AD Connect: Bringing the HR Leadership Community Together In Abu Dhabi

– By Asel Shilikbayeva

InterSearch Middle East Limited in Abu Dhabi recently conducted an AD Connect HR Leaders Session in collaboration with Al Tamimi Law Firm and TechnipFMC. The seminar welcomed 24 HR Senior Leaders contributing to the discussion on the topic of The Role of Human Resources during Mergers and Acquisitions.

Photo – First Row, From L to R: Christopher Jakob, HR Director – Emirates Food Industries, Jane Cauilan, HR Manager – Serco Middle East, Suzanne Gingles, Associate – Al Tamimi Law & Co., Kolya Wyatt, HR Manager, Middle East and North Africa – OMV, Najem Al Teneiji, HR Manager – Masdar Institute of Technology, Duaa Al Zaabi, Senior Human Capital Manager – NPCC, Mina Ansari, Sr. HR Business Partner – TechnipFMC, Dina Helal, HR Manager – First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, Vicky Noelanders, HR and Communications Manager – TechnipFMC, Gary Bentinck, HR Manager – Gulf Marine Services, Asel Shilikbayeva, Principal Consultant – InterSearch Middle East

Second Row, From L to R: Anoop Gandhi, VP Human Resources – TOTAL E&P, Fizza Sabir, HR Manager, Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa – DNV & GL, Andrew Bailey, General Manager – InterSearch Middle East, Ivor McGettigan, Partner – Al Tamimi Law & Co., Danie De Kock, HR Director – SNC Lavalin, Samah Shaalan, HR Manager – Khalifa University, Anton Du Plooy, HR & Administrative Manager – Chiyoda CCC, Khaled Twebi, HR Team Leader Libya & Expert Abu Dhabi – OMV

The session takes the form of an interactive roundtable bringing together HR professionals from leading organisations across various industries, to discuss current trends and challenges faced. InterSearch’s role is to facilitate and encourage an insightful debate on the chosen topic exploring its subject with all participants.

“AD Connect sessions are aimed to create a platform for the senior HR Leadership community in Abu Dhabi to discuss relevant topics, trends and challenges through informal collaborative discussions. It has become a unique opportunity for HR Leaders in the capital to network, learn and share knowledge with other professionals from diverse industries” explains Andrew Bailey, General Manager of InterSearch Middle East.

This session took place at the TechnipFMC office, a global leader in technologies, systems and services for energy projects, which operates as a unified company following the merger of FMC Technologies and Technip in 2017. The seminar brought an interesting discussion of case studies including one from TechnipFMC, and different perspectives on advantages of combined expertise and extended market exposure as a result of the merger; and various challenges that arose throughout the process. Attendees highlighted the importance of communication, change management skills, employee engagement and expectations handling along with data and the technological integration process in this ongoing transformational journey for both entities.

“I believe it (AD Connect) to be an excellent initiative for knowledge sharing and networking amongst other like-minded HR professionals, and I look forward to more to come this year” – Vicky Noelanders, HR and Communications Manager at Technip FMC, and host of the event.

The theme of Emiratisation, Artificial Intelligence and Big Data in Human Resources are topics for discussion at forthcoming sessions in Abu Dhabi.

Previous seminars were focused on topics such as the Emotional Intelligence and Intercultural Competence and the Role of Human Resources During the Downturn sponsored by the New York University Abu Dhabi Campus and BP, respectively.

“It is quite refreshing to meet with other HR professionals, benchmark and discuss operational and strategic matters relevant to our respective businesses” – Christopher Jakob, HR Director at Emirates Food Industries.

“These kind of sessions are one of the best ways to share information and details on best practices and approaches from various companies and industries.” – Khaled Twebi, HR Team Leader Libya at OMV Middle East & Africa.

The AD Connect HR Leaders Sessions are aimed to be conducted on a quarterly basis in Abu Dhabi. They provide a framework for relevant and healthy debate, which promotes learning and sharing of knowledge on theory and practical examples facing the modern HR Leader. This intelligence and exchange of ideas is crucial in today’s fast-moving and ever-changing market conditions.

Original Source: United Arab Emirates – InterSearch Middle East FZ-LLC