Asia Pacific Summit Highlights HR Trends and Insights in the Region

HR Policy Global’s 2024 Asia Pacific Summit attracted Members from around the world to Singapore for a two-day meeting May 14-15.

In a nutshell:  The Summit emphasized the evolving role and importance of the HR function in the post-Covid era, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, and addressed timely issues including the changing labor and employment environment, diversity and talent, and building closer connections between business and HR.  

Bala Sathyanarayanan, EVP and CHRO of Greif, Inc., kicked off the event with an engaging presentation on the evolving role and importance of the HR function in the post-Covid era, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. David Mann, Asia Pacific Chief Economist at Mastercard, captivated the audience with a dynamic presentation that illustrated the relationships between inflation, savings, and wage growth using real-time data analytics. 

Representatives from Amazon, Jones Day, and Baker McKenzie delivered timely updates on labor regulations and reforms in key regions such as India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Australia. They emphasized the importance of meeting consultation requirements with employees, as labor offices across Asia Pacific increasingly focus on employer compliance.   

Henry Eickelberg, Chief Operating Officer, HR Policy and Alan Wild, Senior Advisor, Global Employee Relations, HR Policy Association, discussed significant global events shaping the world of work, including the impact of the geopolitical environment and the impact on employee voice.

Ani Huang, HRPA’s Senior Executive VP and President and CEO, Center On Executive Compensation, provided valuable insights into the future of U.S. Human Capital Management disclosures and non-compete agreements, highlighting the growing need for HR-related data transparency in the region. 

Matthew McSweeney, Executive Director HR AP of Boeing, and Alejandra Ferraro, CHRO Growth Markets at Accenture, showcased practical steps companies can take to develop effective diversity and inclusion programs. They also discussed how to apply similar frameworks across different geographies while considering local priorities and cultures. 

Associate Professor in Practice Terence Ho from the National University of Singapore offered an enlightening perspective on talent management, discussing how Singapore balances the employment needs of locals, foreign investors, and the ASEAN region.