The Indian Institute of Management Jammu inaugurated the International HR Conference 2025 on the theme Future of Fusion: Fueling Innovation, Resilience and Sustainable Success at the Mandapam, IIM Jammu on 27th Nov 2025. The two-day conference brings together 150+ participants, including leading industry practitioners, renowned academicians, and researchers, to explore emerging paradigms in human resource management shaped by technology, sustainability, agility, and organizational culture. It unites faculty from institutes of national and international repute, industry leaders, and participants from across India, creating a dynamic platform for meaningful dialogue and forward-thinking HR insights.

The inaugural ceremony was graced by Mr. Soarabh Pathak, Senior VP, Central HR, Maruti Suzuki (Keynote Speaker 1); Ms. Aparajita Tripathi (Keynote Speaker 2); Partner, Infrastructure & Government Advisory, KPMG; and Mr. Abhay Kapoor (Keynote Speaker 3); Group CHRO & Sr. VP–Global Human Resources, UIL Group, alongside Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty and Research. Also present on the occasion were Dr. Mamta Tripathi, Conference Chair, IHRC 2025, and Conference Co-Chairs Dr. Garima Saini and Dr. Sumesh Soman.The inaugural session commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp, followed by a serene Saraswati Vandna performed by the students of IIM Jammu, setting a reflective and scholarly tone for the event.

Keynote Speaker, Mr. Soarabh Pathak, Senior VP, Central HR, Maruti Suzuki highlighted that human–machine fusion will be a defining force in the future of work, transforming the way organizations operate and how employees engage with their roles. He emphasized that to thrive in this evolving landscape, organizations must redesign roles, invest in continuous reskilling, and foster a workforce that is adaptable, collaborative, and future ready. Stressing the critical shift toward strategic HR, he pointed out the need to move beyond one-size-fits-all learning approaches toward customized, personalized development programs. By leveraging experiential learning, hands-on practice, and real-world problem-solving, organizations can better prepare employees to navigate emerging challenges, seize new opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to innovation and growth.

Keynote speaker Ms. Aparajita Tripathi Partner, Infrastructure & Government Advisory at KPMG, discussed the lapses in AI where small failures can escalate into systemic issues. She raised concerns about the overuse of AI, noting that it increases the burden on management to verify sources and validate knowledge. Emphasizing the critical need for governance at scale, she highlighted that organizations must manage the transition toward advanced technologies responsibly, ensuring that agility and ethics progress together.

Mr. Abhay Kapoor, Group CHRO & Sr. VP – Global Human Resources at UIL Group, delivered a compelling address on the transformative role of HR in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. He emphasized that HR leaders must champion the integration of technology, cultivate future-ready capabilities, and proactively bridge competency gaps to build resilient and forward-looking organizations. He urged leaders not to pursue AI automation impulsively. Instead, he advocated for a deliberate and strategic framework classifying processes into three categories: those fit for complete AI automation, those best managed through a hybrid model combining AI with human judgment, and those that must remain fully manual. This structured approach, he noted, is essential for ensuring a smooth, responsible, and sustainable transition into the future of work.

This was followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion on "How fusion of technology and people, agility and resilience, and innovation and sustainability is reshaping HR strategies" under International HR Conclave. The panel was moderated by Prof. Prashant Mishra, Moderator and Professor of Practice, IIM Jammu. The distinguished panellists included, Mr. Soarabh Pathak, Senior VP, Central HR, Maruti Suzuki Ms. Aparajita Tripathi, Partner, Infrastructure & Government Advisory, KPMG; Mr. Abhay Kapoor, Group CHRO & Sr. VP - Global Human Resources, UIL Group; Prof. Sanjeev Pathak, Professor of Practice, IIM Jammu and Prof. Sanjay Gupta, Professor of Practice, IIM Jammu. The discussion featured eminent voices from industry and academia, exploring topics like the instant gratification that emerging technologies offer, the ethical and mindful use of AI, and the consequences of blind reliance on AI for human-centric decisions. The panel emphasized that HR leaders must strike a careful balance between Artificial Intelligence and 

Human Intelligence, fostering a tech-integrated future rather than a tech-dependent one, while being vigilant against bias in AI-driven decision-making. The session left participants with deep insights into building future-ready, inclusive, and trustworthy workplaces.

