2020 Programme

Category: Past Events

The 2020 HRD Collective programme was a landmark event that tackled the most pressing challenges facing HR professionals in a year of unprecedented disruption. With a stellar lineup of thought leaders and practitioners, the programme delved into topics ranging from hybrid working and employee well-being to digital transformation and agile leadership. This article recaps the key themes and standout sessions from the 2020 edition, offering insights that remain just as relevant today.

A Programme Built for Change

The 2020 programme was structured around the central theme of accelerating transformation and embracing change. With the COVID-19 pandemic reshaping work overnight, HR leaders needed actionable strategies to support remote teams, maintain culture, and drive business continuity. The agenda featured a mix of keynote presentations, panel discussions, and interactive workshops, all delivered in a virtual format to accommodate global participation. Sessions were scheduled in Central European Time (CET), with recordings made available for on-demand viewing.

Notable speakers included Perry Timms, a renowned futurist and author, who opened the programme with a call for HR to adopt a more human-centric approach to digitalisation. Jennifer Christie, former Chief HR Officer at Twitter, shared her insights on managing a distributed workforce and the importance of psychological safety. Christian Busch, author of The Serendipity Mindset, offered a fresh perspective on turning uncertainty into opportunity—a theme that resonated deeply in 2020.

Key Themes and Highlights

Several recurring themes emerged from the 2020 programme, each illuminated by expert speakers and real-world case studies.

Hybrid Working and Well-being

The shift to remote work was a dominant topic. A tweet from @topemployer during the event underscored the link between hybrid working and company well-being, urging businesses to prioritise mental health support. Sessions by Jessie Scheepers and Mariam Kakkar explored practical tools for measuring engagement and preventing burnout in a virtual environment. Mike Bokina and Kate Philpot shared strategies for maintaining team cohesion when colleagues are scattered across time zones.

@topemployer spoke to @HRDCommunity on the impact hybrid working has had on company well-being, urging businesses to rethink their approach to employee care.

Accelerating Digital Transformation

Digital transformation was no longer a future ambition but an immediate necessity. Speakers like Ajay Dhillon, Oli Meager, and Lindsay Lagreid examined how HR technology could streamline processes and enhance the employee experience. Glint, a people success platform, was featured in a session demonstrating how continuous feedback loops can drive performance and retention. Anna Peggram and Fiona Young discussed the integration of AI in talent acquisition, while Belinda Gannaway and Emma Bridger highlighted the role of data analytics in shaping diversity and inclusion strategies.

Agile Leadership and Innovation

Leaders were challenged to adopt more agile mindsets. James Saunders and Perry Timms (in a second appearance) reiterated the need for iterative experimentation in HR practices. Dina Alvarez and Camille Burrows presented a case study on redesigning performance management to be more flexible and feedback-rich. Adam Galinsky, a social psychologist from Columbia University, delivered a compelling talk on the power of perspective-taking in conflict resolution, a skill critical for leading diverse, global teams.

Spotlight on Notable Speakers

The 2020 programme boasted an impressive roster of over 30 speakers from various industries and academia. Below is a selection of those who made a lasting impact:

Engaging the Community

Beyond the live sessions, the HRD Collective community stayed engaged through mailing lists and downloadable resources. Attendees could sign up for updates on future summits and access exclusive content such as partnership brochures, summit reports, and delegate guides. The programme also encouraged networking via dedicated partner zones and content zones, where participants could connect with speakers and sponsors. For those who missed the live event, recorded sessions were made available, ensuring that insights could be revisited long after the programme ended.

Lasting Impact of the 2020 Edition

The 2020 HRD Collective programme set a new standard for virtual events, proving that meaningful connection and deep learning are possible even in distributed settings. Its emphasis on well-being, agility, and human-centric technology continues to influence HR strategies worldwide. As organisations navigate the hybrid future, the lessons from this programme—captured in the talks of Perry Timms, Jennifer Christie, Christian Busch, and many others—remain invaluable. For those looking to revisit the sessions or explore related content, the 2020 Speakers page provides a full list of participants, while the Nov 2020 Programme offers a detailed schedule of events.