Etisalat Academy prepares to welcome over 800 delegates at Second International Talent Conference

This year the Academy is partnering with the Leadership Development Centre in the Ministry of Interior to organise the event, which is taking place under the patronage of H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior on the 28th and 29th October 2009, at Atlantis Palm Jumeirah, Dubai.

This is the second time the conference will take place in the UAE, and this year will host a series of talks addressing the overlying theme of 'Managing Talent in Turbulent Times'. It will focus on identifying talented individuals, helping HR professionals make the right choice when hiring candidates and assisting leaders to manage talent in order to achieve their organisation's goals.

His Excellency Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy, will present the introductory speech, highlighting the importance of talent management in today's fast paced environment.

Commenting on the conference, David Brennan, General Manager, Etisalat Academy, said:

"Identifying talent, making the right hire choice and managing talent are some of the most challenging parts of business. Whether in government or the private sector, having the right people are everything. It is truly the difference between success and failure. Managers need to spend time on the key aspect of business - identifying talent, hiring the right people and making sure they are inspired and well-managed."

In its second edition, the conference will discuss many important topics including the latest methods for developing organisational talent even within the current, difficult economic environment. The conference will host panels of specialised speakers from around the world who will share their experiences and case studies of international best practise with the delegates.

Mariam Mohammed, Director of the 2nd International Talent Conference, and the Director of ITC 2009, said, "I would like to take this opportunity to invite human resources professionals and business leaders from all over the region to participate in this important event. This is the second time we are running the conference in the UAE, and based on the success of last year and the importance and wealth of content that will be provided, we are expecting more than 800 delegates from public and private sectors to benefit from this exceptional opportunity."

The conference will host international expert Larry Hochman, who will highlight alternatives to redundancies to help with expenditure rationalisation, as reducing staff can negatively affect performance levels and productivity.

ITC 2009 will also host Thomas Anger who will speak about managing talent in turbulent times; and Arnold Smit will conduct a presentation about the different calibre of talent required for tomorrow's kind of company.

The second day will include six workshops conducted by selected consultants from SHL International, Tag International, The British Consulting Company, and the British Academy for Developing Human Resources. These specialists include Claire Little, Samia Khan, Judith Leary Joyce, and Dr. Sami Tawakul. The workshops will discuss making talent leadership sustainable; recruitment, retention, and motivation, the key factors for surviving in turbulent times; the psychology of success; HR Excellence; and inspirational talent leadership.

The Second International Talent Conference 2009 is supported by the UAE Ministry of Interior; the UAE Ministry of Economy; Abu Dhabi Police; SHL International; and Stellenbosch University and the HR Department at Etisalat.