Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May, 2024 – The Malaysia HR Leaders Circle (HRLC) achieved a remarkable milestone with the resounding success of the inaugural CHRO Nexus Forum 2024, held on May 20, 2024, at the Summit Ballroom in Bangsar South City. The event, coinciding with International HR Day, brought together over 250 HR leaders from prominent enterprises and multinational corporations across Malaysia.
HRLC and UOA Join Forces to Deliver Exceptional CHRO Nexus Forum 2024
The success of the CHRO Nexus Forum 2024 was the result of a strategic partnership between the HRLC co-founder committee and UOA Academy‘s CHRO, Haikal Akmal, and his dedicated team. Together, they formed the CNF24 (CHRO Nexus Forum 2024) committee, which worked tirelessly within 45 days to gather nearly 300 participants and secure sponsorship from 10 prominent vendors. The event received tremendous support from sponsors and partners, including Lexus, IMD CIPD, @dayforce, Darwinbox, Thriving Talents, @Human Inc, Naluri – Employee Health & Wellness, @Handshake, UOA Academy, and KEDA Ltd.
Special recognition goes to Kong Chong Soon, the managing director of UOA Development Bhd, who supported the two events. Akmal led the excellent UOA HR team, which included Lee Yong Xian, Josan Yap, and Yvonne Wong, in managing the event with high professionalism while ensuring world-class standards in venue planning, technical capabilities, and participant management.
Malaysia Book of Records Recognizes CHRO Nexus Forum 2024 for National Record
The CHRO Nexus Forum 2024 proudly secured a national record for the “Most Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs) In A Conference,” officially recognized by the Malaysia Book of Records. This achievement not only underscores the significance of the event but also serves three key purposes for the HR community in Malaysia:
- Showcasing the HR Community: By achieving a national record, the HR community is brought into the public eye, demonstrating the vital role HR professionals play in the workforce, akin to esteemed professions like law and medicine.
- Elevating HR’s Prestige: The CHRO Nexus Forum provides a powerful platform for HR professionals. By aiming for the Malaysia Book of Records, the event amplifies the voice of HR professionals, solidifying their importance in Malaysia’s workforce development agenda and legitimizing the profession for future generations.
- Inspiring Future Generations: By achieving this record and celebrating their achievements, the HRLC hopes to inspire the younger generation in Malaysia to consider careers in HR and recognize it as a prestigious and impactful profession.
Esteemed Speakers and Government Officials Grace CNF24
The Forum featured a range of highlights, including inspiring keynote presentations by esteemed speakers, interactive workshops, panel discussions, and valuable networking opportunities with HR peers and industry experts. The Forum commenced with an inspiring opening speech by Datuk Shahul Dawood, CEO of HRDC. His acknowledgement of the CHROs in the room as movers and shakers of the industries indeed resonated with many attendees. The event continued with an insightful keynote address by Professor Ric Roi from IMD Business School on “Future Ready Leaders.” Engaging panel discussions covered topics such as resilience in HR, HR Directors navigating organizational changes, generational workplace gaps, sustainability, and C-suite influence. Interactive workshops focused on future-proofing Malaysia’s workforce, CHRO to CEO transitions, and ESG practices. Notable figures, including Peter Cheese, CEO at CIPD, delivered a special talk, “Nexus: The Future of Work and the People Profession,” and the Forum concluded with a closing keynote by Datuk Dr. Nora A Manaf, Group Chief Human Capital Officer at Maybank.
The event featured more than 20 speakers from prominent organizations, including Poonkodi Thirumalai, Graham Cox, Tania Lennon from IMD Business School, May Leng Kwok and Lim Zuo Han from CIPD Asia, Azran Osman-Rani, CEO and Co-Founder from Naluri – Employee Health & Wellness, Michael Teoh Su Lim and Jaklin Juanis from Thriving Talents, Wee Joee Leow from Darwin Box, Ridhima Khanduja from Kincentric, Mastura Mansor from Invictus Leader Sdn Bhd, Evelyn Tan and Luqman Hafiz from Dayforce, Sherin Callay from Compass Mind Asia, Joseph Koh from One Belian Seed, Christoffer Erichsen from @Human Inc, and Faroze Nadar from UN Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei.
Many CHROs who were either moderators, speakers, or panelists included Shankar Nagalingam (Lumileds), Ahmad Syuhaimy Haji Mohd Ali (LTAT), Intan Shahira Mohd Shahru (Air Asia), Monir Azzouzi (FutureSparx), Farid Basir (MBSB Bank Berhad), Aiman Izan (Sunway Group), Khim Tan (Mind Shapers), Dr. Michael Loo Leap Han (Infinity Logistics and Transport), Razman Radzi (FGV Holdings Berhad), Chee Gay Lim (TDCX), Sugunah Verumandy (FutureSparx), Norlida (Oli) Azmi, Chartered FCIPD (Axiata), Nadiah Tan Abdullah, Chartered Fellow CIPD (Malaysia Airports), Grace Chan (Heng Yuan), Izham Ab Wahab (BSN), and Michelle Ann Iking (Clarion Quest Consulting).
Dr. Syukri Sudari, Group Chief People Officer at Affin Bank Group and Co-founder of the HRLC, followed with a welcoming speech. He emphasized the importance of HR professionals, stating, “As HR leaders, we are the custodians of our organizations’ most valuable asset – our people. It is our responsibility to nurture, develop, and empower them to achieve their full potential and drive the success of our businesses.” He further highlighted the strength and resilience of the HR community, urging members to unite in making Malaysia a prime destination for foreign investment in talent building.
