Chief Scientist, Human Resources and Organisational Design
Dr. Dieter Veldsman is an organizational psychologist with a passion for HR. He has over 15+ years of experience across the HR value chain
and lifecycle, having worked for and consulted with various multi-national corporations in Europe, Asia, and Africa. He has held the positions
of CHRO, Organizational Effectiveness Executive, and Organizational Design and Development Principal. He is a regular speaker at
international conferences and industry panels on Strategic HR, Future of Work, and Organisational Development. He co-hosts a monthly
podcast called “HR Hot Topics” that discusses actual events impacting the world of HR and interviews leading HR Practitioners as part of his
HR Dialogues Videocast series.
He is passionate about the development of the profession and guest lectures at various institutions while also holding the position of Senior
Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg. He has contributed to 50+ peer-reviewed articles, blogs and book chapters on the
Future of Work and HR, Organizational Development and Employee Experience.
He was awarded the CHRO of the year title by the CHRO Society of South Africa for 2021 and has been recognized in the categories of HR
Strategy and Leadership, HR Technology, and HR Innovation by various institutions. He was recognized as the Practitioner of the Year by the
Society of Industrial and Organisational Psychology of South Africa in 2018.
Currently, Dr Dieter Veldsman forms part of the Academy to Innovate HR (AIHR) as an HR and OD Thought Leader working towards the
continuous upskilling of 100 000 HR professionals by 2025. He is responsible for applied research, product development and engagement
with our member community that spans more than 15 000 students across 140 countries and working with our clients to reposition their HR
functions for the future.
Kim Crowder
CEO & Founder
Jan Laurijssen
HR Evangelist, Researcher & Consultant
Jan is a seasoned HR Evangelist, Researcher & Consultant at SDWorx and the University of Antwerp. He consults our clients on “future of work”, occasionally teaches and is a well-known speaker on the topic. He co-ordinates the research on “Next Generation Work” conducted by Prof Dr. Ans De Vos in the partnership with Antwerp management School. He’s particularly interested in the costs and benefits of contingent work and is looking for answers to the question: “why do companies compose their workforce as they do?”
Natalia Wallenberg
Chief Human Resources Officer
As the Chief Human Resources Officer at Ahold Delhaize, one of the world’s foremost food retail conglomerates, Natalia Wallenberg steers the company’s people strategy encompassing associate engagement, leadership, culture, DE&I, and talent development. Her seasoned expertise spans diverse sectors – agriculture, financial services, and real estate – honed across global landscapes including the United States, Switzerland, Russia, Belarus, UAE, and her current home, the Netherlands.
Natalia’s impressive journey led her through pivotal roles at renowned enterprises. During her nearly nine-year tenure at the agricultural technology giant Syngenta Group, she served as the Global Head of Human Resources for multiple business units and R&D. Her earlier contributions include impactful HR leadership at investment bank Renaissance Capital and IKEA.
Natalia’s influence extends beyond corporate realms, as evidenced by her role as a Board Member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Amsterdam. With an international outlook and a wealth of experience, Natalia Wallenberg leads the charge in steering Ahold Delhaize towards HR excellence.
Rajkarn Kaur Anand
Associate Director of Leadership Development
Rajkarn Kaur Anand, Associate Director of Leadership Development at Novo Nordisk, is an unwavering advocate for Learning and Development (L&D). With an insatiable curiosity, she delves into the intricacies of effective learning, constantly seeking ways to enhance organisational value.
With nearly two decades of L&D experience, Rajkarn’s journey spans diverse roles—assessing development needs, designing impactful programs, facilitating learning, and coaching individuals and teams to realize their potential. Her dynamic approach has made her an indispensable asset in creating a talent-driven culture. At the heart of Rajkarn’s professional ethos is a deep commitment to cultivating exceptional leadership. As the torchbearer for the development of Novo Nordisk’s senior-most leaders, she orchestrates visionary strategies that fuel personal and professional growth. Her unwavering dedication has earned her a prominent place within the organisation, where she diligently crafts a roadmap for leadership excellence.
