The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) Sri Lanka – the nation’s leader in Human Resource management, in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Federation of Human Resource Management (APFHRM) and The World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA) will be hosting World HR Congress 2020 - the world’s largest HR conclave, in Colombo, from July 6-8, 2020 at the BMICH. This is the first time that World HR Congress is been held in a South Asian country.
Secretary General, WFPMA, Bob Morton said, “WFPMA is delighted that CIPM is hosting the 2020 World Congress in Colombo, Sri Lanka. CIPM is a valued and leading member of the Asia Pacific Federation of Human Resource Management and was selected by the WFPMA Board as the host country following a robust tender process.
“The combination of CIPM’s successful record in holding innovative and highly relevant HR congresses and Colombo’s reputation as a highly attractive congress venue with excellent facilities, proved a winning combination.
“The World Congress enables HR professionals to build a global community of peers, to discuss new developments in HRM, and to network with colleagues from around the world who face similar complex challenges in human resource management.
“We are looking forward to an exciting congress and to greeting HR professionals and their management colleagues from around the world at this unique HR event and to experience this wonderful country,” he said.
“Sri Lanka was awarded the rights to host the Congress after a robust evaluation process. We had the confidence that the country will return to normalcy fast after the unfortunate incident in April. We continue to place faith in Sri Lanka. The country’s long standing record for the development of HR has risen the standards of the profession in the country and in the region as well. As we are living in a turbulent time, we have to step beyond and expand our thinking, be innovative and excel. For this we need to step up to challenges,” Morton said.
President, CIPM Sri Lanka and Director, APFHRM, Dhammika Fernando. “When every manager plays a “people management role”, the people management professional’s role evolves into a role of an internal coach, guide, policy setter and an architect of strategy adding significant value to the organization.Thus, the World HR Congress 2020 is aptly themed as “Exalting People Professionals : Explore, Expand and Excel” in order to encourage, energize and enthuse people professionals in the increasingly strategic role that they play in their organizations” -
Over 2,000 people management professionals and business leaders from Sri Lanka and overseas are expected to participate in this mega people management event. In addition to the main tent event, a pre-conference event on the topic of “International Knowledge Sharing by People Professionals” featuring 4 plenaries which also consists of 3 Keynote speeches by world renowned thought leaders, 4 panel discussions, over 20 technical breakout sessions, the HR Service Providers Exhibition which runs alongside of the conference and the Grand Finale of the CIPM Great HR Debate, will be part of the proceedings. Furthermore, three separate events (by invitation only) will be held prior to and post the World HR Congress 2020. These will be the APFHRM Regional Meeting and Heads of the world People Management Institutes Meeting, which consists of 93 countries in 5 continental federations which will be on 5th July 2020, and the WFPMA Board Meeting on 9th July 2020.
The conclave will deliberate on the various aspects and implications of digitalization, disruption, diversity, inclusivity and happiness of people in a new world of work and life.
“As the host country organising this prestigious conference, our program and agenda for the participants over the three days will be fully packed to freely disseminate and share knowledge, new and innovative ideas and insights. Our carefully selected speakers and panelists will delve deeply into the subject matter in order to kindle new thinking and approaches to people management, taking advantage of disruptive technology to build the better world for work and life” he said.
CIPM Sri Lanka won the opportunity to host the biennial World HR Congress in 2020 in Colombo after an intense competitive bidding and evaluation process during the Annual Meeting of the APFHRM among other bidding countries in the Asia Pacific region including Australia where the World HR Congress was held successfully on 2 previous occasions, the Philippines and Thailand, Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri – Immediate Past President CIPM Sri Lanka received the official proclamation from Chairman, WFPMA, Peter Wilson, that the World HR Congress 2020 will be held in Sri Lanka, at the World HR Congress 2018 in Chicago, USA. CIPM Sri Lanka has appointed a high powered organizing committee led by President CIPM Sri Lanka – Dhammika Fernando (Chairman) and Immediate Past President – Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri (Deputy Chairman) together with eight Sub-Committees for Technical, Promotional, Sponsorships, Logistics, Secretariat, Ceremonials, Participation and Security, and Health & Safety to organize the event in keeping with international convention standards. The World HR Congress is also considered as an ideal platform for Sri Lankan HR professionals to build and develop an extensive network of peers and colleagues in the region and from across the globe.
The Congress 2020 will coincide with CIPM Sri Lanka’s 60th Anniversary. With many accolades earned and significant achievements over these 60 years (including the most recent accolade of the award of the ‘Chartered’ Status), CIPM Sri Lanka is now strengthening its role as a dynamic regional and global People Management Professional’s Body.