First virtual HR think tank Sri Lanka: People practices in a new world of work

Achal Khanna

Dawn Metcalfe

Sharon Amerasinghe

Thilanka Jayathilaka

The Association of HR professionals (AHRP) conducted their first virtual HR Think Tank (HRTT) on 18 November 2020 amidst an audience of offshore participants and global subject matter experts – the third in a series of HR think tanks for HR professionals. 

In light of the developing COVID situation, to ensure participants’ safety, the event was swiftly re-designed and adapted to be conducted virtually, leveraging technology to enable off shore participants to connect and share their expertise in a real-time example of rethinking and redesigning people practices in the ‘new world of work’. 

This session was partnered by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and was sponsored by Gig.lk, Union Assurance PLC and Amoda Ratnayake Associates. 

In his opening remarks, AHRP President Danthanarayana acknowledged partners SHRM, the key note speaker Dawn Metcalfe, Managing Director and founder of PDSi and a workplace culture advisor, AHRP Charter President, Chitral Amarasiri and other Past Presidents of the AHRP who joined from multiple locations across the globe. 

Amarasiri, who joined the session from Washington, DC reflected on the formation of AHRP 18 years ago stating: “We started AHRP back in the 1990s as a platform to discuss challenging HR issues – a mutually rewarding experience for all of us. It is amazing to see how AHRP and its events have evolved into sophisticated programmes over the years and I congratulate the President and the Executive Committee for the effort and commitment.” 

Today, AHRP is the only organisation in Sri Lanka constituting of practising HR professionals and continues to add value through providing opportunities to network, share best practices and uplifting capability of its members who are spread across multiple industries. The association is led by an Ex-Co from diverse industries who bring in a wealth of rich knowledge and experiences.

Amarasiri also touched upon the importance of the HRTT topic People practices in a new world of work, stating: “This is a hot topic not just for HR professionals but also for business leaders. The COVID 19 pandemic has disrupted organisations irrespective of size, strategic value, prosperity of the country and has had enormous implications on HR.” He urged HR professionals to revisit their employment architecture and other peripheral areas to cater to emerging business needs. 

Commending the partnership with AHRP, SHRM CEO (APAC and Middle East) Achal Khanna said: “I wish to acknowledge the steadfast partnership between our two organisations and am proud to be speaking today at the third edition of the HR Think Tank, Sri Lanka. The Society for Human Resource Management, creates better workplaces where employers and employees thrive together. With 300,000+ HR and business executive members in 165 countries, SHRM impacts the lives of more than 115 million workers and families globally.”

Speaking of the role of HR, Khanna said: “Managing people remotely, keeping them engaged and motivated, yet maintaining the flow of business are skills that HR professionals need to include to their forte. It is not just about having a seat at the table, but HR needs to actually drive the business and going digital to manage people is no longer an option to drive high performance.” Keynote speaker Dawn Metcalfe is the Managing Director and founder of PDSi, a workplace culture advisor and the author of many books including ‘Managing the Matrix’ and ‘HardTalk’. Her topic revolved around the need for a world of work where everyone’s perspectives can be heard, understood and valued and how this leads to building mindsets of learning from each other and applying the learnings within the workplace. She iterated that this culture is required for the inevitable changes ahead to be managed, even while the human brain works against this - requiring HR professionals to lead the way.

The HR Think Tank also saw the launch of a very interesting and meaningful initiative by AHRP – ‘Reachup2Reset,’ which was launched to support professionals who have been left unemployed due to organisational design changes post COVID. 

Officially launching ‘Reachup2Reset,’ Oshana Dias, Vice President, Professional Development and External Alliances said: “The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has indiscriminately impacted our way of life. Organisations have had to ‘right size’ to remain viable and competitive in their markets. Unfortunately, this has left many individuals without employment, and seeking alternate avenues. Our purpose at AHRP is to leverage the talent and resources in our professional community/fraternity to provide valued guidance and support to individuals who have been impacted.” 

Talking of the progress made so far, Dias said: “We have been reached by 30 professionals so far and upon interview, they have been directed to career coaching sessions by our experts. We also have an exciting line of webinars to equip them on how to face an interview and other skills required to be employed.”

This followed the best practices knowledge sharing session hosted by Sharon Amerasinghe of Inxision in a creative format which facilitated the senior HR professionals to share their transformational people practices along five segments; Creating agile and flexible working opportunities, Strengthening engagement and wellbeing, Driving cost effective people practices, Re-thinking learning in the ‘new normal,’ and Ways of working and Cultural transformation. 

An exciting line up of senior HR professionals included Isuru Gunasekara of John Keells Holdings, Ishan Danthanarayana of Brandix, Thushara Jayawardana of South Asia Gateway Terminals, Bani Chandrasena of London Stock Exchange, Kaushal Mendis of Pizza Hut, Dinusha Jayamanne of Fonterra, Nuwan Jayaweera of Coats Thread, Ransi Dharmasiriwardena of Standard Chartered Bank, Chinthaka Premaratne of Fairway Holdings, Chandana Wijayaname of Incee, Oshana Dias of Fortude, Niroshan Silva of Training Consortium, Chiranthi Cooray of Hatton National Bank, Dharshi Talpahewa of Hayleys, Dilrukshi Kurukulasuriya of DIMO, Upulka Samarakoon of HSBC Data Centre, Dilani Jayalath of Aitken Spence and Ravi Jayasekara of Union Bank.

Sharing her thoughts on the think tank journey, Dinusha Jayamanne (AHRP Vice President – Professional Development) said: “We launched the HRTT with the aim of harnessing the collective thinking of Senior HR Professionals to uplift the skills and standards of the profession in the country. I am proud to see the HRTT evolving today to a rich composition of HR leaders of approximately 30 organisations in Sri Lanka. 

“This HR think tank was organised to share revolutionary people practices that organisations implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic and it was amazing to see the richness of thinking and the learning that happened during the process. We witnessed Senior HR professionals displaying the true spirit of learning from each other, bringing the outside in and being open to new perspectives which would result in the continuous enrichment of our profession.” 

The Project Chair of the event Thilanka Jayathilaka, former Secretary of AHRP, said: “It is admirable that the Association of HR Professionals is continuing with such initiatives to energise the HR fraternity in Sri Lanka, by exposing them to new local and global thinking as well as creating collaboration among HR professionals, who constantly face new challenges of creating a future ready organization. This event was brought together by many dedicated AHRP members including Harini Indiketiya, Amandhi Dunukara and Sharon Amerasinghe with the mentorship of the VPs of Professional Development and External Alliances.”