Beyond the boardroom, Rajkarn’s passion for learning is a vibrant thread woven into the fabric of her personal life. United by a shared devotion to learning, she and her like-minded partner engage in spirited discussions on L&D that captivate the dinner table (much to the bemusement of their children). An avid explorer of innovative apps, she harnesses technology to unlock new dimensions of learning.”
*Disclaimer: The insights and perspectives shared by Rajkarn Kaur Anand in her engagements are based on her personal experiences and learnings in the field of Learning and Development (L&D). These views are solely her own and do not represent the official stance or opinions of her employer, Novo Nordisk. Any information, ideas, or opinions expressed by Rajkarn are independent of her affiliation with the organisation.
Dr. Tamara Friedrich
Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Dr. Tamara Friedrich is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Warwick Business School. She received her MS (2007) and PhD (2010) in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and her BA (2005) in Psychology and Managerial Studies from Rice University.
Her primary research interests fall into the broad categories of creativity and leadership, however much of her recent research falls into the intersection of these two areas. For instance, she has studied how organisational leaders may initiate, support, and sustain innovative efforts through hiring, performance management, and creating a climate for creativity.
Rudolph Wontumi
Senior Vice President HR & Corporate Services
Rudolph Wontumi is a distinguished HR leader known for his remarkable career accomplishments across diverse industries. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President HR & Corporate Services at JCB International (Europe), Rudolph has successfully navigated through roles in management consulting, HR consulting, hospitality, and financial services. His expertise lies in crafting impactful HR strategies that drive business results, fostering a culture of excellence, and enhancing talent development. Rudolph’s visionary leadership has led to positive cultural transformations, increased retention rates, and a steadfast belief in the power of coaching to unlock individual and team potential. Rudolph Wontumi stands as a testament to the potential for HR professionals to transcend boundaries, reshape cultures, and champion organisational success.
Lene Trollnes
SVP Director Portfolio & Strategy
Lene Trollnes is an experienced professional in HR, business, and project management on a global scale. As SVP Director Portfolio & Strategy at Norsk Hydro, Lene brings extensive expertise and a proven track record of success. With a comprehensive understanding of HR at all organisational levels, both locally and globally, Lene excels in navigating complex challenges and driving organisational success. Her focus on diversity and inclusion, backed by an accredited certification, has led to the creation of inclusive workplaces that celebrate individuality and foster growth.
Lene’s leadership extends to board experience, including a nearly two-year tenure as chairman of a prominent Norwegian plant. She has also played a key role in project management, successfully leading the integration of two large global companies.
Agata Olempiejuk-Combaz
VP Human Resources Technical Operations
Agata Olempiejuk-Combaz is a seasoned HR leader, with a strong focus on talent management & acquisition, learning & development, and organizational design. As the VP HR for Technical Operations at Ipsen, she brings extensive expertise and a proven track record of success in these HR critical areas within multicultural and matrix environments. With a background rooted in HR within the pharmaceutical sector and business school education, Agata understands the importance of attracting and nurturing top talent and of putting in place sustainable organizations at global and local levels. She excels in implementing talent management strategies to identify and develop high-potential individuals. Agata’s deep understanding of the pharmaceutical industry allows her to align talent acquisition efforts with business objectives, ensuring the right individuals join the team to drive success.
Recognizing the importance of continuous learning, Agata is committed to fostering a culture of development within her teams. She spearheads learning and development initiatives, leveraging innovative approaches and technologies to enhance employee skills and capabilities. Agata’s dedication to empowering individuals through mentoring/coaching and professional growth creates a dynamic and engaged workforce. Finally, she collaborates with cross-functional teams to align talent strategies with business goals, fostering a cohesive and high-performing workforce across departments.
Kim Dabbs
Global Vice President of ESG & Social Innovation
Kim Dabbs is a distinguished professional serving as the Global Vice President of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) & Social Innovation at Steelcase. With a strong focus on fostering belonging and purpose, she has emerged as a prominent leader in this field. Kim possesses a diverse range of expertise as a thought leader, cultural researcher, author, and speaker.
Throughout her career, Kim has spearheaded numerous social impact, innovation, and education initiatives on a global scale. Her work has made a profound impact in diverse communities across the world. Kim’s contributions extend beyond her professional role, as she actively engages in presenting her insights on belonging and purpose at prestigious events and venues. Her speaking engagements include prominent platforms such as TEDx, MIT, the Guggenheim, the Aspen Institute, and The Drucker Forum.
