CIPD Middle East Podcast

CIPD Middle East

We’re the CIPD — the professional body for HR and people development. We are the voice of a worldwide community of more than 160,000 members committed to championing better work and working lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. Why Neurodiversity belongs on the People Agenda

    17 MAR

    Why Neurodiversity belongs on the People Agenda

    As organisations across the Middle East deepen their commitment to inclusion, this episode offers a timely exploration of what neurodiversity really means for today’s workplaces. Dr. Adrian Waite Chartered FCIPD is joined by Gemma Morris Assoc. CIPD, HR Business Partner at Savills Middle East, who brings a blend of professional expertise and lived experience to a conversation that cuts through assumptions and focuses on what truly matters for people at work.   The episode looks at neurodiversity through a practical HR lens: how different thinking styles show up in everyday tasks, interactions, and expectations, and how small, intentional adjustments can significantly improve the employee experience. From clearer communication and reduced ambiguity to flexible environments that support focus and wellbeing, the discussion highlights the kinds of practices that help people perform at their best.   Gemma offers insight into the often‑unseen pressures neurodivergent colleagues may navigate, and how thoughtful support can make work more accessible, sustainable, and empowering. Rather than treating neurodiversity as a specialist topic, the episode reframes it as a natural part of every workforce—and a key consideration for HR teams striving to build environments where people feel understood and able to contribute fully.   At its core, this episode is a reminder that inclusion is built through everyday actions. It provides HR professionals with grounded, actionable perspectives on how to create workplaces that are more human‑centred, more supportive, and better equipped to help every individual thrive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  2. Work, Culture and Change: Inside the Middle East's evolving People Agenda

    17 FEB

    Work, Culture and Change: Inside the Middle East's evolving People Agenda

    Recorded in Dubai during CIPD’s 10‑year anniversary, this episode brings together Dr Adrian Waite FCIPD and CIPD CEO Peter Cheese for a grounded, engaging conversation about how people strategy is evolving across the Gulf. Drawing on Peter’s nearly 14 years leading the CIPD and four decades in HR and consulting, the discussion blends regional insight with long experience of how work and workplaces change. The Gulf’s momentum comes through clearly: youthful populations, long‑term national visions and sustained investment in education are creating the conditions to build people systems with unusual long‑range clarity. Adrian and Peter explore how organisations are rethinking work before digitising it, shaping people strategies that reflect nationalisation priorities and cultural context, and equipping individuals with the human skills that support increasingly “squiggly” careers. They also look at what it means to extend wellbeing, safety and representation to large site‑based and blue‑collar workforces, and how data and AI can be used more intentionally to turn fragmented information into early signals and meaningful insight. Throughout, they return to the idea of people investment as generational value—something that resonates with governments, investors and future talent alike. The result is a conversation that feels both celebratory and forward‑looking, capturing the region’s progress while opening up space for what comes next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 1min

About

We’re the CIPD — the professional body for HR and people development. We are the voice of a worldwide community of more than 160,000 members committed to championing better work and working lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.