Wednesday 3 July - Day One 
 

2:00 - 2:45: Registration and light lunch 

2:45 - 3:00: Welcome and introductions

3:00 - 4:15: Plenary Session 1: Asia-Pacific Outlook 2024

Asia-Pacific’s labour market landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, influenced by shifting market trends, legislative changes, and evolving political dynamics. IEL’s opening plenary session will delve into the complexities of the region, exploring recent trends, legislative developments, and the impact of elections and political shifts on multinational corporations operating in Asia.

Moderator: 

Jonathan Yuen, Partner, Head of Employment (Contentious), Rajah & Tann Asia (Singapore)

Panellists:

Hannah Navarro-Cruz, Regional Director, Employment Law APAC, Johnson & Johnson (Singapore)
Jessica Waye, Associate General Counsel, Proctor & Gamble (Singapore)
Lesli Ligorner, Partner, Morgan Lewis & Bockius (China)
Nohid Nooreyezdan, Senior Partner, AZB & Partners (India)
Soojung Lee, Head of International Employment, Yulchon (South Korea)

4:15 - 4:45: Coffee break

4:45 - 6:00: Breakout Session 1: Investigations Masterclass

Conducting effective and legally compliant investigations present unique challenges for Asia’s employers. This panel session explores regional investigations trends across and offers practical guidance for organisations looking to mitigate future disputes emanating from allegations of misconduct, discrimination, and harassment.

Moderator:

Clarence Ding, Partner, Simmons & Simmons JWS (Singapore)

Panellists:

Aaron Goonrey, Partner, Pinsent Masons (Australia)
Anna Smith, Director - Senior Corporate Counsel, Labor and Employment, APAC, Salesforce (Australia)
Kavitha Rajan, Director, Associate General Counsel Employment Legal - APAC & Japan, Adobe (Singapore)
Manishi Pathak, Managing Partner, Anhad Law (India)
Stephen Le, Chairman - Lead Counsel, Le & Tran Law Corporation (Vietnam)

4:45 - 6:00: Breakout Session 2: Asia Pacific’s Tomorrow’s Leaders

For junior employment and labour practitioners, navigating the path to becoming an international employment lawyer can be both challenging and rewarding. This panel session will provide invaluable insight and guidance on developing a successful career on the international stage. Seasoned practitioners from across Asia-Pacific will share their experiences, discuss key skills and competencies, and offer practical advice for young lawyers looking to establish themselves in this dynamic and increasingly important field.

Moderator:

Cynthia Chung, Partner, Deacons (Hong Kong)

Panellists:

Angelia Thng, Partner, Braddell Brothers (Singapore)
Clancy King, Partner, DLA Piper (Australia)
Melissa Tham, Senior Legal Employment Counsel APAC, Dyson (Singapore)
Teresa Young, Director & Senior Managing Legal Counsel – Head of APAC Employment Law, Boston Consulting Group (Singapore)

6:45pm onwards – Opening drinks reception at The Fullerton Bay Hotel
 

Thursday 4 July - Day Two 
 

8:30 - 9:15: Registration and welcome breakfast

9:15 - 9:30: Welcome and introductions

9:30 - 9:45: Keynote speech

Amid Asia-Pacific's ongoing war for talent, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Manpower, Zaqy Mohamad will discuss the policies aimed at retaining Singapore’s status as a leading global business hub and attractive destination for foreign professionals while also promoting the Lion City's wealth of local talent.

9:45 - 11:00: Plenary Session 1: Asia’s War for Talent: Employee Incentivisation

As Asia experiences significant demographic shifts, the competition for talent has intensified across various industries and locations. Our opening plenary session will delve into the complexities of the regional war for talent and explore innovative strategies for incentivising employees to remain loyal to their employer within increasingly competitive marketplaces.

Moderator:

Joydeep Hor, Founding Partner, People + Culture Strategies (Australia)

Panellists:

Akiko Yamakawa, Partner, Vanguard Lawyers Tokyo (Japan)
Anshul Prakash, Partner, Khaitan & Co (India) 
Benjamin Gaw, Director, Drew & Napier (Singapore)
Liz Williamson, Managing Director – Employment Law – Growth Markets, Accenture (Singapore)
Natasha Cheng, Director Employment Legal APAC, Warner Bros. Discovery (Singapore)

11:00 - 11:30: Coffee break

11:30 - 12:45: Breakout Session 1: Cross-border Data Transfers

As businesses expand their operations across borders, the transfer of employee data becomes essential for operational efficiency. However, navigating the complex landscape of data protection laws and regulations in Asia presents unique challenges for multinationals. This panel session explores the dos and don’ts of transferring staff data internationally and whether it is possible to have a gold-standard approach.

