9.00am

Opening speech

Priya Sunil

Priya Sunil

Deputy Editor, Southeast Asia

Human Resources Online

9.10am

Welcome address

Aditi Sharma Kalra

Aditi Sharma Kalra

Editor-in-Chief

Human Resources Online

9.20am

[Opening keynote]

Moving beyond a "lift and shift mindset": Transforming mobility strategies for maximum business impact

When organisations are able to deploy people internally to fill vacancies, there is often a 60-70% greater chance that they will stay longer with the organisation. The benefits of a well-thought-out mobility programme go beyond loyalty to include retention, productivity, dollars saved in employee turnover, and time to fill vacancies.

In this opening keynote, we look at a real-life case study of mobility successfully contributing to business outcomes. Our speaker inaugurating the conference will talk about:

  • How the move towards a skill-based organisation has driven significant business impact and supported culture change efforts.
  • A framework for identifying high-value and revenue-generating positions in global talent movement to support a thoughtful mobility mindset.
  • The intricacies of balancing external recruitment with internal talent movement, including strategies for navigating talent gaps.
Speaker:
Urvi Jobalia

Urvi Jobalia

Global Head of Talent Deployment & Strategic TA Partner Tech & Ops

Standard Chartered Bank
A balance between buy and build strategies

10.00am

[Panel discussion]

Captaining a job-hopping workforce: Accessing the power of transparent internal mobility strategies

Employees today spend no more than a couple of years within their current organisation, before leveraging their gained experience for a higher paying job at another company or industry. Organisations, thus, aspire to not only focus on their internal mobility strategies, but also make such opportunities for development transparent and accessible for the workforce.

In this panel discussion, we look forward to discussing:

  • Strategies, resources, and avenues that are best suited for highlighting and promoting internal development opportunities within an organisation.
  • The importance of including skills and career mapping across the employment lifecycle, enabling increased visibility for both employees and their managers.
  • Establishing a new “buy vs build” balance; allowing organisations to easily differentiate between roles that can be built internally and those that require external niche talent.
  • Finding an optimal balance between rewards, job structure and mobility.
Moderator:
Arabelle Chaw

Arabelle Chaw

Director Global Account Management

Sirva

Panellists:
Kenneth Koo

Kenneth Koo

Talent Acquisition Leader & Executive Hiring Lead, South Asia

Micron Technology
Anser Aly

Anser Aly

Head of Global Learning & Leadership Development Centre

Unilever
Stephen Park

Stephen Park

International Mobility Centre, APAC

Schneider Electric

10.40am

Morning break

11.10am

[Fireside Chat]

Investing in the talent you already have: The secrets to building an internal talent marketplace

Research shows the costs of replacing an individual worker can range from half to four times the employee’s annual salary. Evidently, the cost of employee turnover is not just a concern for HR departments; it is a substantial burden on the financial health and productivity of every organisation.  

Here lies the importance of building a culture, systems, and a marketplace that support internal talent mobility.  

In this conversation, let’s unearth ways to:   

  • Address the true costs of employee turnover to adapt to a cost-aware era.  
  • Activate a company culture that encourages long employee tenures through growth and recognition opportunities. 
  • Leverage return on existing talent by establishing internal mobility best practices that support business outcomes. 
      Interviewee:
      Riantina

      Riantina

      Global Director, People & Culture

      Remerge
      Interviewer:
      Priya Sunil

      Priya Sunil

      Deputy Editor, Southeast Asia

      Human Resources Online

      11.50am

      [Interactive discussion #1 of 3]

      You’ll be engaged in three roundtable discussions throughout the day, each topic led by a zone host. Topics include encouraging mobility conversations in the workplace, discussing the merits of traditional and virtual mobility, as well as potential tech and AI advancements impacting mobility processes.

      Click here to find out more about each topic, and to meet the zone host.

      12.30pm

      Networking lunch

      Aligning mobility with current trends
      1.30pm

      [Interactive discussion #2 of 3]

      You’ll be engaged in three roundtable discussions throughout the day, each topic led by a zone host. Topics include encouraging mobility conversations in the workplace, discussing the merits of traditional and virtual mobility, as well as potential tech and AI advancements impacting mobility processes.

      Click here to find out more about each topic, and to meet the zone host.

      2.10pm 

      [Interactive discussion #3 of 3]

      You’ll be engaged in three roundtable discussions throughout the day, each topic led by a zone host. Topics include encouraging mobility conversations in the workplace, discussing the merits of traditional and virtual mobility, as well as potential tech and AI advancements impacting mobility processes. 

      Click here to find out more about each topic, and to meet the zone host.

      2.50pm 

      Afternoon break

      Preparing for future developments in mobility
      3.20pm 

      [Panel discussion]

      Replanting the roots of mobility: Bringing sustainability and inclusion to the forefront

      By integrating contemporary priorities like ESG (environmental, social, and governance), sustainability, and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) into talent mobility frameworks, organisations can foster more equitable and environmentally responsible talent practices.

