Ahead of HPC’s sponsorship of the L&DI’s National Learning & Development Conference, the Sunday Times’ article on “Actionable strategies and technologies in an age of AI” explores the themes that will be at the heart of this key event.
Highlighted by Thinkers50 on their Radar list of 2021, Matt Beane’s research and speaking focuses on the ways in which we bend and break rules to get results from technology and convert these practices into tomorrow’s solutions.
The Assistant Professor in the Technology Management Program at the University of California will be coming to Dublin on December 4th to speak at the National Learning & Development Conference. This year’s theme is Sustaining Organisation Growth: A New Vision for L&D in an Age of AI.
Beane is one of the world’s top researchers on work and technology. Beane’s research, encapsulated in his latest book The Skill Code: How to Save Human Ability in an Age of Intelligent Machines, explores how technologies such as robots and AI are disrupting traditional learning. Beane warns that if left unchecked, these technologies could erode essential human skills. His keynote will explore actionable strategies to incorporate intelligent technologies into learning, while preserving human capability.
This insight is especially critical when viewed alongside the findings of Solas’s National Skills Bulletin 2024, which identifies persistent skills shortages in IT, healthcare, engineering, and green energy sectors. The report underscores the need for organisations to foster skills that are adaptable to rapid technological advancements. As Danny McCoy, CEO of Ibec, will highlight in his session, building a resilient, skilled workforce is not just a challenge but an opportunity to strengthen Ireland’s competitive position in the global economy.
The conference will also explore the concept of the learning organisation, a term popularised nearly 35 years ago by Peter Senge in The Fifth Discipline. While significant strides have been made toward building collaborative, innovative, and adaptive learning cultures, the L&D community must ask: are we truly there yet?
Panel discussions featuring L&D and HR industry experts will delve into the characteristics of a learning organisation in today’s world. What does a true learning culture look like, and how can L&D professionals influence their organisations to embrace it? These conversations aim to equip attendees with practical strategies to elevate their L&D practices, foster collaboration, and create environments where employees can thrive alongside technological advancements.
Although the post-pandemic disruptions have subsided, their impact lingers, particularly in how technologies and work strategies have evolved. L&D teams have been at the forefront of this evolution, adapting swiftly to support workforce readiness amidst constant change. The conference will provide a platform to share best practices, tools, and insights that highlight the creativity and agility L&D professionals have displayed in responding to these challenges.
As automation reshapes industries, the conference will examine what it means to be a learning organisation today. How can we better engage learners? How do we integrate emerging technologies like AI, while maintaining human-centric approaches? These discussions are critical for aligning L&D strategies with long-term organisational goals.
Sinéad Heneghan, CEO of Learning & Development Institute, underscoring the importance of the 2024 conference, said: “In a world that is being reshaped by intelligent machines and advanced technologies, the L&D community finds itself at the forefront of an unprecedented transformation. The National L&D Conference is not just a gathering of professionals but a meeting of minds, where the future of work and learning is being shaped. With automation, AI, and other technological advancements driving rapid change in the workplace, this conference offers a unique opportunity for L&D and HR professionals to explore the role of human skill development in this new era.
We’ll specifically be exploring how we can build human potential in a world dominated by automation and AI?”
As the recently published National Skills Bulletin 2024 notes, Ireland’s workforce is becoming increasingly diverse. This shift underscores the importance of inclusive learning practices, a key theme at the conference. From designing accessible e-learning platforms to fostering inclusive leadership programs, sessions will address how L&D professionals can build equitable learning environments that reflect and embrace Ireland’s evolving demographics.
HR and L&D thought leader Josh Bersin will be represented by Senior Vice President and Global Industry Analyst Kathi Enderes, who will present the latest research from The Josh Bersin Academy on the importance of creating learner-centric organisations, where employees feel empowered to build their skills continuously. This session will explore how organisations can leverage AI as an ally, rather than a threat, to human skill-building.
As Sinéad Heneghan aptly stated: “This is not about L&D adapting to change; it’s about leading it.”
Kevin Hannigan, Client Director at Conference sponsors HPC said: “Humans learn in profoundly different ways than machines. While AI thrives on vast datasets and algorithms, human learning is shaped by connection, curiosity, and context. As AI continues to transform workplaces, the organisations that thrive will prioritise and support human-centric approaches to learning, ensuring their people thrive alongside advancing technology.
Connection is at the heart of human learning—whether through coaching, mentoring, group problem-solving, or storytelling. These ways of learning not only foster deeper understanding but also build the trust and empathy that sustain teams.
We also grow through curiosity and exploration, embracing challenges that require adaptability and creativity. Supporting this growth means providing non-linear development pathways, encouraging critical thinking, and celebrating unique approaches to problem-solving.
Finally, people excel at sense-making—the ability to interpret complexity, context, and nuance. Machines may generate insights, but people give them meaning.
AI has already brought may advantages to how we work and will bring many more to how we work and how we learn. But we cannot learn solely through digital means. By focusing on how we learn—through connection, curiosity, and context —organisations can ensure their teams remain the ultimate decision-makers in a world increasingly shaped by AI. The organisations that build skills in this way will enable their workforce to complement, rather than compete with, AI.”
L&DI & HPC Contributors
Sinéad Heneghan – L&DI
As CEO of the L&DI, Sinéad leads the Institute’s strategic development work and oversees research and engagement with members. This informs the ongoing development of the member offer and continuous professional development opportunities for practitioners.
She has vast experience with Individuals, Corporates, Further and Higher Education Providers and State Agencies and has represented the industry in an influencing and Advocacy role for many years.
She holds an MBA from DCU, MSc in Leadership & Change Management, a BA in Local and Community Development from Maynooth University and a Certificate in Training & Development.
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Kevin Hannigan – HPC
Kevin leads the Learning and Talent Consulting offering and is also a Client Director at HPC. He works with clients to develop, deliver and evaluate bespoke solutions that drive performance across their business.
He is a highly skilled consultant and facilitator with a wealth of experience in designing the systems and processes that support effective learning, measurement and talent development.
Before joining HPC in 2013, Kevin was head of learning and development for Matheson, Ireland’s largest law firm and for C&C Ireland.
kevin.hannigan@wearehpc.com
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