Recent EAPM News

Coaching is becoming a strategic capability for organisations navigating constant change. As AI reshapes work and traditional leadership models become less effective, organisations need people at every level who can adapt, think critically and take ownership. A coaching culture helps build this capability by improving everyday conversations, strengthening trust and accountability, and embedding learning into how organisations operate. For HR, coaching can become a practical lever for improving engagement, resilience and business performance.

The European Association for People Management (EAPM) reflects on an energising and productive gathering in Athens. Warmly hosted by the Greek People Management Association (GPMA), the Delegates Assembly Annual Meeting (DAAM) brought our European HR community together to share experiences, strengthen relationships and help shape the future of the people profession. For a network representing 35 countries, these opportunities to connect are invaluable. In a world of continuous change, Athens demonstrated how much we can learn from one another, and achieve together.

The European Association for People Management (EAPM) has elected David Ducheyne (Belgium) as its next President and Kai Saard (Estonia) as its next Vice-President. Both were elected by the EAPM Delegates Assembly at its Annual Meeting in Athens. Their three-year terms will begin on 1 January 2027. Ducheyne, founding president of hrpro.be, the Belgian Association of HR Professionals, has served as EAPM Vice-President since January 2024. He will succeed Berna Öztınaz (PERYÖN, Türkiye), whose presidential term concludes at the end of 2026. Saard, CEO of the Estonian HR Association PARE, has been a member of the EAPM Board since January 2025 and will succeed Ducheyne as Vice-President.

AI is creating new possibilities for people management, alongside important questions about jobs, fairness and professional responsibility. In EAPM’s recent webinar with the International Labour Organization (ILO), researchers explored what the evidence means for HR professionals.

Two days at the 20th World HR Congress in Mexico City (23–24 September 2026), followed by a WFPMA Board meeting, have left us with plenty to reflect on. As WFPMA Board members representing Europe, we joined more than 3,500 participants to explore the Congress theme: Leadership in Motion: Transforming Talent and Culture.

Nominations are invited for the positions of President, Vice President, and one Board Member. Elections for these positions will take place at the 2026 Delegates Assembly Annual Meeting in Athens, Greece, and online in October.

AI may be changing the tools HR uses, but the profession’s core responsibility remains the same: supporting people, fairness, trust, and good decision-making in the workplace.