Empowering people for a thriving nation: Essentials for excellence

The most sought-after People Conference of Sri Lanka is ready to unfold once again this year. It will be held on 2 and 3 June. With the apt theme, “Empowering people for a thriving nation,” it will feature eminent speakers, elite panellists, and excellent deliberations. I as a former president of Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), member of the technical committee of the National HR Conference (NHRC) 2025 and also as the moderator of the first panel discussion is indeed delighted to share the salient features of it with high national, regional and global significance. Today’s column is all about it. 

Overview 

In fact, NHRC has been hailed as the largest HR conference in the South Asia. Year on year, it has shown continuous improvement regards to the quality, relevance, and the overall experience. We deliberated on the theme, “empowering people for a thriving nation” in line with the manifesto of the current government with obvious endorsement by the Sri Lankan majority. “A thriving nation; A beautiful life” is the overall theme presented to us. “The social transformation Sri Lanka needs today is not a mere change of government or filling of the spaces left by the departure of a ruling group. It is a massive social transformation beyond the reformation of just one or two sectors – in essence, a renaissance.” That is how the preface to the manifesto begins. The key factor in fulfilling the promises is people. It is simply a people affair, what they do for people, with people, through people and by people. 

As the premier HR professional body in Sri Lanka, CIPM geared towards reflecting and reinforcing people factor for development. As the conference brochure says, “The interconnection between empowered individuals and national progress is fundamental.” As it further highlights, “a thriving nation requires a robust workforce capable of addressing challenges and contributing meaningfully to society.” Human resources play a pivotal role in driving sustainable national development and prosperity.

The conference will deliberate on how empowerment unlocks human potential, fostering creativity and innovation. When people are empowered, they become proactive problem-solvers, driving organisational performance and forming the backbone of economic growth. This approach promotes inclusivity, ensuring all citizens, regardless of background, can participate in and benefit from national development. Building resilience through empowerment enables the workforce to adapt to technological advancements and global challenges. An empowered population embraces innovation and sustainable practices, contributing to long-term national well-being and maintaining competitive advantage in an interconnected world.

NHRC 2025 in essence 

In identifying the key focal areas of “empowering people for a thriving nation,” education and skills development, leadership cultivation, health and well-being initiatives, supportive policy frameworks, and digital transformation have been markedly featured. By investing in these areas, organisations create environments where individuals feel valued and motivated to contribute. 

As CIPM expects, HR leaders should serve as catalysts for national transformation through people development. They should design and implement strategies that cultivate talent, foster innovation, and build organisational resilience. By championing empowerment initiatives, these professionals create the foundation for both individual fulfilment and collective prosperity, strengthening the social and economic fabric of the nation.

Among the diverse features of NHRC 2025, technical sessions with national and global speakers appear prominently. The participants can learn from global thought leaders sharing insights on key HR topics, trends, and practical strategies for one’s organisation. The national HR exhibition, concurrently happening will enhance the variety of offerings with a wide range of products and services. The “Great HR Debate” which is now a widely established sensation of the NHRC will also add energy, enthusiasm, and engagement, particularly among emerging leaders of corporates. The participants can Join discussions where HR professionals address pressing industry challenges and shape future practices. 

Another coveted component of NHRC is the lifetime award and now it is called “CIPM Baurs Lifetime Gold Award.” This is to celebrate distinguished professionals recognised for their significant contributions to advancing the HR field. I as a proud previous recipient, know very well how prestigious it is and how genuine the process associated is. 

Keynote by Andrew Bryant 

Sri Lankan participants are eagerly waiting to see Andrew Bryant in action. He is a renowned keynote speaker on leadership and motivation, a global authority on self-leadership, and a trusted executive coach for C-level leaders, and leadership teams worldwide. As the author of Self-Leadership: How to Become a More Successful, Efficient, and Effective Leader from the Inside Out and The New Leadership Playbook, Andrew provides actionable strategies that empower leaders to take ownership, enhance their influence, and achieve accelerated results.

With a deep understanding of leadership in an AI-driven world, Andrew inspires audiences to embrace their humanity, cultivate resilience, and lead with confidence in times of change. His dynamic and engaging presentations equip leaders with the mindset and strategies to unleash their full potential, drive organisational transformation, and create meaningful impact. Whether addressing corporate conferences, leadership summits, or executive retreats, Andrew Bryant delivers high-impact, thought-provoking keynotes that leave a lasting impression.

Technical sessions with valued variety 

Mimi Nicklin, a bestselling author, CEO and empathy advocate will conduct a master class on empowering people. In today’s complex global environment, human capital remains the most powerful driver of national development and economic resilience. When individuals reach their full potential, organisations flourish and nations prosper. This fundamental relationship between people empowerment and national advancement forms the cornerstone of sustainable progress.

