Asia | Europe DEI Dialogue 2024

09:00 AM - 09:10 AM CET

Welcome, Introduction, Opening Remarks

Conference hosts Jane Horan and Sarah Bond, and Sara Murray, Managing Director International open the event with a few words.

Sara Murray, Managing Director, International, The Conference Board

Sarah Bond, Co-Council Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council, The Conference Board

Jane Horan, EdD, Distinguished Principal Research Fellow and Program Director of Asia Learning, Development & Culture Council, The Conference Board

09:10 AM - 09:45 AM CET

Opening Keynote: How Inclusion Transformed our Company

How inclusion transformed our company. One business leader’s unique perspective on how building an inclusive culture made a measurable difference to how business gets done, and to its performance in the market.

Michelle Erwee, Global Head of Access to Medicine, Takeda

09:45 AM - 10:30 AM CET

Workshop 1A: Integrating Inclusion into Business Practice: Building Better Business

In this session we’ll be exploring how companies are integrating inclusion into their business practices such as talent attraction, employee engagement, product development and marketing. We’ll be looking at what it takes to operate inclusively, and the impact of doing so on the bottom line.

Amrita Singh, Head of HR for the Asia Pacific Region, the LEGO Group

Buks Akinseye, Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, IKEA Retail (Ingka Group)

09:45 AM - 10:30 AM CET

Workshop 1B: What Middle Managers Bring to DEI: An Appreciative Approach

This session explores the pivotal role of middle managers in building an inclusive culture. Their close connection with employees makes them essential for driving change and creating inclusive work environments. Their involvement promotes inclusive behaviours, ensures productive conversations, and makes work more meaningful.

Fernando Bonaduce, Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director, JT International

Sahar Jafari, People and Culture Director, JT International

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM CET

Conference Break

We invite participants to stretch their legs and grab a drink.

10:45 AM - 11:30 AM CET

Workshop 2A: Burnout or Boredom: How to support leaders in driving inclusion

This session examines how to support leaders in building inclusion amid DEI pushback. Repeated exposure to DEI buzzwords can lead to burnout, a diminished sense of accomplishment, or boredom, resulting in negative attitudes towards DEI initiatives. Many leaders feel exhausted and stuck in never-ending conversations without impactful results.

Shailaja Sharma, Executive Director, Learning and Talent Management, SGX Group

10:45 AM - 11:30 AM CET

Workshop 2B: Inclusion in the Community: Widening the scope

In this session we’ll be discussing how companies are extending their commitment on DEI into the communities they serve, building partnership to maximise social impact.

Ian Calvert, Founder, FURTHER

Yoonah Kang, Starbucks Coffee Asia Pacific Ltd Hong Kong

11:30 AM - 11:55 AM CET

Panel discussion: Insights from The Conference Board

A panel discussion reflecting on the learnings of the Conference so far.

Sandhya Karpe, PhD, Human Capital Center Leader, Asia and Program Director of Asia Inclusion Council, Asia CHRO Council, The Conference Board

Kalpana Bagamane, Co-Council Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council, The Conference Board

11:55 AM - 12:25 PM CET

Closing Keynote: The Keys to Inclusion

In a special session our keynote speaker will close the conference.

Greg Morley, Strategic Advisor, Author

12:25 PM - 12:30 PM CET

Wrap Up and Close

Sarah Bond and Jane Horan wrap up and close the Conference

Sarah Bond, Co-Council Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council, The Conference Board

Jane Horan, EdD, Distinguished Principal Research Fellow and Program Director of Asia Learning, Development & Culture Council, The Conference Board