Brunei Institute of Leadership & Islamic Finance (BILIF) organised the HR Symposium 2025 on 2 September 2025 at The Rizqun International Hotel, Gadong. The symposium carrying the theme ‘Futureproofing HR: Human Centric, Tech Driven. Future Ready’, aims to empower HR professionals and business leaders with actionable strategies to transform their organisations into adaptive, data-driven, and people-first environments.
The event was attended by human resource (HR) professionals from both government and private organisations such as Prime Minister’s Office, Public Service Department, Tabung Amanah Pekerja (TAP), Brunei Darussalam Food Authority (BDFA), Politeknik Brunei, Jerudong Park Medical Centre (JPMC) and Royal Brunei Airlines (RB), among others.
The event commenced with welcoming remarks by Afero Eswandy Mohamad, Acting Chief Executive Officer of BILIF. In his address, he emphasised that HR professionals and leaders must take responsibility to ensure that AI serves to amplify the human element rather than replace it. He further underscored the importance of building workplaces where innovation and inclusivity go hand in hand, and where people, not AI, remain at the heart of every critical decision.
The event featured presentations on key topics such as “Human AI Dialogue – From Process to Impact” delivered by Ridhima Khanduja, Partner and Chief Executive Officer, ImpactPlus Consulting where a few topics were explored including the evolving Human–AI collaboration and the use of Human–AI Continuum framework in examining the transformations in work processes, workplace culture, and workforce roles. The topic on “Key Metrics to improve Employee Performance and ROI” was delivered by Martin Lee, Associate Trainer, SHRM Southeast Asia which highlighted the application of HR metrics as a strategic decision-making tool to enhance talent management and organisational performance.
The symposium also featured insightful panel discussions on transformative HR themes, including “Revolutionising HR: Integrating AI into Work”, which explored the use of AI to streamline operations, enhance employee engagement, and strengthen decision-making, while highlighting the need to upskill HR teams in the generative AI era. “Transforming HR into a Strategic Business Force” emphasised the evolution of HR beyond its traditional administrative role into a driver of business strategy through people analytics, aligned talent development with organisational objectives, and stronger representation at the leadership level to influence long-term success. The presentation on “Prioritising the Evolving Employee Experience” addressed the importance of meeting shifting workforce expectations by creating meaningful experiences through hybrid work models, well-being initiatives, and continuous feedback systems that foster a positive workplace culture.
These thought-provoking discussions were enriched by the insights and expertise of distinguished local and international panelists. Among them were Dr. Norfarizal bin Othman, Director General, Public Service Department, Prime Minister’s Office; Dayang Hajah Noraini binti Haji Mohamad Jamudin, Director, Pusat Pekerjaan Brunei (Job Centre Brunei); and Norlida Azmi, Founder, Chapter Advisory, Malaysia.
BILIF, as the Centre of Excellence for the finance industry in Brunei Darussalam, continues to pursue its mission to shape future leaders, experts, and innovators, particularly in the areas of Islamic finance and leadership through immersive programmes and world-class events. For more information on BILIF, please visit the BILIF website at www.bilif.com.bn or BILIF’s Instagram @BILIF.bn.