HR professionals met at the Open University in Cardiff on 1 October for a Wales HR Network panel event on artificial intelligence, wellbeing and workplace rights.
The event, titled The New HR Agenda: AI Innovation, Wellbeing and Workplace Rights, was the fourth Wales HR Network panel event this year. It was hosted by recruitment company Acorn by Synergie and commercial law firm Darwin Gray, delivered in partnership with Beam Training & Development and supported by Fintech Wales.
The organisers said it drew the highest Wales HR Network attendance this year.
The panel featured Owen John, Employment Law Partner at Darwin Gray; Simon Drinkwater, Founder and Director of Vantor Advisory; Dr Julia Jones, Founder and CEO of Holidity; and Andrea Jones, Founder and Director of VisVira. The discussion was hosted by Lianne Weaver of Beam Training & Development.
Topics included how AI is being used in workforce planning and employee experience, and how organisations can adopt the technology responsibly while protecting employee wellbeing and meeting their legal obligations.
The panel also discussed the use of AI in internal and external communication and its impact on legal disputes, as well as the difference between AI adoption and organisational absorption, and accountability for the impact on employees.
Danielle Haynes, Head of Marketing at Acorn by Synergie, said: “AI, wellbeing and employment law are all moving quickly, and events like this give people the opportunity to step back, share experiences and consider what these changes mean in practice. We’re proud to continue creating opportunities for the Welsh HR community to connect, learn from one another and have meaningful conversations about the future of work.”
Owen John, Partner at Darwin Gray, said: “The pace of change facing HR professionals means there is a real value in bringing people together to share knowledge and experience.
“The conversation around AI in particular highlighted both the opportunities for organisations and the importance of using technology responsibly, with proper consideration of employee rights and wellbeing.”
The Wales HR Network will return in 2027 with more events. Membership of the network is free.