With her deep knowledge and experience in driving social innovation, Kim Dabbs continues to inspire and shape conversations around belonging and purpose, making a positive difference in organizations and communities worldwide.
Zsofia Pajor
Global HR Director, Technology
Zsofia Pajor is a distinguished professional in the field of human resources and holds the position of Global HR Director at Adidas. With a strong focus on performance development and technology, Zsofia plays a vital role in shaping the talent strategy and enhancing employee performance across the organisation.
Based in Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany, Zsofia brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role. She has been instrumental in driving the implementation of innovative performance development programs at Adidas, ensuring that employees are equipped with the necessary tools and resources to excel in their roles. Additionally, her recent focus on technology highlights her commitment to leveraging digital solutions to enhance HR processes and create a more efficient and effective employee experience.
With her global perspective and extensive experience in HR, Zsofia Pajor continues to drive the success of Adidas by aligning performance development strategies with the evolving needs of the organisation. Her dedication to fostering a culture of excellence and her commitment to leveraging technology make her a valuable asset to the company’s HR team and contribute to the overall success of Adidas in the dynamic and competitive sportswear industry.
Kate Williams
Director of Diversity and Inclusion (DE&I)
Kate Williams is the Director of Diversity and Inclusion (DE&I) at Publicis Groupe UK. With a background as the former associate director of the workplace team at LGBT+ charity Stonewall, she brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role. As the head of diversity and inclusion, Kate is responsible for driving diversity initiatives across Publicis Groupe’s agencies and the wider industry.
To support her efforts, Kate works closely with diversity and inclusion champions to develop and implement strategies that foster a more diverse and inclusive culture, enabling employees to thrive.
Kate’s journey in the field of diversity and inclusion began at Stonewall in 2013, where she started as the head of empowerment programs. Her dedication and success led to her promotion to head of private sector memberships, and later to the position of associate director of the workplace team in August of the previous year. During her time at Stonewall, Kate provided guidance and counsel to companies worldwide, assisting them in developing and implementing effective diversity and inclusion strategies and policies.
With her specialist skills and extensive experience in collaborating with clients across various sectors, Kate is well-equipped to augment and deliver Publicis Groupe’s plans for fostering an inclusive and diverse environment. Through her passion and expertise, she strives to create a workplace culture that embraces diversity, empowers individuals, and promotes the success and well-being of all employees.
Dan Hutchinson
Vice President
With a steadfast focus on transformation and leadership, Dan Hutchinson has forged a successful career spanning multiple industries and geographies, including energy, steel manufacturing, retail, and management consultancy. A strong believer in empowering individuals and helping them reach their full potential while facilitating enriching life experiences, he has consistently prioritized the well-being and development of others.
Currently entrusted with the responsibility of leading HR within Schneider’s UK&I Zone, Hutchinson is spearheading efforts to harmonise business growth objectives with a transformative cultural shift. His mission is to ensure the flourishing of the workforce amidst this exciting phase of expansion and change.
Dr. Redzo Mujcic
Associate Professor of Behavioural Science
Redzo Mujcic, Associate Professor of Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School, is a passionate advocate for employee wellbeing and its impact on workplace dynamics. Since joining the University of Warwick in February 2019, he has dedicated his research to applied economics and quantitative social science, with a strong focus on understanding and improving human feelings in both the workplace and society.
Dr. Mujcic’s research delves into the intricate realm of employee wellbeing, examining concepts such as job satisfaction, happiness, envy, extreme distress, and mental health. By employing various methods, including large longitudinal surveys and natural field experiments, he uncovers valuable insights into the factors that shape these emotions and their consequences on individuals and organisations.
His work, published in esteemed journals such as the Economic Journal, Social Science & Medicine, and the American Journal of Public Health, has gained international recognition. Notably, Dr. Mujcic’s research findings have been featured in renowned media outlets, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, The Atlantic, CNN, Forbes, and Time Magazine.
