Conference programme

A diverse workforce fosters creativity and innovation and enhances employee performance. However, in many sectors, addressing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) is not only the right thing to do but essential for business survival to deal with labour shortages, demographic changes, changing employee expectations and winning the war for talent. What strategies are countries and companies taking to attract and to retain a diverse workforce to address labour market changes? What are the challenges and opportunities?

Communicating across cultures involves recognising and bridging differences in communication styles, values and behaviours shaped by diverse cultural backgrounds. Effective cross-cultural communication is essential in today's globalised world, offering both significant benefits and potential challenges. The power of cross-cultural communication includes enhanced collaboration and teamwork, broader perspectives being introduced to enrich the decision-making process and market expansion for businesses. The risks and challenges of cross-cultural communication includes misunderstandings and conflict, stereotyping and oversimplification of cultural issues, and language barriers. By acknowledging the complexities of cross-cultural communication and actively working towards understanding and adaptation, employers can leverage the strengths of cultural diversity while mitigating potential pitfalls. Our speakers will discuss how we can assist employers in developing strategies for effective cross-cultural communication both internally and externally, and how we can enhance diversity and equality in the workplace.