Third plenary keynote speaker: Tony Frost, Chief Executive Officer WWF South Africa
Tony Frost is a fifth generation South African; educated at Queen's college, Queenstown and at the Universities of Natal, Cape Town, South Africa and Wits. After spending about five years in a Board level marketing position, he has worked at top level as Human Resources Director for 20 years and then ran his own company which specialised in assisting organisations to design, but more importantly, to implement their strategies. He is also currently the Chairman of ITO Focus International (Pty) Limited and was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the World Wide Fund for Nature: South Africa (WWF-SA) in 2002. Read more…

Sub theme: Sustainable and Authentic leadership
Concepts of successful leadership differ over time. Throughout the years, there have been different approaches towards leadership in businesses. What kind of leader is necessary in today’s complex world?
Both in the literature and in practice there is a call for ‘strong’ leadership. But what is strong leadership? Is it sustainable/authentic leadership? For example, research carried out by Jim Collins (2001, Good to Great) shows that successful leaders are humble and have a passion for their work rather than for themselves. Read more…

Advisory Board: Rob Poell
Rob Poell is professor of HRD in the department of HR Studies at Tilburg University, Netherlands. He is general editor of the journal Human Resource Development International and was elected to the Board of Directors for the Academy of HRD twice. Rob's main interest is in workplace learning, especially the different organizing strategies employed by workers, managers and HR professionals in workplace learning. His department organised the Seventh International HRD Research Conference, sponsored by the University Forum for HRD and the Academy of HRD, held in Tilburg last May. He publishes and speaks at conferences regularly. Rob's main motivation to serve on the Advisory Board of this conference is to encourage further international exchange of ideas about HRD practice and research.

Keynote speaker: Manfred van Doorn
Manfred van Doorn is a clinical psychologist with extensive experience in his field as a therapist, and as a lecturer world-wide. He enjoys life and all its paradoxes. He specializes in being a generalist - creating clarity through paradox. He helps people to have serious fun and coaches leaders to serve their workforce. At the moment, he trains and coaches top executives of large firms, top members of the Dutch government in The Hague, and other individuals in leading positions in integrating their personal development with their leadership skills.

Main sponsor: Schouten & Nelissen
Schouten & Nelissen promote the development of people and organisations. By making use of training, courses, masters, advice, coaching, individual guidance and learning paths made to measure, Schouten & Nelissen help individuals and organisations to learn new and more effective behaviour. A great variety of methods from gaming to e-learning and books are used in order to realise this. Results are secured by applying the new knowledge, skills and behaviour in the field as well as by passing them on to others. Read more…

Main sponsors

Location
The International HRD Conference 2006 will be held in Amsterdam in KIT, the Royal Tropical Institute. KIT is positioned in the centre of Amsterdam. Built in 1926, the imposing, unique KIT building has a large and small conference hall and theatre, a magnificent reception area and seven atmospheric meeting rooms in various sizes. The traditionally furnished halls and rooms can be used separately or in combination. For each occasion, we consult with our clients as to which rooms and services would best suit their specific requirements. More information…