Through his dedication to understanding the intricate dynamics of wellbeing, Dr. Mujcic contributes to the growing body of knowledge that shapes organisational policies and practices, ultimately promoting employee wellbeing and creating healthier, more productive work environments.
Chris Yates
Chief Talent Officer
Karthik Varatharaj
Global Chief Talent Officer
Victoria Pelletier
Senior Executive, C-Suite Transformational Leader
Tyrone Smith Jr.
Global Head of People Analytics, Research, ESG, Technology, & Insights
DK Bartley
Chief Diversity Officer
Jarvis Sam
Former CDEIO, Nike, Founder
Tanika Scott
VP, Lead Business Execution Consultant (DE&I Focused)
Performance-driven and accomplished leader with more than 25 years experience in contact center management experience with primary focus on leading strategies to improve business performance, process improvement and the customer experience. Adept at leading high performing teams, building and deepening intrinsic relationships and finding solutions to complex issues. In her current role at Wells Fargo, she, with a talent for deepening relationships is finding solutions to complex issues. Able to work independently, yet proficient in collaboration with all levels of leadership. Long-standing history serving in leadership roles within employee resource networks including event planning, budgeting, marketing, risk assessment and success metrics.
Njsane Courtney
Vice President, Human Resources
Njsane is an experienced HR executive and former U.S. Army officer with 20 years of global experience. He is currently the Vice President of Human Resources at the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), where he leads all HR Operations for North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. he was recently appointed as ABS’s first Global DE&I Officer.
Njsane is the host of the monthly podcast “My Friend in HR” and is also a certified DE&I professional.
He graduated from the University of Houston with a BBA in Computer Information Systems and is pursuing his Master of Business Administration from the University of Illinois.
Adam Hickman
Vice President of Learning & Organizational Development
As a dynamic, hands-on, highly technical leader with a wealth of knowledge and experience building education, training, and organizational development programs, Dr. Hickman champions complex projects in research and development that uncover the need for continuing education and training throughout the organization.Dr. Hickman is a visionary leader who delivers growth and profit through technological innovations, customer experience, leadership development, and networking. He is a well-known published scholar with expertise in organizational and leadership development at Partners, a Walt Disney Company.
Yuri Kruman
Tech CHRO/CPO + C-Suite Coach
Yuri is a 3X, multi-award-winning CHRO and C-suite leadership coach, Top 5 Thought Leader and Influencer on Global HR and Entrepreneurship. CEO of HR, Talent & Systems Consulting, an industry leader consulting Fortune 500 companies and tech startups on strategic HR, he’s likewise a contributor to Fast Company, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Newsweek, CEO World and other top publications, as well as a frequent speaker for Fortune 500 companies (Google, EY, Medtronic), universities (Columbia, UPenn, NYU) and VC-backed startups. Yuri has authored / co-authored 9 books, including the award-winning, 4-volume “Be Your Own Commander-in-Chief” and “What Millennials Really Want From Work and Life.”
Deanne Harrison
EVP, Global People & Organizational Management
Deanne Harrison is the EVP, Global People & Organizational Management at IntouchCX, a leading global BPO specializing in customer support, advanced technology, and customized strategies. With over 20,000 team members worldwide, Deanne focuses on scaling IntouchCX’s culture through continuously evolving their people, programs, and solutions. She emphasizes DEI and Well-being & Resilience to provide growth opportunities for individuals and empower them to reach their potential. Before joining IntouchCX, Deanne spent over 15 years in management consulting for executives, boards of directors, and organizations, providing guidance on organizational development, guiding organizations to reconcile differing perspectives, and helping people leaders to create a harmonious and inclusive work environment for all employees.
As Chief People Culture Brand & Communications Officer, Tara Lockyer oversees human resources, change management and communications for ATB Financial (Alberta’s largest home-grown financial institution with a 5000+ talent count).
Lockyer currently serves as Advisor to the Official Administrator of AHS; and member to the Premier’s Skills Council. Prior to ATB, she was Manulife’s Global Head of Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness and CIBC’s Head of Enterprise Business Engagement and Implementation for Global HR. Tara’s wealth of skills and experience in people leadership perfectly equips her to help senior leaders understand and navigate generational differences in the workplace.
