Working Agenda
Conference & Exhibition: 17 - 18 June 2025
ATD Certificate Programs: 16, 19, 20 June 2025
Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences Emirates Pearl, UAE
Key Topics for 2025
Immersive learning
Capability building on Creative industry
Block Your 2025 Calendar
Dates You Can't Afford To Miss?
MONDAY
16 JUNE 2025
TUESDAY
17 JUNE 2025
WEDNESDAY
18 JUNE 2025
THURSDAY
19 JUNE 2025
FRIDAY
20 JUNE 2025
1 DAY
ATD Certificate Program A
1 DAY
ATD Certificate Program B
ATD MIDDLE EAST CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
2 Days of an immersive learning experience with International thought leaders, regional best practices, peer led discussions, boutique exhibition showcasing the best in the business, learning inner circle, interactive seminars and much more
2 DAY
ATD Certificate Program C
2 DAY
ATD Certificate Program D
MONDAY
16 JUNE 2025
1 DAY
Certificate Program A
AI in Talent Development workshop
Certificate Program B
Foundations to Managing Learning Programs
TUESDAY
17 JUNE 2025
WEDNESDAY
18 JUNE 2025
ATD MIDDLE EAST CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
2 Days of an immersive learning experience with International thought leaders, regional best practices, peer led discussions, boutique exhibition showcasing the best in the business, learning inner circle, interactive seminars and much more
THURSDAY
19 JUNE 2025
FRIDAY
20 JUNE 2025
2 DAY
Certificate Program C
Creating Leadership Development Programs
2 DAY
Certificate Program D
Training Skills Certificate
Working Agenda
Day 1 – June 17th, 2025, Tuesday
Conference Begins
08:00 - 08:55
Registration and Networking Coffee
09:00 - 09:05
Welcome Remarks by the Organiser
Sidh N.C
Director,
QnA International
09:10 - 09:35
Opening Keynote Speech
Trend Watch 2025: What’s Shaping the Future of Talent Development?
The talent development landscape is evolving rapidly — but which trends truly transform how we build skills, drive
performance, and develop people? In this powerful opening keynote, Dr. Wei Wang draws on ATD’s latest global
research to discuss AI and other top trends shaping talent development in 2025. Gain actional insights on how L&D
professionals can stay ahead of the curve and prepare their organizations for the future of the work.
What you’ll learn:
- The top talent development trends - what’s gaining traction and why it matters
- Key data and insights from ATD’s global research on AI and talent development
- How to align talent development strategies with emerging trends
- How L&D professionals develop themselves to stay relevant
Speaker
Dr. Wei Wang
Senior Global Director,
Association for Talent Developmet, USA
09:40 - 10:00
Guest of Honor Opening Remarks
H.E. Adnan Al Awadhi
Executive Director,
Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
10:05 - 10:45
International Keynote
Building A Resilient Workforce: The Evolution of Learning for today’s world
In today’s dynamic and often unpredictable business landscape, the ability to learn, adapt and thrive while keeping pace with the fast evolution of technology. The shift from traditional training events or programs to comprehensive learning ecosystems is the need of the hour. Join us for an engaging session to uncover:
What you’ll learn:
- The need to create a holistic and adaptive learning environment
- The role of technology in enabling anytime, anywhere learning
- Fostering a culture of collaboration and interconnectivity across diverse learning content and sources
Speaker
Dan Pontefract
5 Times Award Winning Author and Leadership Strategist, Canada
10:50 - 11:10
Learning Keynote
Embedding Value into Everyday Work: Driving culture Through Interactive Learning
Discover how interactive learning can turn organizational values into everyday behaviors that drive alignment and
performance. Gain practical strategies to design dynamic, tech-enabled experiences that embed a learning culture
measurably across your teams
11:15 - 11:45
Networking Coffee Break and Visit to the Exhibition
11:50 - 12:30
C Level Viewpoint
CxO Panel: Leading the Learning Culture – Executive Insights on Building future-ready organizations
Examine how impactful leadership shapes and sustains a culture of continuous learning – turning development into a strategic advantage. Led by C-suite practitioners, this panel will discuss how leaders can foster an environment where knowledge acquisition and skill development are integral to organizational success.