Special invited guests, Datuk William Ng, Anthony Raja Devadoss, Michele Sagan, Huei Ying Lim, Rich Fuzi, Whee Teck ONG and Ts. Roslinda Abu Bakar-Kellsey also attended event.
The Acknowledgment of Government Agencies in the Role of CHROs in the National Talent-building Agenda
Datuk Shahul Dawood, HRD Corp’s CEO, delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the pivotal role of CHROs in driving industry transformation and talent development. He stated that HRD Corp plans to engage the HRLC quarterly to foster meaningful dialogues and advance industries as learning organizations.
Thomas Mathew, CEO of Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp), highlighted the importance of CHROs in future-proofing Malaysia’s workforce through a collaborative approach between industry leaders and government agencies. His presentation, titled “Future Skills Framework: Future-proofing Malaysia’s Workforce,” stressed the need for a robust framework to address evolving skill requirements and ensure workforce readiness for future challenges.
The recognition from both HRD Corp and Talent Corporation underscores the pivotal role that HRLC and its members play in shaping the nation’s human capital landscape. By actively engaging with these key government agencies and contributing their expertise, CHROs can help align talent development initiatives with industry needs and drive Malaysia’s competitiveness in the global market.
As Malaysia continues to navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing business environment, the partnership between HRLC and government agencies like HRD Corp and Talent Corporation will be instrumental in developing a future-ready workforce. Leveraging the collective wisdom and experience of CHROs, Malaysia can position itself as a hub for talent development, attracting foreign investment and contributing to the nation’s long-term economic prosperity.
CHROs: Cornerstone in Shaping Organizational Culture and Attracting Foreign Investment
Laurence Yap, Co-Founder of HRLC, emphasized the significance of the event, stating, “The idea of gathering CHROs is to create opportunities for exchanging ideas, networking, and supporting each other. After working abroad, I discovered that the success and growth of MNCs, apart from their excellent products and services, are also attributed to the crucial role of Human Resources in shaping a conducive culture that attracts and retains talent while fostering an environment of innovation. Bringing together CHROs from large enterprises and MNCs allows them to learn from each other’s best practices.” He further highlighted the transformative role of CHROs, stating, “The role of CHROs may well be the cornerstone in shaping the culture together with the C-Level and board. Such a transformative role can make foreign investment more attractive in Malaysia. ASEAN is a dynamic economic zone, and each country is trying to woo investment in their respective countries. Malaysia must build talent at various levels to retain and attract foreign companies.”
HRLC: Seven Years of Selective Growth and Quality Membership
HRLC, now in its seventh year, has grown organically from a small group at the World HR Congress in Mumbai to a selective network emphasizing the quality of its members. Membership primarily consists of CHROs from big enterprises and multinational corporations. This selection is due to the similarities these organizations share in talent acquisition and retention, employee well-being, diversity and inclusion, labor laws and compliance, strategic HR and business alignment, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
Celebratory Annual Dinner Night Fosters Connections
To celebrate the success of the CHRO Nexus Forum 2024, HRLC hosted a celebratory Annual Dinner Night on May 24, 2024. The event allowed attendees to network, share insights, and build lasting connections in a more informal setting. Nearly 200 participants donned their finest attire to experience a delightful feast, stimulating conversations, and the warmth of good company. Appreciation awards were presented to the coaches of the HR SEED Program led by Joseph Koh to individuals who have contributed to the HR Leaders Circle.
Prizes were generously sponsored by the Management team of UOA Academy, Patrick Wee from Clinic Rui, Malisha Lin and Paul Choo from Dream Film Production, Cally Yau and Benjamin Hew from PEOPLElogy Group and Build A Future Team, and Sherin Callay and Audrey Lawrence from Mind Compass of Asia. Previous contributors such as Joseph Koh from One Belian Seed, Theophilus Wong from Fish Camp Learning Sdn Bhd, Jude Louis from Oscar Initiative Sdn Bhd, and KL HO from Mod House were also invited to be part of the celebration, adding to the event’s overall success.
Looking Ahead: CHRO Nexus Forum 2025 and Continued Support
HRLC eagerly anticipates the next CHRO Nexus Forum in 2025, continuing its mission to foster excellence and innovation in human resources management. In the meantime, HRLC members support each other through engagement activities, daily communication via WhatsApp, tailor-made CHRO training activities, and benchmarking study tours. In the future, the CHROs will form a group to lobby government agencies, leverage group buying power, and form alliances with similar CHRO groups in Southeast Asia.
Farid Basir, Co-Founder of HRLC and Chief People Officer at MBSB Bank Berhad, expressed his excitement over the overwhelming response to the CHRO Nexus Forum 2024. The Forum, with 270 registered attendees, excluding distinguished VIPs and dedicated vendors, highlighted the significance and relevance of the strategic HR topics discussed. A special thank you was extended to the exceptional organizing committee for their tireless efforts in ensuring the event’s smooth running. The CHRO Nexus Forum 2024 provided an unparalleled platform for HR leaders and experts to convene, share insights, and engage in thought-provoking discussions on “HR Revolution: Elevate, Future-Proof, and Sustain.”
Overall, the CHRO Nexus Forum 2024 was a resounding success, with registration exceeding expectations and reaching total capacity. The overwhelming response underscores the importance and timeliness of the critical HR discussions during the event.
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