The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID) further strengthened its focus on the evolving Boardroom agenda with the successful conclusion of the first Executive Masterclass by its HR and Talent Governance Forum, titled “Redefining Human Capital: Shaping the Future of Work,” held on 18 September 2026 at Cinnamon Grand Colombo.
The Masterclass follows the launch of SLID’s HR and Talent Governance Forum in July 2026, established as a dedicated platform to advance Board-level dialogue and thought leadership around human capital, organisational culture, leadership, talent and the future workforce.
Bringing together Board Directors, CEOs, CHROs, HR leaders and senior executives, the programme delivered a clear message: human capital is no longer simply an HR responsibility — it is a Boardroom priority.
The one-day Masterclass examined some of the most pressing issues facing Boards and leadership teams, including human capital governance, succession depth, performance culture, organisational capability, workforce intelligence, people risk, HR analytics and the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence.
As organisations navigate talent shortages, technological disruption, demographic shifts and changing workforce expectations, Boards are increasingly required to understand how people, culture and capability directly influence organisational resilience, competitiveness and long-term value creation.
The programme featured two distinguished international speakers who brought global expertise and practical perspectives to the Sri Lankan Boardroom.
Arpita Chakraborty, Senior Director – Talent Transformation Strategy, Mercer Consulting India and Sri Lanka, addressed Human Capital Governance, Succession Depth and Performance Culture, exploring the increasingly strategic role of Boards in overseeing leadership pipelines, succession, organisational culture and workforce sustainability.
Nishith Upadhyaya, Executive Director of SHRM India, examined Culture, Capability, People Risk, HR Analytics and Responsible AI, providing insights into the future workforce, emerging leadership capabilities and the growing importance of workforce intelligence. His session also highlighted the governance structures required to ensure that the adoption of Artificial Intelligence is balanced with responsibility, ethics and effective oversight.
A key highlight was the panel discussion, “The Boardroom Agenda for Human Capital, Culture, Future Workforce and Responsible AI,” featuring Senior Professor Ajantha Dharmasiri, renowned management academic, Independent Non-Executive Director and thought leader in human capital management, together with Attorney-at-Law Dilshani Wijayawardhana. The discussion brought practical perspectives on leadership, culture, workforce readiness, ethics and the evolving responsibilities of modern Boards.
The panel was designed, moderated and facilitated by Ken Vijayakumar, Chairman of SLID’s HR and Talent Governance Forum and Senior General Manager – Human Resources, Administration, Purchasing and Sustainability at A. Baur & Co. (Pvt) Ltd. His leadership in conceptualising the programme and bringing together international and local expertise was instrumental in delivering the Forum’s inaugural Masterclass.
Commenting on the initiative, Anitra Perera, Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors, said:
“The launch of SLID’s HR and Talent Governance Forum in July 2026 marked an important step in bringing human capital firmly into the Boardroom governance agenda. Within just a few months, we are delighted to have delivered the Forum’s first Executive Masterclass, bringing together Directors and senior business leaders with international and local expertise. This is only the beginning of what we intend to build — a strong platform for Board-level dialogue, learning and thought leadership around people, culture, talent, technology and the future of work.”
The strong participation from Board Directors, C-suite executives, senior HR professionals and business leaders reflected the growing recognition that people strategy and business strategy can no longer be considered separately.
Through its HR and Talent Governance Forum and initiatives such as this Executive Masterclass, SLID will continue to strengthen Board-level understanding of human capital governance and equip Directors and business leaders with the insights needed to lead increasingly complex, technology-enabled and people-driven organisations.
The future of work is already reshaping organisations. The Boardroom must be ready to lead it.
About SLID
The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID) is Sri Lanka’s leading professional body dedicated to strengthening corporate governance, boardroom leadership and ethical business practices. For over 25 years, SLID has advanced director education, capacity building, thought leadership and professional development while providing a platform connecting directors, senior executives and business leaders across Sri Lanka.