She will highlight how people development yields measurable returns on investment. As research indicates organisations that prioritise employee empowerment experience higher profitability while contributing significantly to GDP growth and socioeconomic advancement. Comprehensive empowerment strategies create multiplicative effects across sectors. By developing capabilities at individual, organisational, and systemic levels, nations build interconnected ecosystems that foster innovation and sustainable development.

I am humbly happy to moderate a session titled “transformative leadership for a world-class workforce.” In today’s competitive global environment, HR leaders serve as architects of organisational excellence, shaping workforces that drive national prosperity. Transformative leadership transcends traditional management by fostering innovation, inclusivity, and resilience, the essential elements for creating globally competitive human capital. Transformative leaders catalyse innovation by challenging conventional thinking and creating environments where creative risks are welcomed. As management pioneer Peter Drucker noted, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

In addition to Andrew Bryant, Shashi Kandambi, Chief Executive Officer, National Savings Bank, Pradip Pandey, Managing Director, Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka, and Ravi Jayawardena, Group Chief Executive Officer, Maliban Group will share their valued insights during this session. 

“Powering national productivity in the digital era” is the apt theme for another vibrant technical session. In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, organisations must leverage technology strategically to maximise workforce potential and drive national economic advancement. Digital transformation is no longer optional but essential for maintaining competitive advantage in the global marketplace. Strategic digital adoption creates exponential productivity gains across sectors. Artificial intelligence and advanced analytics revolutionise talent management by enabling precision matching of skills to opportunities, predictive workforce planning, and personalised development pathways.

Conrad Dias, Director, LOLC Holdings, Dr. Romesh Ranawana, Group Chief Analytics and AI Officer, Dialog Axiata, Dr. Prasanth Nair, Chief Human Resource Officer, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals will be the expert panel moderated by Oshana Dias, Chief People Officer, Fortude. There is another insightful technical session designed on “Diversity for creativity: strengthening social cohesion”. The global marketplace demands organisations harness diverse perspectives to fuel innovation and build inclusive cultures. This session explores how strategic diversity initiatives drive creative problem solving while fostering workplace unity. Discover how forward-thinking HR leaders transform diversity from compliance obligation to competitive advantage.

Rajendra Theagarajah Independent Non-Executive Chairman, First Capital Holdings, Sabrina Esufally, Managing Director, Hemas Consumer Brands, Thamali Rodrigo, Partner, Head of Restructuring, Enterprise Advisory and Corporate Governance, KPMG in Sri Lanka and Maldives, and Shalin Balasuriya, Co-Founder and Group Director at Spa Ceylon Ayurveda Wellness will be the renowned panellists with Priyantha Ranasinghe, President CIPM and Chief People Officer at Siam City Cement Lanka will be the moderator. 

“Work-Life Integration: Creating beautiful lives” is the theme assigned to another practically relevant session to most of us. In an era where workplace demands increasingly blur the boundaries between professional and personal spheres, organisations must prioritise holistic employee well-being as a strategic imperative. This session explores evidence-based approaches to creating workplaces where individuals can thrive professionally while maintaining personal fulfilment and health. Dr. Mihirini De Zoysa, Leadership Coach and Managing Director at Corporate Druids, and R. Ramesh Prasad, Founder, Onefluencer NLP Training and Coaching will share their expertise with the moderation by Wasanthi Stephen, Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Janashakthi Group. 

“A future ready agile workforce” is another timely theme associated the 6th technical session of NHRC 2025. As markets evolve with unprecedented speed, organisations must develop workforce strategies that combine stability with adaptability. This session explores how progressive organisations are reimagining employment models to create agile teams capable of responding to market shifts while maintaining organisational culture and performance excellence. 

Rajitha Kariyawasan, Managing Director, Haycarb PLC, Chethana Liyanage, Chief Talent Officer, Capital Maharaja Group, Mayura Malagala Human Capital Consulting, Engineering AI and Data, and Growth Office Leader, Deloitte Sri Lanka and Maldives, and Prof. Pavithra Kailasapathy, Professor of HR, University of Colombo will be the professional panellists, while Janka Kumarasinghe, Past President CIPM and Executive Director, Kentridge will be the moderator. 

The final technical session will revolve around the theme, “Global perspectives and its impact on human capital.” Dilshan Wirasekara, Chief Executive Officer, First Capital Holdings, Dr. Samitha Perera, Past President CIPM and Chairman, Lanka Sathosa, and Eng. Gamini Nanda Gunawardena, Management Consultant will share their thoughts as panellists, moderated by Dulani Nissanka, Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Abans Group. 

Way forward

Empowering people for a thriving nation is indeed a national need. NHRC 2025 will be an engaging and energising experience generating immense insights, initiatives, and implications. I am waiting to witness it. 

(The writer, a Senior Professor in Management, and an Independent Non-executive Director, can be reached at [email protected], [email protected] or www.ajanthadharmasiri.info.)