Bridging the Tech Gap: Implementing HR Technology for a Multigenerational Workforce

About Hennie

Hennie is the Chief People Officer at Open Country, New Zealand’s largest privately owned milk processor, where he leads the People, Safety, and Stakeholder Engagement functions. He brings more than 20 years of people leadership experience across a range of industries in South Africa and New Zealand. Throughout his career, Hennie has focused on developing people-focused solutions to business challenges. He has built HR functions from the ground up for two greenfield mining projects, giving him valuable experience in scaling people operations to meet business needs and driving culture and efficiency from the outset.

In his current role, Hennie is responsible for shaping the people strategy and leading a range of transformational projects that integrate people, safety, and wellness – bringing together compliance, culture, and care. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Leadership from the University of South Africa and a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of the Free State.

In his session, Hennie will explore how generational insights can support the successful implementation of HR technologies in New Zealand’s uniquely complex operating environment—offering practical guidance for HR leaders navigating change across diverse workforces.