Kimberly Ayers Shariff
Executive Vice President, Strategy for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Kimberly Shariff leads the implementation of Penguin Random House’s companywide DE & I strategy, overseeing the development of a broad-based vision for the company’s future, ensuring the creation of books for everyone, by everyone, out of a culture where all feel welcome and empowered.
Having contributed her knowledge to major platforms like the American Ballet Theatre, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Black Entertainment Television, Kimberly has been commended for her keen ability to analyze the existing infrastructure of complex organizations, and then implement strategy to enhance inclusive culture, operational efficiency and channels of communication, without sacrificing culture, artistic integrity or entrepreneurial spirit.
Mercedes (Meche) Escala
VP Talent, Learning and Employee Experience
Mercedes Escala leads Talent, Learning & Employee Experience at Genesys, a 7000+ employee strong software firm that sells customer experience and call center technology to mid-sized and large businesses. Leading regional and global teams in both generalist and specialist areas, Escala embraces challenges with curiosity and passion, leading the transformation around skills, while driving the best employee experience.
A people leader professional with over 30 years’ experience, Mercedes is superbly suited to guide senior leaders in upskilling their internal talent pool to become an impactful and competitive force, through aligning them with their company’s overall performance management and talent development goals.
Amanda Miller
VP, Total Rewards
Amanda Miller is a skilled HR professional with a focus on Rewards & Benefits and Employee Experience & Engagement. With extensive leadership experience in Compensation, Benefits, Executive Compensation, HR Systems, Data & Analytics, People Management Operations and Recruitment, Miller has demonstrated the acumen to drive Total Rewards at Trinity Industries (North America’s premier provider of railcar products and services), ensuring that their talent force of 3000+ employees feel valued and engaged while receiving the appropriate compensation and benefits for their work. Holding a bachelor’s degree in professional human resources Certification (PHR) and Certified Compensation Professional Certification (CCP), Miller is excellently positioned to assist senior leaders in developing an effective total reward strategy by identifying the key goals and objectives of the business and aligning the total reward package with those goals.
Sarah Waltman
VP, Global Talent Management
Sarah Waltman is a seasoned HR professional with expertise in Talent Management & Performance, Transformation & Change, and Organizational Development & Effectiveness. Waltman has a proven record of accomplishment, improving the performance of global businesses by designing learning structures and comprehensive talent initiatives, such as succession planning, performance management, development plans, and behavior assessments. She excels at aligning management and employee development training strategies, ensuring that the organization is at peak performance. With her arsenal of skills and experience, Sarah is supercharging productivity within Dentsply Sirona, the world’s largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies- with a workforce spanning 9000+ employees.
Marni McDowell
Senior Director of Global Health & Wellbeing
Marni McDowell is a highly experienced professional who has dedicated her career to promoting Health & Wellbeing, Employee Experience & Engagement within organizations. Currently serving as the Senior Director of Global Health & Wellbeing at Micron Technology (a 40 000+ strong Fortune 500 leader in innovative memory solutions), Marni leads the wellbeing, experience, and team member advocacy teams. Holding a PhD in organizational psychology, as well as a Master of Science in Wellness Promotion, Marni is well-equipped to address the complex issues around employee health and wellbeing. Having spent the past 15 years in corporate health and wellbeing and having worked with some of the most trusted brands including Intel and Apple Inc, Marni has acquired extensive knowledge and skills that enable her to ensure the health and wellbeing of employees while enhancing their overall experience and engagement.
Andrew Davis
Executive Vice President and Global Chief People Experience Officer
Andrew Davis is the Executive Vice President and Global Chief Human Resources Officer at Sony Music Entertainment based in New York. In his role, Davis is charged with leading the Company’s global human resources function; including talent acquisition, talent management, compensation and benefits, as well as organizational development and corporate strategy. Davis will take on the key role of championing a culture of excellence and innovation across Sony Music’s global operations in 60+ countries.
Throughout his 22+ years in Human Resources, Davis has held several key positions of increasing responsibility at Yum Brands, Best Buy Company, The Home Depot and most recently served as Chief Human Resources and Inclusion Officer for Lennar Corporation where he was responsible for the areas of business transformation, talent management, organizational and performance management, learning and development as well as benefits for the Company.
