NHRC 2024: CIPM’s landmark event in human resource management successfully concludes

From left: CIPM Sri Lanka Treasurer Priyankara Seneviratne, CIPM Sri Lanka Secretary Col. Saman Jayawickrama (Retd.), NHRC 2024 Chairman Air Vice Marshal Manoj Keppetipola, CIPM Sri Lanka President Ken Vijayakumar, Chief Guest Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, Keynote Speaker EGN Co-Founder and Managing Director Nick Jonsson, CIPM Sri Lanka Immediate Past President Jayantha Amarasinghe, CIPM Sri Lanka Vice President Priyantha Ranasinghe, and CIPM Sri Lanka CEO U.A.C. Obeysekere

The National HR Conference (NHRC), organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) Sri Lanka, was held at the Monarch Imperial, Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte under the theme “Navigating the HR Horizon”.

The inauguration of the conference featured a keynote address by Executives’ Global Network (EGN) Co-Founder and Managing Director Nick Jonsson, an esteemed executive coach, who dwelled on the topic “Leading with Purpose and Authenticity”. The Chief Guest at the conference, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, emphasised the importance of the HR sector discipline and its future. 

Notable sessions on day two commenced with a session on the conference theme by Singapore Management University Senior Faculty and Program Director – Executive Development Dr. Tanvi Gautam. Siam City Cement Lanka Ltd. Chief People Officer and CIPM Vice President Priyantha Ranasinghe moderated the session.

The “Do Without Being Told – Sustainability is a Mindset” panel discussion highlighted practical strategies for embedding sustainability into everyday operations moderated by A. Baur & Company Ltd. HR, Administration, Purchasing and Sustainability Senior General Manager and CIPM President Ken Vijayakumar. The panellists were University of Colombo Professor Emeritus Prof. Sarath Kotagama, Aitken Spence PLC Plantations and Business Development Executive Director Dr. Rohan Fernando, and MAS Holdings Social Sustainability Head/Sustainable Business General Manager Amanthi Perera. 

“AI-enabled HR for Greater Productivity” was a key topic which provided thought provoking concepts. This session was moderated by Tropical Findings Ltd. Director and CIPM Past President Dhammika Fernando and the panellists were Infomate Ltd. CEO Jehan Perinpanayagam, 99x Chief People Officer Damitha Jayasinghe, and PickMe Chief Human Resources Officer Lydia Mascarenhas. 

The “DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) in the Local Context: Is it a Myth?” panel explored whether DEI initiatives are genuinely embraced and implemented. This topic was moderated by David Pieris Holdings Group HR Head and CIPM Council Member Davina Kern. Equal Ground Founder and Executive Director Rosanna Flamer Caldera, John Keells Holdings Executive Vice President/Chief People Officer and Sustainability, ERM and Group Initiatives Head Isuru Gunasekera, and Diversity Collective Lanka (DCLK) President Bani Chandrasena were the other panellists. 

The “Leading to the Unknown” session gave insights on how organisations and HR leaders should adapt themselves to unknown conditions. Jetwing Symphony PLC Chairman Hiran Cooray, Ceylon Biscuits Ltd. (Foods) Director/CEO and CIPM Past President Dr. Samitha Perera, and AICPA & CIMA Country Manager – Sri Lanka and Maldives Zahara Ansary provided much needed insights on this. Vallibel Finance PLC Senior Independent Director and CIPM Past President Janaka Kumarasinghe moderated the session. 

Neurologist and author Dr. Sweta Adatia spoke on “Distress and Eustress”. She explained that Distress is stress that negatively affects people while Eustress is a stress that has positive effects on you. 

The National HR Exhibition brought together HR professionals, thought leaders, and industry experts to showcase the latest trends, tools and best practices in HR, and networking opportunities. 

The grand finale of the Great HR Debate highlighted evolving perspectives within the HR community, showcasing the value of both technological and human-centred approaches.

After a thought-provoking exchange, IFS R & D International Ltd. was crowned the winner, emphasising the importance of human-centric methods in HR, while Nestlé Lanka Ltd. advocated for an HR tech-driven approach, securing the runner-up position. 

The success of the conference was this collective effort which provided a platform for sharing insights, learning from experts, and engaging in meaningful discussions, collectively shaping the future of HR with a focus on humanity, resilience, and collaboration.