Quresha Abdullahi appointed East Africa HR Federation president

Kenyan human resource professional CHRP Quresha Abdullahi has been appointed the inaugural President of the East Africa HR Federation, placing Kenya at the centre of efforts to harmonise human resource practices across the region.

Abdullahi, the Executive Director of the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM) Kenya, was appointed during the 2nd Africa Human Resource Summit in Arusha, Tanzania.

The new federation is expected to strengthen cooperation among East African HR associations, promote common professional standards and support the movement of skilled workers across the region.

Her appointment comes as technology, demographic shifts and changing economic conditions continue to transform the workplace, increasing pressure on HR professionals to play a more strategic role in driving productivity and workforce development.

Speaking on behalf of the IHRM Council, National Chairman CHRP Odero Phillip Dalmas welcomed the appointment, describing it as recognition of Kenya’s growing influence in the regional HR profession.

“It is a recognition of the standing that Kenya’s HR profession has earned within the region,” Dalmas said.

He pledged Kenya’s continued cooperation with HR associations across Africa as the federation develops its structures and programmes.

Abdullahi’s appointment also comes against the backdrop of growing efforts to improve labour mobility in East Africa. The federation is expected to contribute to discussions on the recognition of professional qualifications and easier movement of skilled personnel within the region.

Kenya’s HR profession has undergone increased regulation following the implementation of the Human Resource Management Professionals Act, Cap 538, which provides the legal framework for regulating the profession.

The four-day Africa HR Summit, themed “Transforming Africa’s Workforce for the Future,” has brought together HR leaders, policymakers and practitioners from across the continent.

The summit is being hosted by the Tanzania HR and Administration Professionals Association and powered by the Africa HR Confederation under the theme “One Africa, One HR.”