SHRM Advances Global AI and Workforce Dialogue at GCHRA26

SHRM leaders Michael D’Ambrose, SHRM Board Director; Achal Khanna, CEO of SHRM India, APAC & MENA; and Shiv Shivakumar, chair of the SHRM India Advisory Council, participated in the 2026 Global Conference on Human Resources Africa, GCHRA’s Annual Conference, in Accra, Ghana. They joined HR executives, business leaders, policymakers, academics, and technology innovators from across Africa and around the world for conversations on artificial intelligence, workforce transformation, talent development, and the future of work.

Held under the theme “Leading the Transformation: HR as a Catalyst for Organizational Success and Global Impact,” the conference brought together leaders from across the public and private sectors to explore how HR can help organizations and economies navigate rapid technological and workforce change.

Throughout the conference, SHRM leaders contributed to discussions examining the intersection of AI, workforce strategy, skills, and organizational performance. D’Ambrose and Shivakumar participated in an executive dialogue on “Reimagining Africa’s Talent Engine: Aligning AI, Academia, and Governance for the Future of Work at Scale,” exploring how employers, educators, and policymakers can strengthen talent development while preparing workers and organizations for AI-driven change. The discussion addressed the importance of developing human capabilities alongside AI adoption and ensuring workforce strategies keep pace with technological transformation.

Khanna brought the HR perspective to two technology-focused conversations. During “Women in HR Tech: Real Talk, Real Impact,” Khanna joined HR leaders to examine how AI is changing the profession, how organizations can preserve trust and human connection as technology reshapes work, and how HR can help address bias in AI-enabled talent decisions. In a fireside conversation on “The Intersection of Technology and Human Capital,” she further explored how organizations can balance technological innovation with people-centered leadership and the role HR must play in navigating workforce transformation.

D’Ambrose also delivered the keynote, “Africa’s Moment,” focused on the opportunity to build organizations prepared for the AI era. His remarks explored how AI is reshaping work, leadership, organizational design, and decision-making while emphasizing HR’s role in building organizational capability and connecting human potential with economic growth and long-term competitiveness.

Beyond AI, SHRM leaders contributed to broader conversations about the future of HR and workforce development. Shivakumar delivered a keynote drawing lessons from India’s economic and workforce transformation for Africa’s growth and participated in a discussion on the future of HR across the continent. D’Ambrose joined a C-suite conversation on leadership and organizational transformation, while SHRM’s participation throughout the conference reinforced the importance of global collaboration in developing workforce solutions.

The conversations at GCHRA26 highlighted the increasingly important role of HR as organizations navigate AI, changing skills needs, and new approaches to work. Through their participation, SHRM leaders brought the HR perspective to global discussions about how employers can prepare their people and organizations for what comes next.