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean Faculty and Research, IIM Jammu, extended a warm and dignified welcome on behalf of the Institute and the Director, IIM Jammu, to the esteemed keynote speakers, academicians, faculty members, staff, and students. He underscored the pivotal role of cutting-edge HR research in shaping the “Future of Fusion: Fueling Innovation, Resilience, and Sustainable Success,” noting that the future of organizations will be defined by how effectively people, technology, and purpose converge. He further emphasized that international conferences of this stature serve as powerful catalysts creating space for meaningful dialogue, fostering global collaboration, and driving bold ideas that will shape the evolving future of work.

Delivering the welcome and conference address, Dr. Mamta Tripathi, Conference Chair, IIM Jammu, warmly welcomed delegates to the International HR Conference 2025, setting the stage for an inspiring and forward-looking event. In her address, she underscored the urgency of building a culture where technology amplifies humanity, while simultaneously cultivating adaptive workplaces, prioritizing employee wellbeing, and designing resilient workforce models. She emphasized the power of blending insight with innovation to navigate the complexities of the modern workplace, inspiring leaders to rethink HR strategies for a future that is both human-centric and technologically empowered.

The inaugural day concluded with engaging knowledge exchanges setting the tone for a deeply insightful and thought-provoking conference ahead. The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Garima Saini, Conference Co-Chair, IIM Jammu.  The inaugural event culminated with the national anthem.

The day one of IHRC 2025 unfolded with seven parallel tracks that delivered sharp, future-focused academic insights across the HR spectrum. Sessions explored the evolving landscape of employee well-being, flexible work models, psychological capital, workplace happiness, leadership, engagement, and career development, presenting cutting-edge studies rooted in contemporary organisational realities. Key discussions examined emotional intelligence, occupational stress, burnout, AI-enabled well-being, the gig economy, ethical and positive leadership, DEI frameworks, resilience, proactive behaviour, and the role of spirituality and mindfulness in modern workplaces. Parallel sessions on learning and development highlighted transformative pedagogical innovations and emerging career challenges. Collectively, the day one deliberations set a strong scholarly tone for IHRC 2025 bringing together diverse perspectives, advancing critical conversations on the future of work, and reinforcing IIM Jammu’s position as a leading hub for progressive HR research and thought leadership.

As the first day drew to a close, the International HR Conference 2025 reaffirmed the critical role of fusion-driven thinking in shaping the future of work. The day’s conversations spotlighted the evolving landscape of HR and paved the way for deeper engagement, strategic insights, and meaningful breakthroughs in the coming sessions. With strong momentum and collective curiosity, the conference is poised to continue driving impactful dialogue on the future of HR.

IIM Jammu hosted the Pre-Conference Workshop under the aegis of IHRC 2025, establishing a strong intellectual foundation for the institute’s flagship global HR event. The workshops drew vibrant participation from faculty members of national and international repute and Ph.D. scholars from across India, fostering a culture of academic rigor, inquiry, and collaborative learning.

Dr. Neeraj Kaushik, Associate Professor, NIT Kurukshetra along with Conference Chair, Dr. Mamta Tripathi and Conference Co-Chairs Dr. Garima Saini and Dr. Sumesh Soman, led sessions that offered deep insights into qualitative and quantitative research covering inductive and deductive approaches, hypothesis development, statistical thinking, and applications across ethnography, phenomenology, narrative studies, action research, and grounded theory. Hands-on training in research design, modelling, and R-Studio further strengthened methodological skills.

The second workshop by Dr. Ajinkya Navare, Assistant Professor, SPJIMR, enhanced participants’ understanding of constructs, models, and SEM through practical Smart PLS demonstrations. He also highlighted Bollen’s reminder that data consistency with a model does not guarantee its truth. The Pre-Conference Workshop provided clarity, direction, and renewed scholarly inspiration, setting a rigorous and insightful tone for IHRC 2025 and reaffirming IIM Jammu’s position as a growing hub for innovation, research, and transformative HR thought leadership.