Agenda overview
11 June 2025
Download the brochure for full programme details and session highlights!
8:30 AM
REGISTRATION & REFRESHMENTS
9:00 AM
Welcome address
UPSKILLING 2.0
9:10 AM
[Opening Fireside Chat]
Beyond agility: Redefining skills-based talent management for tomorrow's workforce
Industries are facing rapid change which is placing questions on the adaptability of rigid job roles. This session explores how a skills-first mindset empowers organisations to tap into hidden potential, drive agility, and future-proof their workforce. Let us shift the focus from static roles to dynamic capabilities that align with evolving business needs.

Emmy Kan
Former President
Starbucks Coffee Asia Pacific
9:40 AM
[Panel Discussion]
The learning-led transformation: Embedding L&D into change and business strategy
Change is constant, yet many organisations treat L&D as reactive rather than strategic. This session explores the integration of learning into organisational change, ensuring employees can adapt to innovate, and drive business transformation from within.

Jovan Trajceski
Global Analytics Partner
Panellists:

Kwong Yick Ling Sarah
Talent and Leadership Development Head
HSBC

Paul van Rotterdam
Assistant Director of Human Resources
10:10 AM
[Flash Talk]
Career DNA: Personalising learning to support multi-stage careers
Career paths are no longer linear, and outdated L&D models don’t cut it. Learn how personalised, modular learning can support employees through transitions, aligning career growth with organisational success and lifelong learning.

Cissy Ho
Director of Talent Management
AECOM
10:25 AM
MORNING COFFEE & NETWORKING
FUTURE TALENT
10:45 AM
[Case Study]
Borderless talent: Competing for global skills in a hyper-connected world
Organisations are reimagining talent strategies to stay ahead in an increasingly global and competitive landscape. With rising talent shortages, demographic shifts, and regulatory hurdles, forward-thinking companies are building agile, borderless workforces by leveraging regional strengths, remote work models, and smarter mobility solutions.

Gautam Duggal
Senior Vice President of HR, Learning & Culture - Asia South, JANA and MEA Clusters
Citi
11:15 AM
[Flash Talk]
AI-driven recruitment: Precision hiring to break barriers for diversity
Traditional recruitment methods struggle to meet modern demands for speed and fairness. Discover how AI can enhance efficiency, reduce bias, and create engaging, personalised hiring experiences to revolutionise recruitment.
11:30 AM
[In Conversation With…]
Rethinking perks: Crafting an EVP that attracts and keeps top talent
With employees prioritising purpose, flexibility, and culture over traditional perks, a strong employee value proposition (EVP) is no longer just about benefits – it’s about meaning. This session explores the design of an EVP that resonates with modern talent by focusing on authenticity, impact, and alignment with evolving workforce expectations.
Speakers:

Ronald Poon
Digital & IT Talent Development Manager
Cathay

Robert Amos
Head of Reward
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX)
12:00 PM
[Case Study]
Restrictive covenants in a mobile workforce: Strategies for enforcement and circumvention
In an era where remote work enables employees to operate from virtually anywhere, enforcing post-termination restrictive covenants presents new challenges. This session explores the complexities of drafting and upholding these agreements in a digitally connected world. Gain insights into how organisations can protect their interests while navigating the legal nuances that arise when onboarding talent subject to existing restrictions.

Hong Tran
Partner
Johnson Stokes & Master (JSM)
12:30 PM
NETWORKING LUNCH
INTERACTIVE SESSIONS
1:30 PM
[Mini Workshop]
Discovering your HR edge: Leading with authentic strengths
As guardians of organisational wellbeing, HR leaders excel at identifying and nurturing others’ strengths but often overlook their own unique capabilities. This workshop explores how leveraging your personal strengths can transform your leadership effectiveness and guide career decisions.

Renee Conklin
Career & Executive Coach and Corporate Trainer
2:30 PM
“A Day in the Life of an HR Superhero”
Get ready to laugh, bond, and unleash your creative side in this exciting storytelling session, as you bring your fun and quirky side of HR to life!
3:00 PM
AFTERNOON BREAK & NETWORKING
CLOSING INSIGHTS
3:20 PM
[Case Study]
Will learning still matter when skills become obsolete?
If skills are constantly changing, is upskilling just a short-term fix? As job cycles shrink and automation accelerates, is learning still the answer, or do we need a completely new approach? This session challenges everything we think we know about L&D and explores how organisations can move from skill-based training to capability-building, adaptability, and continuous reinvention.

Saurav Atri
Group Head of Leadership Development
DFI Retail Group
3:50 PM
[Case Study]
Why is Gen Z in Hong Kong giving up on work?
Hong Kong’s Gen Z workforce is reshaping workplace expectations, with many rejecting traditional career paths favouring flexibility, autonomy, and mental well-being. But what’s driving this shift? Is it a cultural phenomenon, a response to economic pressures, or a signal of a deeper transformation in workforce dynamics? This session unpacks Hong Kong’s emerging workforce’s motivations, frustrations, and aspirations, offering insights for HR leaders to rethink talent retention and engagement strategies.

Kristy Lam
Head of HR APAC
The Cookware Company
4:20 PM
Closing remarks by Human Resources Online
4:30 PM