What you’ll learn:
- How leaders can actively model and champion learning behaviors across all levels
- Align learning initiatives with business objectives to demonstrate value and secure buy-in
- Create systems and structures that support and reward ongoing learning and development
Speakers
Ramy Jallad
Group Chief Executive Officer,
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ)
Chair
Mark C Thompson
World's #1 CEO Coach
12:35 - 13:00
Fireside Chat
Building Adaptive Workforces: Developing cross-sector skills for a changing world
In today’s fast-evolving landscape, organizations need talent that can pivot across roles and industries. This session explores how transferable skills are developed to future-proof your workforce and drive innovation. Featuring a case
study from the creative industry – specifically hospitality, heritage and tourism – we’ll examine how skills can be
leveraged to create innovative experiences.
What you’ll learn:
- Identify key skills and capabilities that bridge multiple creative sectors
- Explore strategies for developing adaptable, cross-functional talent
- Learn from a real-life case study(s) showcasing successful cross-industry application in hospitality, tourism and more
13:05 - 13:35
Networking Break & Visit to the Boutique Exhibition lounge
13:40 - 14:05
Expert Insights Keynote
AI as your new Learning Ally: Unlocking Personalization, Performance, and Potential
AI is transforming how we design and deliver learning – making it more personalized, adaptive, and efficient than ever. In this closing session, discover how AI can become your strategic partner in creating tailored learning
journeys, closing skill gaps, and scaling impact across your organization.
What you’ll learn:
- Harness AI-driven content curation and recommendation systems to deliver personalized learning
- Boost learner engagement and support with AI tools like chatbots and virtual assistants
- Leverage predictive analytics to AI and Learning
Speaker
Sue Lam
VP of People Insights, Strategy & Culture,
The Coca Cola Company, USA
14:05 - 14:30
Team building/ engagement activity to close the event on a high
14:30 - 14:35
Closing Remarks
14:35 - 15:35
Networking Lunch and Close of Day 1
Day 2 – June 18th, 2025, Wednesday
Conference Day 2
08:00 - 08:55
Registration and Networking Coffee
09:00 - 09:05
Opening Remarks by Chair
09:10 - 09:35
Opening International Keynote
Reimagining Talent : Thriving in the Skills-Based Economy
As the shift toward a skills-based economy accelerates, organizations must rethink how they develop and manage talent. This Keynote presentation will share global best practices to build a more agile and future-ready workforce. Key learning take-aways will include:
What you’ll learn:
- Drive agility with skills-based hiring and promotion practices
- Develop talent marketplaces: Enable career growth and job mobility by matching your employees with relevant internal opportunities
- Use AI and data analytics for more effective skills-gap analysis and workforce planning
Speaker
Dr. Marshall Goldsmith
#1 Executive Coach and Leadership Thinker in the World
09:50 - 10:30
Performance Management discussion
The Future of Performance Management: Accelerating talent through Continuous Feedback and Development
Traditional performance reviews are no longer enough. This forward-thinking panel will explore the evolution of
performance management towards a continuous, feedback-driven approach to boost employee engagement, and align performance with evolving business needs. Hear from senior-level decision makers in L&D the following:
What you’ll learn:
- Replace outdated annual performance reviews with continuous real-time feedback systems
- Deliver personalized development recommendations that drive meaningful talent growth
- Align performance management with organizational goals, values and culture
10:30 - 10:50
Expert Insights Presentation
Design Thinking for L&D: Crafting Engaging and Impactful Learning Experiences
Design thinking principles offers powerful framework to revolutionize learning and talent strategies. In this session,
you’ll explore how to create learner-centric, innovative, and impactful training experiences that address real-world
challenges. Key learning take-aways include:
What you’ll learn:
- Implementing empathy-driven research to uncover learner needs and pain points
10:55 - 11:25
Networking Coffee Break and Visit to the Exhibition
11:30 - 11:50
DEIB Interview Spotlight
Amplifying voices: Leverage Employee feedback and stories to Enhance DEIB Initiatives