      In this panel discussion, you may look forward to diverse insights on:

      • Best practices undertaken by organisations to offer sustainable/carbon-friendly relocation options, ensure bias-free candidate pools, and promote inclusive career growth opportunities.
      • Embedding these principles into mobility frameworks with a view to strengthen the company’s commitment to ethical, forward-thinking business practices in a globalised workforce.
      • Challenges faced while integrating sustainability and DEI goals into talent management processes, such as through the inclusion of ESG-related competencies or volunteering leave policies.
      • The importance of a streamlined compliance framework that incentivises inclusive mobility processes aligned to business needs.
      Moderator:
      Kit Lim

      Kit Lim

      Global Head of Culture, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

      Swire Shipping
      Panellists:
      Andrew Philp

      Andrew Philp

      Chief Corporate Development Officer

      activpayroll

      Lisa Johnson

      Lisa Johnson

      Director, Global Consulting

      Cartus

      Sarajit Poddar

      Sarajit Poddar

      Head of People Analytics Consulting

      Ericsson
      4.00pm 

      [Lightning talks]

      Keeping up with compliance: Navigating new realities in immigration, salary benchmarking, and FWAs

      For the first time in recent years, mobility strategies are starting to have a direct impact on the ability of a business to scale or adapt. Take for instance, the implications of the C1 salary benchmarks part of the COMPASS framework that add to wage budgets, as well as the implementation of the FWA guidelines that are pushing leaders to rethink the objectives behind their hybrid working models.

      With the continuously changing legal landscape, organisations must tread carefully when weighing organisational priorities against compliance frameworks.

      In this session, we have two speakers take the stage in tandem, to discuss:

      • Constantly refreshing and adapting to compliance and risk developments: Establishing localised subject matter experts and keeping tabs on the employee pulse.
      • Bringing together talent management perspectives with statutory regulations: How processes and mindsets need to cope to evolve.
      • The fine line between personalisation vs making exceptions: Ensuring that while policies crafted have room for flexibility, they do not create gaps in DEI or biasness towards any parts of the workforce.
      Speaker:
      Priya Aswani

      Priya Aswani

      Senior Counsel, Labour & Employment Law and Litigation, APAC

      Cargill

      Jean Lin

      Jean Lin

      Sr. Director for Global Compensation Strategies & International Exposure Strategies

      STMicroelectronics

      4.40pm

      Closing address

      Priya Sunil

      Priya Sunil

      Deputy Editor, Southeast Asia

      Human Resources Online

      5.00pm

      End of Talent Mobility 2025

      Interactive session topics

      [Interactive discussion topic 1]

      A compelling workplace: The ‘why’ behind bringing people back to the office

      Why do people come to the office? How can leaders make that time as meaningful and productive as possible? What’s the lure of the work-from-anywhere setup? These questions are more urgent than ever with Singapore’s tripartite guidelines mandating better processes around flexible working arrangements, even as companies, especially in the tech sector, are asking employees to return to office.

      What’s more important than implementing policies, however, is ensuring that employees and employers alike have a compelling reason to rejuvenate the ‘objective’ behind the workplace experience.

      In this interactive session, we will discuss:

      • The importance of reevaluating the role of the office and finding innovative ways to make in-person work both valuable and desirable for employees.
      • Optimising the ‘why’ behind the workforce coming together: Strategies for deeper connection, collaboration, creativity, and culture.
      • Coaching leaders & people managers on how to be much more intentional about creating a workplace philosophy that shapes their culture.

      Zone Hosts:

      Bernice Ho

      Bernice Ho

      VP, Group Talent Management

      OCBC

      Chevaun Chee

      Chevaun Chee

      Head of Group Talent Management

      OCBC

      Lynn Lim

      Lynn Lim

      Head of People Experience

      Volvo Cars Tech Hub Singapore

      [Interactive discussion topic 2]

      Aspiring for resilience: The impact of global geopolitics on mobility programmes in APAC

      With the dynamics of the macro environments and geopolitical nuances globally, markets and organisations alike face unprecedented challenges to respond swiftly for sustainable survival.  

      As the global mobility landscape continues to evolve, organisations must embrace innovative and flexible strategies to adapt quickly to the changing needs of their mobile employees.  

      In this conversation, let us huddle around to discuss: 

      • How mobility teams are mitigating the impact of world events, such as evolving immigration laws, travel risks, economic tension, and more.
      • Strategies for retaining skilled talent in regions experiencing political or economic instability. 
      • Best practices to think strategically and act with agility when managing mobility programmes. 

      Zone Hosts:

      Candice Tin

      Candice Tin

      Senior Mobility Consultant

      Cummins Asia Pacific

      Grace Huang

      Grace Huang

      Partner, APAC Employment Tax Leader

      Vialto Partners
      Yang Li

      Yang Li

      Partner, APAC Immigration Leader

      Vialto Partners

      [Interactive discussion topic 3]

      The digital catalyst: Optimising your global mobility programme through technology

      Mobility teams often face obstacles such as repetitive tasks, communication challenges, and tracking and maintaining multiple data points among other administrative workloads.

      Optimally identifying digital resources that will enhance global mobility programmes should become a key business priority, as they can lead to unified processes, real-time data analysis, personalised experiences, and better-informed decisions on global talent deployment.

      In this interactive session, let’s talk about leveraging technology that makes the mobility team more productive and innovative, as we aim for the following takeaways:

      • How to effectively identify and utilise specific digital resources to increase the efficiency of your mobility programmes.
      • Optimal strategies for leveraging AI in your mobility programme.
      • Insights on how integrating technology into mobility can lead to improved employee communication and engagement.

      Zone Hosts:

      Oliver Trundley

      Oliver Trundley

      Co-CEO

      Workia
      Dean Bennetts

      Dean Bennetts

      Vice President Business Development APAC

      Sirva

      Kelly Cheong

      Kelly Cheong

      Regional Business Development Manager

      Sirva