Prior to Lennar, he spent more than a decade leading human resources teams and strategies at The Coca-Cola Company. During his tenure at the Company, he held several key positions of increasing responsibility including leading the Southeast Asia Human Resource function while based in Cambodia. Additionally, he served as the Global Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer where he was instrumental in driving strategic initiatives across 200+ countries.
Davis serves as an independent Board Director and Compensation Committee Chair for Adventist Health, one of the largest Westcoast healthcare systems, based in Roseville, CA. He is also a member of Emory’s Goizueta’s Business School Corporate Advisory Board, and a governing body member of Florida’s Chief Human Resource Officers’ Association. Davis is also a regular guest lecturer for business schools throughout the Atlanta and Miami area.
Davis has been honored and featured by multiple organizations, including being named Emory Goizueta’s Business School Centennial Honoree; CAA World Congress of Sports featured speaker; Bentonville Film and Essence Music Festivals featured speaker; and Black Enterprise Top Executive in Corporate Diversity. He is the recipient of the Caribbean American Cultural Arts Foundation Captain of Industry Award and Honoree for the South Florida Business & Wealth’s 2021 Excellence in Human Resource Awards.
Davis received his Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Maryland and his MBA from Emory University – Goizueta School of Business in Atlanta, Georgia. Davis also holds several Human Resources certifications in assessment systems and skills training.
Davis is a native of Jamaica, West Indies and proudly calls himself a ‘Ja-Merican’
Jeremy Gautrey-Jones
Assistant Director, Employee Experience
Justin Mass
Senior Director, Instructional Design & External Development
Debra Corey is a highly experienced and award-winning HR consultant, world-class speaker and five-time best-selling author who has been named as one of the top 101 global employee engagement influencers. After over 20 years working as an HR leader for global companies, she now ‘pays it forward’ by inspiring and helping others develop and deliver HR strategies in a rebellious way, pushing the boundaries and challenging the status quo to truly drive employee engagement.
Oluyomi Okunowo
SVP Total Rewards & People Operations
Helen Ouseley
Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion
Helen is Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at Freshfields. Since joining in 2017 she has led the global D&I team and is part of both the Responsible Business and HR leadership teams. Helen is responsible for the firm’s global D&I and wellbeing strategy including the design and implementation of targets, programming, engagement and diverse talent management initiatives. She advises colleagues and clients on best practice and has over 20 years of experience in HR, talent and diversity and inclusion having previously worked at Goldman Sachs and Baker McKenzie. Helen is a mental health first aider and has a Masters in HR.
Ed Fothergill
Director, Leadership & Development
Eva Morales
CEO and Founder
Eva is a passionate sustainability professional with over 15 years of experience in sustainability and the circular economy in the private and not-for-profit sectors. Eva is the CEO and founder of Circular Advisors, helping organisations build partnerships and implement circular economy business models and sustainability strategies. Eva is also Chief Editor and Co-Founder of Hyve Forum, a Think Tank and advisory group bridging academic research to business action for sustainable futures. Eva has worked with NGOs and multinational organisations in energy, publishing, finance, technology, professional services, and international development programs. She managed the UK government department for international development (DFID) at PwC, where she drove sustainable development and strategic growth with DFID-funded programmes.
Eva completed her postgraduate studies in Sustainability Business Leadership at Cambridge University and is currently a programme leader in the circular economy and sustainability executive education programme at Cambridge Judge Business School. Among other accomplishments, Eva also sits on the advisory boards of tech start-ups and business enterprises tackling climate change.
Matt Elliott
Chief People Officer
Dr. Florida Starks
SVP, Chief Diversity Officer
Florida is a certified DE&I leader on a mission to inspire awareness and action to change by leveraging her experience to help other become ambassadors of change. She is currently the SVP, Chief Diversity Officer at Pearson where she leads a team in creating and delivering strategies that reflect equity in all operations. Florida has worked with highly recognized companies including Conagra Brands, Verizon Communications, and Best Buy where she was responsible for revitalizing organizational ambitions to be the model for inclusive excellence.
