The theme of this year’s event was leading trust in a digital era, central to the CIPD agenda of championing better work and working lives.

Colette Fitzpatrick hosted the event, as always doing a great job of seamlessly bringing the speakers of the day together.

Mary Connaughton, Director CIPD Ireland kicked off the day identifying that trust underpinned much of the latest CIPD Ireland HR practices research. 

Top organisational priority over the next two years will focus on talent. In essence we have full employment, with over 84% of businesses struggling to attract the skills they need, Mary rightly pointing out the need for more innovation when it comes to recruitment! Well-being also a key topic coming from the research, with Mary reminding us that it’s about culture. Well-being is not simply about having support once something goes wrong, it’s about building resilience in your employees and a healthy working culture.

Keynote speaker Rachel Botsman, Author and Trust Fellow, Oxford University, Saïd Business School, led a line-up of contributors to explore the impact of technology on work, the role of trust and the effect on the employee experience. Malcolm Sheil (CEO & President of EMEA at Kerry Group), Pedro Lopez (Ireland Site Head at Novartis, CIPD HR Award Winners 2019), and Robert Watt (Secretary General at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform),  and their HR leads, shared how they are steering their people agenda, and the nature of the contribution they need from their HR teams.

Barry Holmes, Chair CIPD Ireland National Committee closed the day. As Barry said in his closing comments, we definitely have a better understanding of the definition of trust. The conference provided great insights, made us think about the workplace of the future, what it will look like, and what we want it to look like. He mentioned the need to question our unconscious bias and for leaders to look after themselves as well as their teams.

Watch the highlights video and read the full conference report. 

CIPD Ireland thanks the speakers, attendees, guests, exhibitors and sponsors for contributing to another terrific event.