Her Excellency Amal Bin Adi, director general, Dubai Government Human Resources opens HR Summit & Expo 16.11.2015: Mid East’s largest HR event features packed agenda of guru speakers, 60 free seminars, platform

Mid East’s largest HR event features packed agenda of guru speakers, 60 free seminars, platform of 70 companies sharing latest HR solutions



photo caption:  Her Excellency Amal Bin Adi, Director General of Dubai Government Human Resources, opens the HR Summit at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre. 


Her Excellency Amal Bin Adi, Director General of Dubai Government Human Resources today officially opened the 12thedition of the HR Summit & Expo, the Middle East’s largest, most influential human resources event.


H.E. Amal Bin Adi said: “As a representative of the government, my participation in the opening of the HR Summit & Expo comes within the framework of our continued efforts to build bridges of support for effective communication between the parties involved in the development of this sector and its employees.  This is achieved through the exchange of knowledge and practices coming to productive conclusions. 


“I hope that everyone is able to have a rich experience by participating in the sessions and workshops on offer and learn from the best experts and specialists in the region.”


Taking place until 18 November at the Dubai International and Exhibition Centre, the three-day event led under the theme ‘Business Unusual: Disrupting HR and Leading Innovation’, welcomed three inspirational guru speakers: Ram Charan, co-author of best-selling book, The Talent Masters; Fons Trompenaars, globally renowned consultant and organisational theorist; and best-selling author Jim Kouzes, one of Wall Street Journal’s twelve best executive educators in the United States.


Alongside the guru speakers, the HR Summit & Expo has this year attracted a speaker line-up of more than 80 regional and international HR heads from some of the biggest regional and multinational organisations in the world.


On Tuesday 17 November, the dedicated summit will feature Sven Rohte, CCO at Daman who will discuss ‘Empowering the HR Function to Understand Organisational Health and Manage Costs’, and Yvonne Agyei, VP for People Operations at Google, who will present, ‘Finding Your Google: How to Drive a Happiness and Innovation Culture’.


Another highlight of the second day is a presentation from Scott Friedman, an engagement and innovation expert, who will reveal the great need for transportation in today’s fast-paced, stress inducing workplace.


“The biggest HR and people challenges facing businesses in the Middle East today are old patterns of behaviour, generational issues getting in the way of creating more innovative systems and not taking advantage of technology and how it can improve business processes,” said Friedman.


“Through my presentation, you will learn how you can create a culture of innovation and celebration at work and how to develop engaged, passionate employees through gratitude, play, and surprise. You will learn how to create fun, innovative rituals which foster a more open and engaging workplace, and how to make the “celebration mindset” become a permanent way of thinking at your workplace.”




Running alongside the conference and exhibition is the Middle East HR Excellence Awards which will showcase the best HR talent in the Middle East and honour the regions professionals in the public and private sectors.  Winners will be celebrated across 10 separate categories at a gala dinner tomorrow (Tuesday 17 November).


The HR Summit and Expo is supported by Headline Sponsors, Daman, Profiles International, CIPD, Wiley and CivilSoft; Strategic Partner, Gulf Talent;  Platinum Sponsors, Halogen Software, FranklinCovey Middle East, Qiyada; Gold Sponsor, Tanfeeth; and Silver Sponsors, BTS, Eruditus, Zurich, HGS, Cass Business School and Mary Gober International.



- Lindsay Johnston, Total Communications Dubai - also photos