Dr. Dieter Veldsman is the Chief Scientist at AIHR and a Professor of Practice at the University of Johannesburg, specializing in strategic HR, organizational design, and development. With over 15 years of experience, he has held key roles, including Group Chief Human Resource Officer and Principal Consultant, impacting organizations across EMEA, APAC, and LATAM. Dieter is recognized for his thought leadership in the Future of Work, as evidenced by his publications, regular speaking engagements at global HR conferences, and his role as host of "The HR Dialogues" videocast. He holds a DCom in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and executive education certifications from Harvard University and INSEAD. He is a registered Organizational Psychologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. His accolades include the 'Chief HR Officer of the Year' award (2021) and the 'Psychology Practitioner of the Year' award (2018).
Dr. Marna van der Merwe leads the Thought Leadership and Insights practice at AIHR, with over 15 years of experience in HR and consulting. She specializes in aligning people practices with organizational strategy, with a focus on talent management, careers, and employee experience design. Marna is recognized for her research contributions in the talent management domain, particularly regarding the evolution of talent management in the future of work. She is a published author on these topics and frequently shares insights at academic and practitioner conferences. She holds a PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Johannesburg and is a registered Organizational Psychologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa