Insights from the HRNZ Future Workplace Forum
By Riëtte Ackermann, Executive and Professional Development Manager
On 7 November, I was privileged to attend the Future Workplace Forum together with members of the Executive and Professional Development (EPD) team. This event, organised by the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand (HRNZ) and the University of Auckland Business School, was aptly themed ‘Revolutionising HR Practice’. It brought together around 260 HR professionals from around the world to discuss and strategise on the evolving landscape of workplaces.
Upon reflection, my experience and learnings gained from the event reminded me of Columbia Business School professor and author Rita McGrath’s ‘Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen (2019)’. The book emphasises the importance of paying attention to signals and expanding your range of possibilities. McGrath also says that it is not about predicting the future, but rather about being prepared to challenge one’s own assumptions. The Future Workplace Forum created an environment for HR professionals to do just that.
The event emphasised the urgency of adaptive HR strategies to navigate demographic shifts, leverage diversity, and sustain a thriving, future-ready workforce. Here follows a snapshot of the main contributions and themes.
Professor Paul Spoonley underscored the transformative role of diversity in workforce strategies. He highlighted the demographic challenges posed by declining fertility rates, an aging population, and the critical need for international recruitment by the 2030s.
Dr Nimbus Staniland from the Business School provided actionable strategies for HR leaders to integrate Māori perspectives into workforce planning, fostering inclusivity and recognising unique strengths. These include:
- Recognising cultural and familial commitments
- Mentorship programmes (tuakana-teina relationships)
- Flexible work structures to accommodate whānau responsibilities
- Community engagement to foster alignment with iwi and hapū values
- Celebrating Māori cultural events and achievements to ensure that workplace practices honour tikanga and enhance a sense of belonging.
Alexia Hilbertidou explored Generation Z’s motivations, sharing practical tips for engaging this emerging workforce to ensure organisations remain competitive.
Kate Billing focused on the aging workforce, advocating for a rethinking of retirement, combatting ageism, and implementing practices such as flexible work, career redesign, and health-focused initiatives.
Annie Johnson addressed the ethical use of AI in HR, showcasing real-world applications and practical tips for leveraging tools like ChatGPT to enhance productivity and innovation.
Izzy Fenwick emphasized embedding sustainability into HR practices, linking purpose-driven strategies to talent attraction, stakeholder trust, and long-term value creation.
James McIlvena discussed HR’s role in navigating complexity, with strategies to manage multigenerational teams, foster agility, and build future-ready skills.
A panel of experts, including Stefanie Boyer, Dr Jo Mutter (UABS), Gillian Brookes, Dr Ellen Joan Ford, and Dr Amanda Wallis, explored how to maintain culture, purpose and employee well-being in flexible and sustainable work environments.
Workshops reinforced these themes, encouraging participants to identify key changes and HR practices needed to prepare for the future workforce. Key recommendations included:
Immediate actions:
- Implementing remote work policies
- Enhancing employee well-being programmes
- Accelerating digital transformation efforts.
Future planning:
- Purposeful leadership development
- Integrating sustainability into the long-term HR strategy
- Creating a comprehensive roadmap for diversity and inclusion.
The forum was well timed to motivate a renewed sense of the importance of staying alert, taking notice of trends, expanding possibilities and challenging our assumptions to see around corners.
