Zabeen Hirji was a key presenter at the 2012 International Consortium for Executive Development Research (ICEDR) Forum, a venue for business executives to develop human resources talent all over the world.

The ICEDR alliance consists of 35 corporations and 25 business schools all over the world, including Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), at which Hirji holds the position of Chief Human Resources Officer. Zabeen Hirji was one of 11 speakers at the event, which focused on educating companies on the necessary culture change that would have to take place in order to create and sustain a culture of continuous leadership development. In particular, Hirji focused her remarks on leadership development and diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

The purpose of the ICEDR Forum is to focus on important topics that are in the interest of participating companies to implement in their businesses. The ICEDR website notes that only world-class thought leaders are invited to present at the ICEDR Forum.

Hirji was selected to appear as a speaker at the Forum based on her leading role as a human resources executive at RBC. She is also committed to community leadership, and serves as the volunteer co-chair of the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC), and is involved in a number of other community organizations. Currently, Zabeen Hirji serves as the vice-chair of the Capital Campaign for the Women’s College Hospital in Toronto as well as the director of the Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance. In past years, she has also been named as a Fellow of Centennial College due to her achievements in leadership in diversity, cultural competency, and specifically in pioneering work in the advancement of minorities such as women and immigrants in the workplace.

Of the event, Hirji says, “I am glad to have been able to speak alongside so many champions of both business and of diversity at the ICEDR Forum.”