Our 2024 programme in the Gulf builds the knowledge, capability and effectiveness of the HR function by providing access to new thinking, tools and frameworks, and exploring how to apply these in practice in the region. Our research explores strategic HR topics by highlighting the good practice undertaken by leading organisations in the Gulf region coupled with the latest academic thinking and practical recommendations.
Three themes underpin this 2024 programme:

CRF 2024 Programme Gulf Region
Welcome to CRF’s 2024 Research and Events Programme for the Gulf Region. We can expect 2024 to bring continued economic, political and social turbulence around the world with a focus on economic diversification, digitisation and, post COP 28, increasing environmental awareness in the Gulf Region. In this context it will be essential for HR to […]
Who are our events for?
Our events are designed to bring together senior HR Leaders in the Gulf with interest and responsibility for talent development, acquisition, learning, career paths and future skills. Job titles include:
- Group/Global HR Directors
- Chief HR Officers
- SVPs/VP People
If you are interested in attending any of our upcoming events and learning, or to find out more about CRF, please contact events@crforum.co.uk.
Upcoming Events and Learning

Emerging Approaches to Leadership Development in the Gulf – Riyadh

Emerging Approaches to Leadership Development in the Gulf – Abu Dhabi

CRF Learning: Business Catalyst: HR Business Partnering – Online

Gulf Conference: Building Skills and Talent for the Future

International Conference: Applications and Implications of Emerging Technology

HR Leaders’ Briefing: Driving Organisational Performance – Riyadh

CRF Learning: HR Business Partnering Accelerator Programme

HR Leaders’ Briefing: Driving Organisational Performance – Dubai
Resources

Research: HR’s Contribution to Sustainable Business in the Gulf Region

HRD Briefing 2024: Navigating Change In an Uncertain World

Research: Effective Succession Management in the Gulf Region

HR Manifesto

Reimagining HR Business Partnering

Retrospective: Agility 2.0: Building Adaptable Organisations

Evidence-Based HR Knowledge Hub

CRF Learning: Artificial Intelligence: Implications and Applications
Faculty
Richard Hargreaves
Managing Director, CRF
Richard is responsible for the sustainable growth of CRF through delivering world-class HR content, facilitating knowledge exchange between HR professionals, focussing on future ventures and developing a great team. Prior to this role Richard was Commercial Director across CRF and PARC and previously the EMEA Sponsorship Director at The Economist Group.
Rory Hendrikz
Global Head of High-Performance Business and Sport, Hult EF Corporate Education
Rory is an accomplished Managing Director with over 30 years’ international experience with sector leading organisations in Healthcare, Technology, FMCG, Executive Education and Organisation Consulting sectors. His career has evolved from a corporate background, having been on the regional board of Johnson & Johnson (Middle East) and has held several leadership positions in the United Kingdom and South Africa. Over the past 20 years, Rory’s focus and expertise has been working with senior executives and organisations on leadership, strategy and change, where his work received a Silver Class Award at the highly acclaimed Management Consulting Awards (UK).
As the Associate Dean and Head of Sport and High-Performance Business at Hult Ashridge Executive Education (UK), a Premier Executive Leadership Coach with the J&J Human Performance Institute (USA) and an Advanced Neuroscientific High-Performance Coach. Rory works extensively with Boards and Executive team leaders, focusing on achieving peak performance in challenging and complex environments.
His work in this area is informed by his research into the high-performance parallels between executive business and elite sports teams, highlighted in his TEDxTalk ‘The Reality of Winning’.
Rory earned an MBA from City University, London, during which time he led a project team for the globalisation of GlaxoSmithKline’s nutritional healthcare division, and holds an MSc in Organization Consulting and Change, where he researched into accelerated development processes for senior leaders. He is also the External Examiner for the MSc in Sports Leadership at Cardiff Metropolitan Universities, School of Sport.
Reed Sylvester
Senior Vice President Talent Management, e&
Reed has been working in HR roles, including L&D, HRBP and Talent Management for almost 30 years, across a number of Blue Chip global organisations. He left the UK in 2014 to move to a role based in Abu Dhabi and is now the Senior Vice President for Talent Management at e& (a global technology group). He leads the Talent Acquisition and Internal Mobility, Performance Management, Learning and Development, Assessment, Succession Planning and Executive Development teams. He’s focused on helping e& to have the right talent in the right roles at the right time with the right capabilities..
John Whelan MBE
Director, CRF
John Whelan is a Director at Corporate Research Forum. Formerly UK HR Director of BAE Systems, the FTSE 100 defence, security, and aerospace company, John’s experience and strengths lie in business and HR Transformation, Organisation Development and Employee Relations. Prior to joining BAE, he held a variety of HR roles in engineering, technology and manufacturing businesses across the telecommunications and semi-conductor industries including Matra-Marconi Space where he was HR Director for the UK and, latterly, Group HRD.
Michael Whelan
Director, Strategic Dimensions
Michael Whelan is a Director at Strategic Dimensions. He recruits Generalist HR roles at a variety of levels as well as leaders and specialists in Reward, Talent, Resourcing, Leadership Development and Employee Relations. He has worked with growth companies and start-ups as well as large international enterprises. His experience extends across industry and geographical sectors including EMEA and APAC, and he has a strong international and UK network. Michael started his career in Executive Search in 2014, initially as a researcher. He graduated with a BSc in Human & Physical Geography from the University of Reading.
Kathryn Wilton
SVP – Head of Talent Management, First Abu Dhabi Bank
A Chartered Occupational Psychologist with over 20 years’ experience, Kathryn leads Talent Management and Assessment for FAB globally. Originally from a consulting background, Kathryn has been in the UAE since 2010 where she set up the Dubai office for Cubiks MEA and worked in the talent and assessment space at ADIA. Kathryn has a wealth of experience across talent management, leadership development, recruitment and assessment; working across a range of industries. A trusted advisor to senior executives, Kathryn has a core focus and drive around unlocking potential and implementing innovative yet pragmatic talent management and assessment practices globally.
Testimonials

The research that CRF produces navigates the fine line between academia and practitioner very well. I find the combination of these means their research is robust, but importantly, practically applicable to the way we manage talent in the organisation. I’ve reverted back to the CRF research many times and often it will influence a future course of direction to help us better align our talent practices to organisation needs.
Reed Sylvester, SVP Talent Management, e& (formerly Etisalat)
e& (formerly Etisalat)

What was evident throughout our learning process was your passion for HR and the drive to help us be the best we can be. Your ‘challenge’ always felt like it was coming from this place, so was consistently well received, as well as your support and readiness to share research relevant to what we’re seeking to achieve. Overall, a very good process which has enabled the function here to step out of its comfort zone and begin to build confidence and clarity in the way that we operate.
L&D, Manager, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Over the last years, we have seen an increased number HR events in the UAE, however very few come close to what CRF actually offers. I have been impressed by the professional level of the content that gets shared as well as the regional HR and Talent professionals they attract and bring into the conversation.
The beauty is that the conversations continue beyond the events through the community that CRF has managed to create which has brought us professionals closer together, acting as sounding boards and advisors to each other.
Gabriella Planojevic, MEA Talent Director, Kearney
Kearney
Who have we worked with in the region?





