What is the HR Business Partnering Accelerator Programme?
What makes this programme unique:
Designed to accelerate the transition from HR practitioner to strategic business partner, the programme combines practical development with real-world insight from experienced HR leaders.
- Built for career acceleration – develops the skills needed to progress towards more senior HR roles.
- Practical, not theoretical – focuses on applying tools and approaches to real HR challenges.
- Commercially focused – builds understanding of how HR can contribute to wider business priorities.
- Learn from experienced practitioners – gain insights, perspectives and lessons from senior HR professionals.
- Develop your influence – strengthen your ability to engage stakeholders, challenge constructively and shape decisions.
- Learn with peers – share experiences, build networks and learn from other HR professionals facing similar challenges.
What You Will Gain
Develop deeper commercial and strategic thinking
Improve influencing skills
Ensure faster and more effective delivery
Enhance your ability to lead through disruption and innovation
Certification
On completion all participations will receive a certificate from CRF and partner, Hult EF Corporate Education.
The Programme in Detail
Delivered in-person, the learning style will be experiential, practitioner-based, and mutually supportive through coaching pairs with a focus on applicable and practical outcomes for the organisation.
Commencing with a personal learning needs analysis and blending structured input with peer networking and time with senior HR practitioners at lunches and dinners, participants will benefit from a stimulating course designed around the principles of adult learning.
**NEW for 2026**:
All participants will also use CRF’s AI simulation tool.
The Simulation Tool combines AI, virtual reality, and interactive video with CRF’s proven models and facilitation expertise building critical skills faster, deeper, and with longer-lasting impact. Integrating the tool within the programme enables practice in a safe space with one-on-one conversations and coaching style feedback driving embedded learning.
Who Should Enrol?
The programme is aimed at emerging HR professionals, who are looking to accelerate their careers into HR leadership positions in the next 1-3 years. Participants will typically hold a business or HR related qualification.
Investment
CRF Members Rate: 10,000 AED (+ 5% UAE VAT) per participant
Non-Member Rate: 14,000 AED (+ 5% UAE VAT) per participant
Non-Member Group Rate (2+ attendees): 12,500 AED (+ 5% UAE VAT) per participant
Programme Dates
17 – 18 November 2026: Day 1 – 9.00 – 17.00 Day 2 – 9.00 – 16.00 GST
Venue
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr
Khor Al Maqta, PO Box 114304
Abu Dhabi, UAE
This programme is led by John Whelan, 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.
Additional Faculty
Mohammad Almarzooqi
Chief Human Resources Officer, NGEX
Mohammad is a current Chief Human Resources Officer at NGEX and former Head of Talent, Group Finance, at Mubadala. With 18 years experience, including 14 years leading teams and being part of Executive Leadership teams. Prior to joining Mubadala, Mohammad was with Dubai Petroleum Company (formerly ConocoPhillips) where he led a number of strategic initiatives as a Petroleum Engineer, Special Projects Manager and was instrumental to the build out of its HR Function. He later joined First Abu Dhabi Bank where he established the Bank’s Org Design function and was then seconded to their financial services company – Dubai First, where he independently led the HR function. Mohammad graduated with an MBA from the University of Dubai and Undergraduate B.Sc in Petroleum Engineering and Economics from Colorado School of Mines.
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.
Investment
CRF Members Rate: 10,000 AED per participant
Non-Member Rate: 14,000 AED per participant
Non-Member Group Rate (2+ attendees): 12,500 AED per participant
Fees include all learning materials, food and refreshments throughout the programme day.
Please note: travel and accommodation are not included.
If you are interested in enrolling and would like to discuss further, click the button below:
