Overview of the event:
The 2025 HR Conference is the leading gathering for HR professionals, business leaders, and organizational decision-makers in Laos and the region. Taking place over two days, the event explores the theme “Connecting People to Shape the Future”—highlighting how HR can drive organizational strategy, foster innovation, and strengthen workplace culture.
With engaging keynote speeches, interactive workshops, and collaborative sessions, this year’s conference will empower participants to explore emerging trends, reimagine HR practices, and build meaningful connections that shape the future of work.
Background of the event:
Following the tremendous success of the 2024 HR Conference, which welcomed over 300 participants and more than doubled attendance from the previous year, the 2025 edition builds on this momentum.
Last year’s conference revealed a growing commitment among professionals to redefine HR’s role in organizational success. The 2025 HR Conference aims to push the boundaries even further by:
- Exploring innovative strategies to bridge people and performance.
- Equipping HR practitioners with the tools to navigate new challenges.
- Reinforcing the human-centered approach at the heart of HR.
This gathering will bring together HR practitioners, executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, and students to co-create the next chapter of HR excellence in Laos and beyond.
Key highlights:
Two-Day Program: Designed to balance thought leadership with practical learning, combining international insights with local relevance.
Plenary Keynotes: Hear from government leaders, economists, and industry experts on workforce trends, HR innovation, and strategies to align people with national development goals.
Themed Breakout Streams
Agenda:
| Concurrent Session Themes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | National HRD Planning | Regional Challenges and Opportunities | Your Organisation and the Future |
| 08:15 – 08:45 | Registration and Morning Coffee | ||
| 09:00 – 09:45 |
Opening (MC by Lila Kadoudom)
• Opening Remarks by
H.E. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phout Simmalavong, Minister of Education and Sports (MoES)
• Remarks by H.E. Megan Jones, Australian Ambassador to the Lao PDR
Main Hall
|
||
| 09:45 – 10:15 |
Keynote Address
Building a Comprehensive National HRD Strategy for Laos by
Mr. Sithong Sikhao, Acting Director General of Planning Department, MoES, Laos
Main Hall
|
||
| 10:15 – 10:30 | Morning Tea (Main Hall) | ||
| 10:30 – 11:30 |
The labour drain... Talent migration – the lessons from Laos and Thailand
Dr. Santhipharp Khamsa-ard
CPO – Ananda Development Public Company Limited - Thailand
Main Hall
|
||
| 11:30 – 11:45 |
Introducing the Concurrent Session Themes
Presenter: Iain Calman, Laos Australia Institute
Main Hall
|
||
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch | ||
| 13:00 – 13:55 | Presentation
Connecting your organisation's performance management indicators to the National HRD Strategy
Dr. Ryan Gould
Griffith University
Hall 2
|
Skills Survey results – Challenges and Opportunities
Mr. Tony Campbell
Mr Khamhou Phanloudeth
Katalyst
Main Hall
|
The Emotional Edge: Why Supporting Employee Wellbeing Drives Success
Assoc. Prof. Matthew Xerri
Griffith University
Hall 3
|
| 14:05 – 15:00 |
Panel Discussion
Topic: Support to the development and implementation of the National HRD Strategy
Hall 2
|
Panel Discussion
Topic: Talent Acquisition Competition - How to attract and retain talent
Main Hall
|
Panel Discussion
Topic: Organisation change readiness through the lens of Diversity & Inclusion
Hall 3
|
| 15:00 – 15:15 | Afternoon Tea (Main Hall) | ||
| 15:15 – 16:15 |
AI and the future of HR
Mr. Henry Liew
Head of Global Innovation Hub - BIPO Service Singapore
Main Hall
|
||
| 16:15 – 16:30 |
Closing
Main Hall
|
||
| 16:45 – 19:00 | Cocktail Networking Event | ||
Presenters
Mr. Sithong Sikhao
Director of Planning Division, Ministry of Education, Laos
Session Topic: Building a Comprehensive National HRD Strategy for Laos
Dr. Ryan Gould
Deputy Head of the Department of Employment Relations and Human Resources at Grith Business School
Session Topic: Measuring What Matters: Connecting Performance Management to the National HRD Strategy for Organisational Impact
Assoc. Prof. Matthew J. Xerri
Associate Professor in Human Resources at Griffith University.
Session Topic: The Emotional Edge: Why Supporting
Employee Wellbeing Drives Success
Mr. Henry Liew
Principal Data Scientist – Global Innovation Hub, BIPO Service
Session Topic: AI and the future of HR
Dr. Santhipharp Khamsa-ard
Chief People Officer, Ananda Development Public Company Limited
Session Topic: The labor drain… Talent migration – the lessons from Laos and Thailand
Tony Campbell
Senior Consultant and Trainer, Katalyst, Laos
Session Topic: Skills Survey results – Challenges and Opportunities
Khamhou Phanludeth
Senior Consultant and Trainer, Katalyst
Session Topic: Skills Survey results – Challenges and Opportunities