Amelie Villeneuve
Global Head of People Capability
Amelie is currently Global Head of People Capability for Standard Chartered Bank, building and
accelerating the learning across the bank for building the best experts for today and building
global citizens and CEOs for the long term. She also leads SCB’s focus on reskilling and building
future skills.
Before SCB, Amelie was Global Head of UBS University, and before this, Global Head of
Business Leadership Development for Google. Amelie spent nearly 20 years as a consultant, first
in mergers and acquisitions, then at Duke Corporate Education and The Corporate Executive
Board.
Amelie has been fascinated by transformation at market, organisational and individual level since
the beginning of her career on a trading floor in Hong Kong during the Asian Financial Crisis. She
has dedicated her work since then to helping clients and organisations see and seize opportunity
through turbulence. She has three children and is a competitive amateur horse rider in her spare
time
Elly Tomlins
Chief People Officer
Elly joined Britvic in February 2022 and is responsible for the design and execution of the People Strategy for the group, including talent management, organisational change and capability, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing, and reward.
Elly has considerable expertise in developing progressive talent strategies, delivering innovative employee experiences, and building and scaling culture transformation. She was most recently VP Culture & People Strategy at Tate & Lyle PLC and formerly the Group Talent & Organisational Development Director and HR Director for Group Functions at Whitbread PLC. She also held a series of international and global roles across talent, inclusion and diversity and organisational change at Thomson Reuters Corporation.
Before entering HR Elly was a management consultant and holds a MA and MPhil in Historical Studies from Cambridge University.
Trayonna Floyd Hales
Director, Talent & Performance
Trayonna Floyd Hales is director of talent and performance for Warner Bros. Discovery (formerly WarnerMedia), a premier global media and entertainment company. Trayonna currently leads a team supporting the talent and performance management experience of 30,000+ employees globally.
In previous roles, she developed talent and leadership development strategies for major defense companies including BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman. She is also a 2022 Brandon Hall Silver Award winner for her innovative work in leadership development. Trayonna has been published in ATD Magazine (April 2019), honored as a 2021 Northern Virginia 40 Under 40 Honoree and as a 2019 ATD “Up & Coming” Talent Development Professional and is a 2019 graduate of Leadership Fairfax and the chair of the Young Professionals Advisory Council (YPAC) at Cornerstones, a non-profit based in Reston, Va.
Tashi Theisman
Vice President, Global Benefits
Tashi Theisman is the Vice President, Global Benefits for PayPal. She is responsible for the strategic and operational delivery of global benefits.
Tashi has significant experience in strategic development, design, implementation, and ongoing management of benefit programs. She has managed all aspects of both active and retiree benefit programs for large, complex organizations. She also has a depth of expertise with team leadership, merger, acquisition and divestiture end-to-end delivery, Human Resources management and total reward programs.
Prior to working at PayPal, Tashi worked as the Vice President of Global Benefits and Employee Mobility at HP, the Global Director of Benefits for Dell Inc., Director of Regional HR for Dell Inc., and has held various roles in benefits and HR at Hewlett Packard Company, BP, Compaq, and Kellogg Brown and Root.
Tashi enjoys mentoring kids and young adults and has served as a Board Member At Large for the Girl Scouts of Central Texas, a mentor and volunteer for Leander ISD, and mentor for the Dell Social Innovation Challenge and Dell Education Challenge.
Tashi is a graduate of Baylor University with a B.S. in Psychology. She is based in the Austin, Texas area, where she lives with her husband, daughter, and two dogs Teddy and Maisy.
Quentin Lemarié
Learning Development Director
Quentin supports Coursera’s clients in the development of their Digital Learning strategies.
With his experience advising senior HR leaders on Technology and Strategy for the past 7 years at CEB, Linkedin and Gartner, Quentin is convinced that Life-long learning and growth culture are some of the most important life’s skill and the key to thrive in changing times.
Sapna Harichand
People and Culture Transformation Strategist, Former Gap, Former Estee Lauder
Carol Sinko
Senior Vice President, Marcel Classes Global Lead
Carol Sinko leads Publicis Groupe’s global learning platform, Marcel Classes. She oversees a global team of learning and development experts and drives the strategic direction of global learning initiatives.
Marcel Class.es is the home of more than 30,000 live and online learning opportunities, integrated material from third-party courseware providers, and 98,000 users worldwide.
Carol has more than 20 years of experience in learning and development. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Northwestern University. She has been a member of the eLearning Guild and the Association of Talent Development in Chicago (ATDChi) and has earned the Workplace Learning and Performance Institute (WLPI), Chief Learning Officer (CLO) Symposium, and Future Workplace AI4HR certificates, demonstrating her advanced expertise in adult learning theory.
Alastair Gill
Founder, CPO, Leadership Coach
Alastair Gill is an experienced people leader, award winning speaker and certified leadership coach. In his last role as Head of People at giffgaff, he helped build an innovative culture in a fast-paced and growing organisation. Now as Founder at Alchemy Labs, he focusses on enabling other business to develop their own creative people strategies, that put experience at the core.
Lesley Wilkinson
Chief Talent Officer
Lesley joined Experian as Chief Talent Officer in August 2021 to support the hiring, development and movement of our talent. In line with our ambition to become one of the Top 25 Great Places to work in the world, we are truly committed to creating an environment where we can all build our skills, develop, grow and be a force for good. Lesley is passionate about the role that organisations play in helping individuals fulfil their potential, and the role that unlocking people’s potential plays in an organisation’s succes.
Lesley joined us from ING, where she was Chief Talent Officer, creating talent approaches to match the organisation’s Agile design. She has supported the leadership teams of a number of start-ups from a broad range of sectors, as they set up their talent for scale.
Hannah Waters
Vice President Global Wellbeing & International Benefits
Hannah is a highly regarded, energetic, authentic, and ethical leader. She has a proven track record of delivering organizational improvement in complex and challenging environments.
Initially starting her career as an exercise science professional, Hannah migrated into HSE positions in the resources sector gaining hands-on experience in oil and gas, rail, construction, and refineries. Hannah was quickly recognized as an inspiring leader with strong strategic and operational acumen, which led to her promotion to Senior HSE Leadership roles and ultimately being selected as an Executive Advisor to the CEO, which was a role based in Dallas, Texas.
Hannah’s current leadership position with JACOBS sees her providing strategic guidance to key senior personnel and the business, developing leading-edge organizational wellbeing programs, delivering continuous improvement and enhanced performance outcomes, identification of key risk areas, and implementing of globally integrated Total Reward offerings. She also plays a key role in general business governance, changes in management approach, and strategy development and implementation.
Hannah’s passion for organizational health and wellness has seen the development of a supportive environment at Jacobs that has become a cornerstone of the overall employee health and wellness by promoting positive mental health at work, addressing both individual risk factors and broader organizational and environmental issues. This is now a formal program branded a ‘mental health matters
Dr. Beth Kaplan Kondonijakos
VP, Global Leadership Development & Enablement
Dr. Beth Kaplan Kondonijakos is a researcher and storyteller with expertise in belonging, belonging in the workplace, and workplace trauma. Beth is currently conducting research and supporting the development of these areas as they inform the future of work. She is a big picture thinker and creative storyteller with 15 years of experience in learning and leadership strategy and is proven at improving retention and transforming company culture.
Beth is currently the global head of leader development and enablement at Dassault Systemes. Prior to this, she started leader development at Salesforce and is credited as a thought leader in this space. Beth holds an MSE.d and ED.D in Learning and Leadership Strategy from The University of Pennsylvania.
Beth lives in Pennsylvania with her husband Steve and their 2 boys.
Keynote speaker to be announced soon
Tara Clarkson
Global Head of Talent Management
Senior representative from
Jill Cotton
Career Trends Expert
Jill Cotton is a career trends expert and the PR & Marketing Manager for Glassdoor across EMEA. With 20 years communications experience, she is passionate about creating a more equal work environment and believes workplace transparency is the key to achieving this. Working with the Glassdoor Economic Research team, Jill uses data to identify trends across employee and employer experiences. She has commented on a range of career-related topics and has been featured by the BBC, Insider, Marie Claire, Yahoo!, Daily Telegraph, Metro, Sky News and more.
