DAY 1 | 12 JULY 2023

8.30am

Registration and welcome refreshments

9.00am

Opening address

Aditi Sharma Kalra

Aditi Sharma Kalra

Editor-in-Chief

Human Resources Online

9.10am

[Opening keynote]
Total rewards and the Employment Act amendments: A strategic perspective
  • Explore the recent amendments to Malaysia’s Employment Act and how they impact employee benefits, flexible work arrangements, and family-friendly policies.
  • Understand the direct and indirect effects of these changes on the relationship between companies and their staff, and the role of rewards teams in navigating them.
  • Learn how to leverage these changes to create a more engaging and competitive total rewards programme, and stay ahead in the dynamic and evolving employment landscape.
Speaker:
Badrol Izam Baharom

Badrol Izam Baharom

Senior General Manager

MMHE Holdings Berhad (MHB)

9.55am

[Panel discussion]
Moving beyond money: Designing non-monetary rewards that drive employee engagement
  • Discuss the importance of non-monetary rewards in driving engagement and motivation and creating a well-rounded rewards package.
  • Explore various non-monetary rewards, such as flexible work arrangements, recognition programmes, and development opportunities, and how they cater to diverse employee needs.
  • Design and implement non-monetary rewards programmes aligned with organisational values and culture – which includes employee feedback, continuous evaluation, and effectiveness measurement.
Moderator:
Somita Rajendran

Somita Rajendran

Senior Assistant Vice President, HR Business Partner

Astro

Panellists:

Navamogan Munian

Navamogan Munian

Vice President, People & Organisation APAC

Aker Solutions
Harvindar Singh

Harvindar Singh

General Manager, Human Resources & Compliance

Sunway Theme Parks
Dr. Koh Ngee Loke

Dr. Koh Ngee Loke

HR Director

UCT

10.40am

Networking coffee break

11.10am

[Fireside chat]
From real-time feedback to customisable perks: Designing personalised rewards that resonate with your employees
  • Utilising real-time feedback systems to improve employee satisfaction and engagement.
  • Incorporate data analysis and insights to inform HR and management decisions related to employee feedback and benefits.
  • Remove recency bias during employee evaluation.

Panellists:

Jimmy Tan

Jimmy Tan

Head of Executive Compensation & Rewards

AirAsia
Milin Tho

Milin Tho

Head of Total Rewards

Nestlé Indochina
Moderator:
Priya Sunil

Priya Sunil

Senior Journalist

Human Resources Online

11.55am

[Case study]

Enhancing employee engagement: Zooming into the best practices for effective employee wellbeing
  • Discover how mindfulness benefits the workplace, including improved focus, reduced stress, and increased engagement. 
  • Explore practical strategies for promoting mindfulness through leadership behaviour, a mindful environment, and training – and measure the impact on employee well-being and engagement. 
  • Gain insights into how mindfulness builds resilience in teams and employees, including supporting them through difficult times with stress management resources and a supportive culture – and leave with actionable strategies. 
Speaker:
Joan Low

Joan Low

Founder and CEO

ThoughtFull

12.40pm

Networking lunch

1.40pm

[Case study]

Paying for good for all: Embedding ESG in C&B strategies in the Post-Pandemic Era
  • Revolutionising C&B by embedding ESG and employee wellness into the Post-Pandemic workplace
  • Earned Wage Access (EWA) as a ESG game-changer for building a sustainable workforce
  • Improving financial wellness, productivity, and employee experience (EX) with EWA
  • Real-World Success: Case Study with Paywatch’s client to showcase how EWA benefits both employees and companies
Speaker:
Patrick Hew

Patrick Hew

Chief Technology Officer

Paywatch

2.25pm

[Panel discussion]
Future-proof offerings: Designing a total rewards package for hybrid workforce

HR professionals need to adjust their total rewards strategies to cater to the changing demands of their employees considering hybrid work arrangements are here to stay. This session aims to equip attendees with the skills necessary to create a total rewards package that satisfies the needs of a hybrid workforce.   

The session explores the following:  

  • What is the significance of flexibility, transparency, and communication in the implementation of a future-proof total rewards package?
  • How do you use recognition to drive values-based behaviours at your organisation?
  • How to create a rewards package that removes biases and equally recognises remote, flexi, and in-office employees?

Panellists:

Khairul Syafiqah Mokhtar

Khairul Syafiqah Mokhtar

Head of Human Resources

Natura Malaysia

M Nazrul Effendy M Isa

M Nazrul Effendy M Isa

General Manager, Remuneration, Human Capital Expertise

PETRONAS
Upasna Kapoor

Upasna Kapoor

Regional Implementation Lead- Rewards

Novartis Malaysia
Moderator:
Kamil Darman

Kamil Darman

Regional Manager

Grab For Business, Malaysia

3.10pm

Networking coffee break

3.40pm

[Case study]

Recognise, reward and communicate: Building a culture of recognition

Following the uncertainty and upheaval of the past 2-3 years, ‘humanizing’ the workplace is more important than ever. Employee recognition has an important role to play – it helps create a strong sense of community, connection and belonging by making employees at all levels and all locations feel seen, heard and valued for not only the work they do, but also the people they are. It’s not all about the big wins and top performers; the positive cultural impacts of encouraging effort, celebrating wins (big and small) and ‘moments that matter’ cannot be underestimated. 

Russell will draw on O.C. Tanner’s global research and his extensive industry experience to share insights and tips on how organizations can foster a dynamic workplace to elevate the sense of purpose, connection and community through the practice of appreciation and in the process, strengthen its competitive position in the new battle for talent.  

The session will cover:  

  • The critical elements of a thriving workplace culture  
  • How does recognition differ from appreciation, and why are they both important?  
  • The naturally occurring recognition opportunities in the workplace   
  • How to creating meaningful and memorable recognition moments 
Speaker:
Russell Flint

Russell Flint

Director, Business Development (Asia Pacific)

O.C. Tanner

4.25pm

[Closing debate]
Breaking the silence: The power of pay transparency for a fair and accountable workplace

Many argue that pay transparency can help to address the gender and racial pay gaps that still exist in many industries. By making salaries and compensation packages more transparent, employers can identify and address any discrepancies in pay between employees with similar qualifications and experience. This closing debate will focus on addressing pay disparities and promoting a culture of fairness and trust. It will also emphasise the importance of approaching pay transparency with caution and considering the potential risks and benefits before implementing any changes.   

  • Emphasise the importance of approaching pay transparency with caution and considering the potential risks and benefit
  • Identify and address any discrepancies in pay between employees with similar qualifications and experience
  • Address pay disparities and promote a culture of fairness and trust.

Panellists:

Nicholas Thooi

Nicholas Thooi

Group Senior HR Director

TDCX
 Amani Yusoff

Amani Yusoff

VP of Remunerations & Performance Management

Telekom Malaysia
Amit Singh

Amit Singh

HR Leader – APAC GBS and Malaysia

Zimmer Biomet
Moderator:
Dr. Loo Leap Han

Dr. Loo Leap Han

Head of People

Infinity Group

5.10pm

Closing address

Aditi Sharma Kalra

Aditi Sharma Kalra

Editor-in-Chief

Human Resources Online

5.15pm

End of day one