Key Topics for 2025

AI our New Learning Ally
Continuous Learning Culture
Social and Collaborative Learning

Immersive learning

The Talent Mobility Revolution
Focus on Emotional Intelligence
The Gen Z Workforce Invasion

Capability building on Creative industry

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   Conference Pass

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:

Speaker

Dr. Wei Wang

Senior Global Director,
Association for Talent Development, 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   Conference Pass

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:

Speaker

Dan Pontefract

5 Times Award Winning Author and Leadership Strategist, Canada

10:50 - 11:10

Learning Keynote   Conference Pass

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

11:20 - 11:40

Free Expo Seminar

AI-Enabled Trainer: Revolutionizing Skill Evaluation
AI-powered tools are transforming the landscape of skill evaluation, enabling more accurate, efficient, and personalized assessment of learner competencies in corporate training environments.

Chair

11:50 - 12:30

C Level Viewpoint   Conference Pass

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:

Speakers

Dalia Zaghou

CHRO,
Investment & Development Office - Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

Ahmad Al Hammad

Acting Group Chief Human Resources and Transformation Officer,
Kuwait Finance House, Kuwait

Hilal Al Jadidi

Chief Human Capital Officer,
Omran Group, Oman

Waleed Al Rashed

Senior Leader of People and Development,
Confidential Govt. Entity, KSA

Chair

12:00 - 12:20

Free Expo Seminar

Effective Communication in Cross-Cultural and Multigenerational Teams
Strategies for enhancing communication and collaboration in diverse teams, addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by cultural differences and generational gaps in the modern workplace.

Chair

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:

Speakers

Rawan Jalal

Human Resources Director,
KAUST, KSA

Emma El-Karout

VP Talent Management,
Chalhoub Group

Rania Al Ghamdi

Director of Talent Learning and Development,
JH ARAMCO, KSA

Chair

Fida Al-Americani

Senior consultant, Leadership development coach and mentor,
Jordan

12:40 - 13:00

Free Expo Seminar

Developing Empathy in Virtual Teams: Strategies and Tools
Effective strategies and innovative tools for cultivating empathy in virtual teams, enhancing collaboration, trust, and overall team performance in remote work environments

Chair

13:05 - 13:35

Networking Break & Visit to the Boutique Exhibition lounge

13:40 - 14:05

Expert Insights Keynote   Conference Pass

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:

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 and Raffles – Your Chance to Win!

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 - 09:45

Opening International Keynote   Conference Pass

Leading Human-AI Teams: The Evolving Role of Technical Leadership
Technical leaders will increasingly direct hybrid human-AI teams, demanding new competencies beyond technical oversight. They must guide engineers through evolving roles and responsibilities, address anxieties around AI—such as fairness, security, and control—and foster effective human-AI collaboration. This session pulls back the curtain on Google’s education and change management strategy to cultivate an effective AI-first workforce. We will reveal how our initiatives are preparing technical leaders to drive transformation and adoption, and how we are equipping them with essential skills like ethical decision-making, responsible AI implementation, and strategies for upskilling/reskilling their teams in the age of AI. We will also offer actionable lessons learned from our journey that can help you build and reinforce your own mindsets and strategies, empowering your workforces to effectively lead in this moment.

Speaker

John Atwood

Sr. Learning and Development Manager,
Google, USA

12:40 - 13:00

Free Expo Seminar

Designing Effective Microlearning Modules for Just-in-Time Support
Strategies for creating impactful microlearning modules that provide immediate, targeted support to employees, enhancing performance and knowledge retention in the moment of need.

Chair

09:50 - 10:25

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:

Speakers

Aysha Al-Kuwari

Director Talent Management,
Sidra Medicine, Qatar

Hani Al Khusabi

Chief HR & Support Services Officer,
Towell Group, Oman

Mukesh Vasandani

Director, Hotel Learning - India,
Middle East and Africa at IHG Hotels and Resorts, UAE

Rania Al Ghamdi

Director of Talent Learning and Development,
JH ARAMCO, KSA

10:30 - 10:45

Expert Insights Presentation   Conference Pass

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.

What you’ll learn:

10:50 - 11:10

Free Expo Seminar

Effective Communication in Cross-Cultural and Multigenerational Learning Experience Platforms (LXPs) and Their Role in Data-Driven L&D
Learning Experience Platforms (LXPs) are transforming Learning and Development (L&D) by leveraging data-driven insights to create personalized, engaging learning experiences that meet the evolving needs of modern learners.

Chair

10:50 - 11:20

Networking Coffee Break and Visit to the Exhibition

11:25 - 11:45

Free Expo Seminar

The Importance of Succession Planning: Building a Robust Talent Pipeline for Future Leadership
Developing a comprehensive succession planning program that identifies, nurtures, and prepares high-potential employees for future leadership roles, ensuring organizational continuity and growth

Chair

11:25 - 11:45

DEIB Interview Spotlight   Conference Pass

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:

Speakers

Betül Yalçın Emlek

Chief People Officer,
Yum! Brands, UAE

Mariam Abdul Aziz Al Hosani

VP - Learning and Competency Development,
ADNOC, UAE

Samar AlSalem

SVP - Human Capital & Support Services,
Salam Telecom, KSA

Session Chair:

Dr. Alia Al Serkal

Head of People Learning & Growth People Learning & Growth,
du, UAE

11:45 - 12:05

Micro Learning Keynote   Conference Pass

Just-in-Time Learning for Rapid Skill Adaptation: Agility Through Bite-Sized Development
In a workplace defined by speed and constant change, micro-learning 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:

Speaker

12:10 - 12:30

The ROI Presentation   Conference Pass

The Numbers Don’t Lie: How Analytics Drive L&D Strategy and Prove ROI
L&D leaders face mounting challenges in evaluating talent-development programs and proving their value. In this session, uncover common evaluation barriers, discover strategies to overcome them, and master a six-step framework to showcase L&D impact and ROI.

What you’ll learn:

12:35 - 12:55

(DCT CASE STUDY)

13:00 - 13:20

Case study Presentation   Conference Pass

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:

Speaker

Akbar M. Khan

Head of L&D & Employee Experience,
Al Tayer Motors, U.A.E.

13:10 - 13:30

Free Expo Seminar

Developing Resilience and Adaptability in Times of Change
Explore strategies for building resilience and adaptability in employees, equipping them to thrive amidst rapid organizational changes and uncertain business environments.

Chair

13:20 - 13:45

Networking Break & Visit to the Boutique Exhibition lounge

13:50 - 14:10

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:

Speaker

Rabei Wazzeh

Leadership and Talent Development Expert,
Confidential Entity, UAE

14:10 - 14:35

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:

14:40 - 14:45

Closing Remarks and Exciting Raffles – Your Chance to Win

14:45 - 15:45

Networking Lunch and Close of Conference