CIPD President calls for human-centered innovation in Africa’s workplace transformation

Chloe Smith challenges African leaders to integrate innovation and AI responsibly in human capital strategies at HR Focus Africa Conference & Awards 2025

At the HR Focus Africa Conference & Awards 2025, the President of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Chloe Smith, delivered a thought-provoking keynote calling for the responsible integration of artificial intelligence and digital innovation in workforce development across Africa.

Speaking on the theme “Integrating Innovation and AI into Human Capital Strategies,” the former UK Cabinet Minister emphasized that Africa’s competitive advantage lies not merely in adopting new technologies, but in building systems that place people at the center of innovation.

“AI should not replace human potential — it should enhance it,” she noted. “The future of work in Africa must be both tech-enabled and human-led, where innovation drives inclusion, fairness, and sustainable growth.”

The HR Focus Africa Conference & Awards, held at the Accra International Conference Centre, brought together HR leaders, policymakers, and business executives under the theme “Equity, Innovation & Impact: Reimagining Work and Talent in Africa’s Emerging Future.”

Hosted by L’AINE HR and HR Focus Africa, the event featured insightful keynote sessions, panel discussions on skills, learning, and diversity, and the highly anticipated HR Focus Africa Awards which celebrated outstanding individuals and organizations advancing HR excellence on the continent.

The conference reaffirmed the need for cross-border collaboration in reimagining Africa’s workforce for the digital age. As Chloe Smith remarked, “The time is now for Africa to define its own innovation narrative — one rooted in people, purpose, and progress.”

Other distinguished guests at the event included Ghana’s Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo,  Mrs. Ellen Hagan (Group CEO, L’AINE HR), and Mr. James Laar (Managing Director, L’AINE HR), alongside hundreds of HR professionals and policymakers from across Africa.

The conference also featured the launch of the Ghana Living Wage Report 2025, Company exhibtions, and climaxed with the prestigious HR Focus Africa Awards, honouring organisations and professionals who demonstrated innovation and impact in HR practice across sectors.

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