'You have to be prepared to be the one who will push back and challenge'
The National HR Virtual Summit has concluded, featuring panel discussions, interviews, and presentations based on HRD Australia’s extensive independent research.
With an array of great speakers, the event was a fantastic success and has received great feedback from attendees.
On day two, delegates heard how some of Australia’s biggest organisations have adapted and thrived during the COVID-19 crisis, including the International Convention Centre, Medibank and QBE Insurance Group.
In the Main Conference, Christian Campanella, Human Resources Director, Pernod-Ricard Winemakers, spoke about employee engagement and collaborative performance management.
He talked about how the connection and commitment employees exhibit toward an organisation can lead to higher levels of productive work behaviours.
Campanella explained that by creating a work environment that enables people to perform to the best of their abilities, companies can reap the benefits of collaborative performance management.
In the Director’s Forum, Jane Hollman, Chief People & Culture Officer at AIA discussed the practical realities of ethical leadership, crisis management and dynamic decision-making in the C-suite and the boardroom.
Hollman said that negotiating and influencing skills are paramount for HR leaders, particularly in times of crisis such as COVID-19.
“Our executive team have been aligned in terms of how to deal with COVID and introducing flexibility measures for staff,” said Hollman.
“In normal times, you absolutely need good influencing and negotiating skills. I see the chief people officer role as being the ‘CEO whisperer’ in some respects.
“In particular, the Head of HR and the CFO often have to influence the C-Suite the most in terms of what the right thing to do is.
“You have to be prepared to be the one who will push back and challenge. I think that is what HR does, it holds a mirror up to the organisation.”
Moreover, HRD would like to thank our events partners and sponsors, including Cornerstone, Reward Gateway, People + Culture Strategies, SAP Litmos, Willis Towers Watson and Glint. The $1500 cash prize giveaways will be announced tomorrow.
HRD would also like to thank all the delegates who attended this year’s event and will continue to strive to be part of a real movement of evolution in the human resources sector.