How authentic employee voices can be harnessed to strengthen Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives? In this interview session, discover how employee-generated content can elevate inclusion efforts and
foster a more connected workplace culture. Key practices in the following will be discussed:
What you’ll learn:
- Encourage and curate employee-generated content to support DEIB goals
- Integrate real-life employee stories and perspectives in DEIB training strategies for greater connection and trust
- Leverage analytics to measure the impact of employee content on DEIB outcomes
Speakers
Ramy Jallad
Group Chief Executive Officer,
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ)
Chair
Mark C Thompson
World's #1 CEO Coach
11:45 - 12:05
Micro learning Presentation
Just-in-Time Learning for Rapid Skill Adaptation: Agility Through Bite-Sized Development
In a workplace defined by speed and constant change, microlearning delivers the right skills at the right time. This keynote explores how just-in-time learning can address immediate skill needs/gaps, boost employee experience and drive real business outcomes Attend this session to learn:
What you’ll learn:
- Designing effective microlearning modules for quick, targeted skill acquisition
- Integrating AI-powered recommendation systems to deliver personalized, context-specific learning content
- Measuring the impact of just-in-time learning on employee productivity and business outcomes
12:10 - 12:40
The ROI Keynote Presentation
The Numbers Don’t Lie: How Analytics Drive L&D Strategy and Prove ROI
L&D leaders are under increasing pressure to show measurable impact. This session explores how advanced analytics can revolutionize learning and training strategies –shifting from non-evidence based to data-driven insights to drive workforce performance, demonstrate ROI, and align with business goals. Key takeaways include:
What you’ll learn:
- Translate learning data into actionable insights to align L&D initiatives with business priorities
- Use analytics to demonstrate ROI and gain leadership buy-in for learning investments
- Identify performance trends and skill gaps to optimize programs and drive continuous improvement
12:45 - 13:05
Case study Presentation
Rethinking Talent: From Roles to Skills for a More Agile Organizations
As work rapidly evolves, leading organizations are shifting from rigid, role-based structures to agile, skills-based models. This case study showcases how one organization transformed its approach to talent development – boosting internal mobility, unlocking HiPo talent, and accelerating business responsiveness through a skills-first strategy. Attend this session to hear real-world practices on:
What you’ll learn:
- Design skills-based talent strategies to attract, develop and retain talent
- Reshape organizational structures to support flexible, project-based work
- Leverage technology to map, track, and deploy skills across the organization
13:10 - 13:40
Networking Break & Visit to the Boutique Exhibition lounge
13:45 - 14:05
CLOxCFO Fireside Chat
From Finance to Future: Why Learning is a CFO’s Strategic Imperative
In today’s digital age, CFOs are no longer just financial leaders – they’re future focused leaders shaping long-term organizational resilience. This fireside chat explores how continuous learning, upskilling, and talent development are becoming central to the CFO’s role in driving innovation, agility, and sustainable growth.
What you’ll learn:
- Explore the CFO’s evolving role in championing learning and staying ahead of emerging technologies
- Understand how shifting mindsets and ownership of career development fuels long-term business success
- Highligh the critical link between reskilling, upskilling and agility in the digital age
14:00 - 14:30
Hackathon (A relay challenge)
Hackathon: The Learning Innovation Relay
A fast-paced, hands-on challenge where 3 to 5 teams compete to design creative learning solutions in a relaystyle format. Each team will take on one unique challenge focused on reimagining the future of workplace learning. Participants will brainstorm, design, and pitch key features – a leader for each team will be selected by the group, ust bold ideas and sharp thinking.
Team challenges can include:
- Design a gamified mobile app for enhance new hire onboarding and engagement
- Develop a framework for teaching essential soft skills for remote work environments
- Outline an AI-driven learning recommendation system tailored to individual learner needs
- Create a quick, engaging game concept that assesses critical thinking and problem-solving