Moderator:

Vivek Daswaney, Partner, V Law Partners (India)

Panellists:

Darren Grayson Chng, Regional Data Protection Director & DPO, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Electrolux Group (Singapore)
Fan Li, Senior Associate, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (China)
Isha Malhotra, Of Counsel, Littler (Singapore)
Josh Lee, Managing Director, APAC, Future of Privacy Forum (Singapore)

11:30 - 12:45: Breakout Session 2: Human Rights in Supply Chains

As multinationals expand their operations, concerns regarding forced labour, child labour, and environmental degradation have gained prominence among lawmakers. This session brings together experts to explore effective strategies for conducting due diligence and implementing ethical practices within Asian supply chains to mitigate the legal, reputational, and human risks related to human rights violations and environmental damage.

Moderator:

Selvamalar Alagaratnam, Partner, Skrine (Malaysia)

Panellists:

Joseph Chun, Partner, Shook Lin & Bok (Singapore)
Natasha Latiff, Founder, Fair Future (Singapore)
Sarah Galeski, Counsel, Tilleke & Gibbins (Vietnam)

12:45 - 2:00: Networking Lunch

2:00 - 3:15: Breakout Session 3: Prioritising Mental Health and Wellbeing

Long working hours and stigma surrounding mental health issues often prevent Asian employees from seeking help or support. This panel session examines the critical importance of prioritising the wellbeing of Asian workforces and explores strategies for creating supportive environments where workers feel comfortable seeking assistance and whether a right to disconnect can reduce the risk of burnout.

Moderator:

Kathryn Weaver, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw (Hong Kong)

Panellists:

Adam Bernhardt, Head of Safety, Health & Wellbeing, Airbus (Singapore)
Michael Stutley, Partner, Kingston Reid (Australia)
Ming-Yee Ma, Associate General Counsel, Head of APAC Employment Law, Meta (Singapore)
Preetha Soman, Partner, J Sagar Associates (India)
Ritika Agarwal, Director - Global Employment Law Head, Agoda (Singapore)

2:00 - 3:15: Breakout Session 4: Exploring Employee Activism

Employee activism is on the rise globally, and Asia is no exception. Workers in industries across the region are increasingly mobilising to advocate for social and political causes, challenging traditional employer-employee dynamics and presenting new challenges for businesses. This panel session will explore the impact of employee activism in Asia and provides guidance on how to respond effectively to these evolving dynamics while maintaining a productive and inclusive workplace environment.

Moderator:

Apeksha Mattoo, Partner, Trilegal (India)

Panellists:

Donovan Cheah, Partner, Donovan & Ho (Malaysia)
Rashel Pomoy, Partner, Villaraza & Angangco (Philippines)
Theodor Tan, Employment Counsel, Global Employment Law, Applied Materials (Singapore)

3:15 - 3:45: Coffee break

3:45 - 4:30: In conversation with Tanem Taskin, Global Head of Employment Legal, Canva (Australia)

A fireside chat with Tanem Taskin to examine the opportunities and challenges of key cross-border trends impacting their multinational business.

4:30 - 5:45: Plenary Session 2: Asia’s War for Talent: Post-termination Playbook

From the risk of intellectual property theft, loss of clients, and disruption of business operations, key employee departures to competitors or to launch their own businesses pose significant challenges for employers. In the second part of our look at Asia’s war for talent, legal experts will explore proactive strategies that can protect business interests.

Moderator: 

Sharon Tan, Partner, Mishcon de Reya (United Kingdom)

Panellists:

Diana Purdy, Partner, Bird & Bird (Hong Kong) 
Li Shi Chow, Head of APAC Employment, American Express (Singapore)
Maria Crabb, Director, Employment Counsel - JAPAC, Palo Alto Networks, (Singapore)
Nicholas Ngo, Director, TSMP Law Corporation (Singapore)
Pooja Ramchandani, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co (India)

5:45 onwards: Closing drinks reception at Marina One