Rt Hon Chloe Smith, President of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and former UK Cabinet Minister, will address HR professionals and business leaders in Ghana at the HR Focus Africa Conference and Awards on Friday, 17th October 2025 at the Accra International Conference Centre.
Smith was named the most influential person in technology in the UK in 2023 and made history as the first minister in the G7 to head both a nation’s AI and labour market portfolios. As a Cabinet minister, she built and led the UK government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and her work on AI adoption and regulation earned her a place in the Digital Leaders AI 100 2025.
Her visit to Ghana comes as African organisations increasingly face questions about how to manage technological change, build diverse workforces and prepare for the future of work. Smith brings over a decade of experience from the highest levels of British government, including her time as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work.
What makes Smith’s participation valuable for Ghanaian audiences is her practical experience in workforce transformation and her commitment to inclusion. She championed the legal recognition of British Sign Language and has been a vocal advocate for disability inclusion and women in leadership. After overcoming breast cancer in 2022, she has also become a strong voice on workplace wellbeing.
Smith has worked internationally across America, Europe, Africa and Asia, giving her a global perspective on labour market challenges. Her focus now as CIPD President is on helping organisations navigate technological change whilst building inclusive, productive workplaces.
Speaking about bringing the CIPD President to Ghana, James Laar, Managing Director of Laine HR said, “This is about bringing world-class thinking directly to Ghana’s doorstep. Chloe Smith has shaped workforce policy for one of the world’s leading economies, and now our HR community gets to learn from someone who has actually done the work at the highest level. We’re not just importing ideas, we’re creating a conversation between African innovation and global experience. That’s exactly what our organisations need right now.”
Smith will join other speakers including Professor Victor Kwame Agyeman, Chairman of Ghana’s Public Services Commission, Dr Francis Eduku, Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management Ghana, and HR directors from Newmont, Telecel Ghana and other major organisations operating across Africa.
The conference theme is “Equity, Innovation and Impact: Reimagining Work and Talent in Africa’s Emerging Future.” It will feature panel discussions, corporate exhibitions and the HR Focus Africa Awards recognising excellence in human resource management across the continent.
The event begins at 8:30am. Tickets are priced at GHS 5,100 for standard entry, GHS 2,100 for VIP access and GHS 510 for virtual attendance, with universe members receiving a 40 per cent discount on standard and virtual tickets.
For more information and registration, visit www.hrfocusevents.com or contact 0509020204.
