NCE seminar on ‘How to Create the Best Workplace through Human Capital Management’

The dynamic changes that constantly takes place in the international trade arena require entrepreneurs and leaders of Sri Lankan export-oriented enterprises to look for new approaches, to attract the

Chiranthi Cooray

attention of their stakeholders, as well establish credibility among overseas buyers. In this regard, one of the key strategies is to establish and maintain a competent pool of human capital resources, and also their efficient management to make the best use of their competences.

In the current context of international trade, investment to develop the competences of human capital through different approaches is imperative to confront, and overcome both external and internal challenges. 

Currently some of the external challenges are the trade war between the US and China, the repercussions that could arise due to Brexit, and the trade embargoes that have been imposed on some of the important trade partners of Sri Lanka, among others. On the other hand, some of the internal challenges relate to changes in labour regulations, ad hoc changes in taxation and trade policies etc., all of which need ‘out of the box thinking’ by a competent pool of human resources, in different specialties. In the case of the garments sector this objective has been achieved successfully relative to the other sectors through the competence of human resources, and the projection of the sector through the slogan ‘Garments without Guilt’.

With a view to create awareness and knowledge among member enterprises of the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE), as well as other exporters and entrepreneurs, the Chamber will conduct a high-profile, awareness-creating, and educative seminar where professionals and leaders in human resource capital development will address participants. The address will be followed by a panel discussion to enable participants to seek clarifications regarding their concerns and issues.

Guest speakers at the seminar

• Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri is a renowned conference speaker, corporate trainer, strategy consultant, acclaimed author and an accomplished academic. He is the Director and Chairman of the Board of Management of Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
  
   
• Kanishka Weerasinghe is the Director-General / Chief Executive Officer of the Employers Federation of Ceylon. An attorney-at-Law by profession, Weerasinghe is a former State Counsel of the Attorney General’s Department and counts over twenty-five years in the bar. He has obtained post graduate qualifications in International Relations / Affairs, including a Masters. He has also received executive education from the National University of Singapore (NUS). 

Panellists

• R P A Wimalaweera is the Commissioner General of Labour, Department of Labour is an accomplished academic. At national level he has ensured the effective implementation of labour laws in the country and has immensely contributed to amend labour laws with the objective of well-being of the working people and economic growth.
  
   
• Deshika Rodrigo has over 25 years of experience in HR including Microsoft Corporation, USA and, most recently, at the Standard Chartered Bank, Sri Lanka where she was the Head of Human Resources, for 11 years. She is a guest lecturer at several institutes and has been invited to speak at various forums.
  
   
• Dinesh Saparamadu is the Founder and Chairman of hSenid Group of Companies. With over 21 years of creative innovation in empowering human resource and mobile applications globally, he led hSenid to become a leading software development company operating from Australia, Africa, India, Singapore, and Sri Lanka. 
  
   
• Ishan Dantanarayana has over 29 years of human resources and business partnering experience at senior management level. He is currently the Group Chief People Officer and is also a member of the Corporate Leadership Team of the Brandix Group overlooking operations in Sri Lanka & Global and serves the Board of Brandix College.

The seminar will be moderated by Chiranthi Cooray, the Chief Transformation Officer of Hatton National Bank. She leads key transformations in digital, tech, product & service strategies and people to drive growth and support achievement of mid to long-term goals of the Bank. She spearheads transformation facilitating change management and delivering business value. 

Among the topics that will be addressed at the seminar are the following:

 

• What are the current trends and changes in human resources management
• What are the top most skills that are required to steer the human resources of modern organisations 
• How to provide relevant and up to date training to employees 
• How to motivate employees to optimise their performance 
• How to tackle the issue of skilled labour shortages, strategically 
• How to handle Millennials and Gen Z entering into the workforce 
• Understanding labour regulatory changes, and new amendments to the Labour Act
  
   

The seminar will be held on 28 November in the Diamond Ballroom of the Hotel Marino Beach from 4.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., and will provide an ideal opportunity for business leaders and senior officials of export oriented organisations to enhance their knowledge and clarify issues from professionals and experts in this important field.