Guernsey CIPD conference announced

Friday 12 March 2010

Business leaders and HR professionals will have the opportunity to learn about the role and importance of communication within an organisation at this year’s Chartered Institute of Personnel Development’s (CIPD) conference.

Organised by the GTA University Centre in partnership with the local CIPD group this year’s programme will focus on employee engagement, managing conflict, marketing HR and measuring the effectiveness of internal communication.

Held on the 26 March, the conference will take place at Les Cotils Conference Centre.

Beverly Allimo-Metcalfe, a key speaker, has an international reputation in the field of leadership studies. Throughout her career she has developed key expertise in applying research findings to organisations, strengthening their capacity for engagement and effectiveness.

Ms Allimo-Metcalfe’s most recent advisory position is for the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and she is also a patron of Women in Management.

Also speaking is Donna Ivey who recently qualified as a MBTI (Myers Briggs Type Indicator) trainer, she holds a post graduate certificate in employment relations and individual dispute resolution from Greenwich University.
Ms Ivey has held a variety of roles within ACAS including conciliation manager, mediator and equality and diversity adviser, making her well equipped for a keynote speech entitled ‘Managing Conflict’ and to host a workshop on ‘Difficult conversations’.

Throughout the day delegates will have the opportunity to attend different workshops allowing them to consider a range of key topics in detail.

Sponsored by Ozannes, ‘Question time’ will close the conference and two of the four speakers will join Simon Elliott, head of HR for the States of Guernsey, to take questions from the floor.

Gillian Gorvel, chair of the local CIPD group, is delighted to have once again secured high calibre speakers for the CIPD’s flagship event.

‘Our speakers have a comprehensive understanding of communication within an organisation and represent a range of industries and cover a wide knowledge base between them.
‘Developing and maintaining an engaging HR communication strategy has always been a key focus for professionals. Technological advances mean that today’s employees are now exposed to constant messaging which has increased the number of communication opportunities and issues facing the profession. The conference theme therefore could not be more timely,’ she said.

Deputy chief executive of the GTA University Centre, Fiona Naftel said: ‘Communication from HR within an organisation is no longer restricted to informing employees of their roles and benefits. As such it is critical that HR managers employ open, effective and productive communication methods as a way of securing transparent working practices.

‘This one day conference will be beneficial to any professional working within the HR sector or anyone within a management role, providing professionals access to leading industry figures working within human resources.’

The CIPD ‘HR - Engaged or Divorced’ conference will be taking place on 26 March 2009, 8.45am to 5.15pm at Les Cotils Conference Centre.