HR powered edge in a booming economy

Charmaine Fernando

The Institute of Personnel Management Sri Lanka is the apex body that trains, moulds and band together human resource professionals as a power entity towards national endeavour. All plans are set on target to host their major event of the year, the National HR Conference 2011, on June 28 and 29 at the Oak Room in Cinnamon Grand under the patronage of Labour and Labour Relations Minister Gamini Lokuge.

Samitha Perera, a leader who has acquired an envious HR profile driving the mainstream multinational HR directorates operative in Sri Lanka, is the Chairman, National HR Conference 2011, and he spoke to Daily News Business on the plans and strategies of the biggest HR event in the island. The theme this year he said is ‘HR Powered Edge in a Booming Economy’ and went on to explain the relevance of human resources and its role in the current scenario where development takes place at rapid pace fashioning Sri Lanka in to an emerging Asian success story.

Q: What do you mean by ‘HR Powered Edge’?

A: HR is the backbone of any community. HR is the community that shapes the destiny of a country. Human resources need to be geared, trained and moulded to take on the role of leader from mere worker, who will contribute and give passionately towards rebuilding the country in to an inspirational ‘wonder’ against the backdrop of an emerging Asian power in the global scenario. HR can. Then, Sri Lanka will.

Q: How do you define a ‘booming economy’?

A: Sri Lanka was booming way back in the early fifties, in the years ‘54, ‘55 when we had a stable economy and was an inspirational role model for Asia. We were emulated by Singapore. Gradually affected by the political musical chair syndrome Sri Lanka lost its footing and terror shook the paradise land and its brilliant people in to a deadlock. Its clutch against development was the biggest impediment. Today tables have turned. And Sri Lanka is free to raise its head. Especially in the context of rising like the sphinx from the ashes of a wasteful destructive war that ravaged the country for three decades or more. Sri Lanka is literally ‘kicking the gas’ expediting development at speed. The economists opine that at the rate Sri Lanka is driving at present, a boom in economy is imminent. Its all about development 360 degrees. Human resource is at its epicenter.

Q: How have you structured the Conference to create an interest and focus on HR?

A: The Conference has been meticulously planned and structured by experts within IPM and the HR professional community in Sri Lanka, to ensure that the Conference addresses different aspects of human resources, if not all. We plan to discuss broadly on HR challenges against a ‘Booming economy’ in order that the participants would experience two productive days at the Conference.

Q: What is the level of expertise you plan to bring together to address the ‘edge’ HR need to have, over our economy?

A: It is only relevant that we bring together HR professionals who have made an impact in the field, industry visionaries who have shaped the destiny of our industries, global leaders who will inspire and draw a parallel from among the global development trends and of course renowned speakers who will lead and encourage discussions towards attaining our objectives.

Q: What is the main objective you plan to achieve from this conference?

A: It is to induce a valuable dialogue on the subject of how HR can impact and drive to achieve this anticipated ‘boom’ in our economy. And above all, the exchange of knowledge here will be the key to stimulating the advancement of the human resource development environment in Sri Lanka.

Q: Who have you assigned to lead the discussions?

A: The conference will be opened by a panel of experts namely: Prof H H D N P Opatha, Prof Sudatta W Ranasinghe, Dr Ajantha Dharmasiri and Dr Pavithra Kailasapathy. They will drive discussions under the theme ‘Is HR geared for the booming economy?’ Janaka Kumarasinghe will play the role of moderator for this session.

Q: What other developments have you identified to make the Conference achieve its purpose?

A: The agenda is also focused on a Business Leader’s Forum. This will bring together top notch business leaders to share their thoughts and roadmaps for the development of HR as the life blood of an emerging economy. These discussions and ideas are expected to lend and shed light as to where we are and where we should be heading. This session will have Chris Obeysekere as its moderator.

Q: Who have you identified as business leaders at this session?

A: There will be Dr Koshi Mathai, Dr Nalaka Godahewa, Jayampathi Bandaranayake and Susantha Ratnayake from among business leader community to lead from the front. Their experience and exposure will lend immensely towards attaining our end.

Q: Who have you invited from among the global speakers to attend the conference?

A: This year’s event will encompass globally renowned speakers such as Prof Thomas Lange from Curtin University, Australia, who will speak on ‘Leading the change successfully by winning employee hearts and minds’. Prof. Janek Ratnatunga - President CMA Australia will speak on ‘The ultimate measure - Turning qualitative HR indicators to financial indicators, metrics and measurements’. These are HR pundits revered globally for their invaluable contributions to developing HR in to a nations richest resource. Martin Roll, prominent global marketeer will speak on ‘A world of opportunities: Enhancing your employee value proposition’ to lift the role of human resources to a new high. A Swaminathan - CEO Infosys Technologies, India, has been invited and will speak on ‘Engaging and retaining talent in tomorrow’s world - The path to superior performance’.

All these topics and subjects will be interesting material to ponder and grow upon.

Q: We understand that you have included an unique feature in the Conference?

A: Yes. We are introducing a Union Leaders Forum - The first of its kind at a HR Conference. We are expecting to expose under the theme, ‘The unions role in the booming economy’ and interestingly, we have invited union leaders the calibre of Bala Thampoe, D W Subasinghe, Leslie Devendra and Wasantha Samarasinghe to add colour to the discussions. We have also invited opinion leaders the likes of Roshan Kulasuriya and Jayantha Jayaratne, who are shining industry leaders.

Q: What will you serve as an end to a first day’s main course?

A: The first day of the event will end up with a Professional Networking Session for the mind and heart, followed by of course, a cocktail and variety of entertainment for the soul and senses, because all work and no play makes HR a lousy entity. And it never had been and will never be at the rate we fashion people in to passionate beings.

Q: What more have you lined up to make the 2011 HR’s biggest event and the best, so far?

A: The conference agenda will also comprise the final round of the HR Debate, which promises a kind of ‘climax’ in its own right. The Best Young HR Mind Presentation is expected to give the attendees a peek in to what the future holds.

HR awards ceremony will be the grand finale`.

Q: I bet your HR providers too will need to play a role in the procedure of this Conference?

A: Obviously. We have organized a ‘HR Providers’ Exhibition’ that will run parallel to the Conference services. This gives an opportunity to the Conference attendees and exhibitors to meet face to face.

They will comprise leaders in the corporate and human resource sector who will showcase their latest products and services. This gives opportunity to the conference attendees and exhibitors to meet and interact.

Yes, we know it will increase the interactive nature of the event by two fold.

Besides the whole concept of this exhibition is to encourage HR, the adoption and absorption of cutting edge state-of-the-art technologies and best practices to lift and benchmark HR standards in Sri Lanka.