Media Release
Australia wins World HR Congress
mandate for 2012
April 30
Australia has won the right to hold the World HR Congress in 2012. This is the premier global
conference for human resource practitioners in four years’ time.
At the World Federation of Personnel Management Associations (WFPMA) Board meeting in
London, prospective bids were heard from South Africa and Uganda on the African continent,
Brazil and Colombia in South America, and Australia, which was the unanimous country
recommendation from the Asia Pacific Federation of HR Management (APFHRM). After
extensive discussion and review on the day before the 2008 World Congress opened in
London, the WFPMA Board awarded the mandate to AHRI to hold the 2012 World HR
Congress in Australia.
The Australian bid was put to the board of WFPMA by the national president of the Australian
Human Resources Institute, Peter Wilson AM.
“This is like getting the HR Olympics for Australia,” Peter Wilson said.
“It is very exciting to get Australia over the line for 2012, after nearly two years of careful
preparation, together with sustained international advocacy and debate against very tough
competition.
“The challenge is now to choose an Australian city in which to host the event and to put together
a first-rate program and list of international speakers that will attract large numbers of delegates
from Europe, Africa, North and South America, and our own Asia Pacific region.
“There are significant human resources and people management issues worldwide that will be
reflected in the speakers we will source. On the choice of city, at least four capitals –
Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane - would be able to stage an event of the size needed
for a world congress, mindful that the event will also include a substantial trade show and
exhibition. We will be looking in some detail at all the options over the next few months.
“Australia also has the benefit of good weather and great places to see, and we will be
marketing the event as one where delegates can enjoy a very pleasant late summer experience
throughout this great nation of ours,” says Wilson.
The 2012 event is likely to be held during March in an Australian city to be selected by AHRI in
September this year, and then advised to the WFPMA Board for subsequent international
promotion. The World HR Congress has been to Australia on one other occasion, when Sydney
was the host city in 1988.
“Whilst Sydney hosted the event in 1988, AHRI will be selecting the city best able to host this
premier global event amongst the four capitals able to do so today, and based on the final
selection criteria AHRI has been advised through the WFPMA decision.
“This is a wonderful event and opportunity for Australia and we want to put our best foot forward
in the way we capture the benefits for our profession in this country,” says Peter Wilson
END
About AHRI
The Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) is the national association representing human resource and people
management professionals. AHRI leads the direction and fosters the growth of the HR profession through actively setting
standards and building the capability of the profession
.
For further information contact:
Paul Begley, national manager, government & media relations, Australian Human Resources Institute
NEWS 
