Trust, talent and technology: HR leaders to convene for CHRO Series Hong Kong 2026
- Josephine Tan
Hong Kong’s labour market is entering 2026 in a period of cautious optimism, but the forces reshaping the workplace are moving faster than ever. AI is redefining skills demand, salary expectations are diverging from employer budgets, flexible hiring models are gaining traction, and regulatory reforms are altering the foundations of employment relationships. For HR leaders, the coming year will be less about recovery—and more about reinvention.
Recent surveys from ManpowerGroup and Robert Walters indicate a steady but increasingly complex hiring environment. While a third of employers plan to increase hiring volumes, overall sentiment remains conservative, with Hong Kong’s Net Employment Outlook (NEO) hovering at modest levels. Demand for AI-related skills continues to surge, particularly in data science, machine learning, and AI applications, yet these roles remain among the hardest to fill. At the same time, professional and technical services are moderating hiring as automation reshapes entry-level work, even as services and manufacturing benefit from travel recovery and seasonal demand.
Compounding the challenge is a growing disconnect between employers and candidates. More than 80% of professionals now expect double-digit salary increases to consider a move, while the vast majority of employers plan to offer less than 6%. Hiring cycles are lengthening, securing top talent is harder, and job security has become a top priority for professionals navigating ongoing economic uncertainty.
It is within this rapidly shifting landscape that HRM Asia returns to Hong Kong with CHRO Series Hong Kong 2026, taking place from 17 to 19 March 2026 at Cordis, Hong Kong. Following a successful inaugural edition last year, the conference convenes senior HR leaders to examine how trust, talent and technology must come together to shape the next era of work.
The conference reflects the most urgent priorities facing today’s CHROs. In the opening keynote, Philip Wixon, Head of HR Transformation at The Hong Kong Jockey Club, will explore how organisations can build transparent, trusted AI ecosystems while embedding compassion and connection at the heart of digital innovation.
A high-level CXO Think Tank will bring together Yolice Wu, Executive Director and Chief People and Culture Officer, Hongkong Land; Alex Wong, General Manager, Corporate Information Technology, The Hong Kong and China Gas Company (Towngas); and Sarah Cheuk, Assistant Vice-President, HR, Fano Labs, to examine how CEOs, CIOs and CHROs can co-define success metrics, share accountability for tech-driven change, and bridge employee trust with investor and stakeholder expectations.
Meanwhile, Ilaria Gregotti, Vice-President and Culture for East Asia, Australia and PMI Global Travel Retail, Philip Morris International, will share how organisational values can be translated into measurable business value, balancing speed, scale and sustainability in complex transformation journeys.
As organisations across Hong Kong accelerate their transformation, CHRO Series Hong Kong 2026 offers a must-attend opportunity for HR leaders to stay ahead of the curve. Join peers and industry leaders this March to gain fresh insights, benchmark strategies and build connections that will shape your workforce agenda for the year ahead.
