If you’ve been following along over these past few years, you’ll know that International HR Day on May 20th is a date we at Tandem Partners always pause to mark. We've used this day to reflect on how far the HR profession has come—and how much further it’s headed.

In 2023, we spoke about HR professionals as the ‘’North Star” guiding organisations through uncertainty, recovery, and reinvention. In 2024, we embraced the theme “Shaping the New Future”, recognising HR’s growing influence in ethical tech, flexible work, inclusive leadership, and continuous learning.

But in 2025, things have shifted again.

This year’s theme: ''HumanifyAI: Leading Change Together'' is a powerful phrase that captures where the profession now finds itself, not just embracing technology but doing so with intention, enabling organisations to do things quicker, faster, better, differently. AI is no longer the next big thing—it’s already embedded in how we hire, manage performance, deliver learning, drive engagement, and more. And yet, HR’s role has never been more vital: to ensure this transformation activity is human-centred, transparent, and ethical.

As we celebrate #IHRD2025, here is some food for thought….

HR will:

Be a key voice in the AI conversation: HR is stepping up to shape how AI is introduced and governed, ensuring it’s applied practically, ethically, transparently, and in service of both people and business performance.

Navigate complex change while still championing connection: As transformation continues, HR holds the line on culture—fostering trust, belonging, and purpose through uncertainty.

Balance innovation with care and conscience: HR ensures that AI and technology advancements enhance and enable—not replace—the integrity, equity, and ethics that drive great culture.

Drive organisation wide upskilling: Staying future-fit requires constant investment in learning—for ourselves, our teams, and our organisations.

So today, I’m raising a toast (or perhaps a strong coffee) to every HR professional leading this change—not just adapting to it.

As always, we recognise that HR can be a tough gig—carrying the weight of strategy, compliance, culture, and care plus much more.... But we also see the profound difference it makes when done well. Here’s to leading change together, no matter how AI’d we become.

#InternationalHRDay #IHRD2025 #HumanifyAI #TandemPartners #CreatingGreatWorkplaces