Dr. Dharendra Wardhana Represents NCPA at International GovHR Forum in Kazakhstan

On 20 June 2025, Dr. Dharendra Wardhana, Research Fellow at the Nanyang Centre for Public Administration (NCPA), Nanyang Technological University, represented the NCPA at the international forum titled “GovHR: New Systems, Modern Services, Novel Solutions” held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. Dr. Wardhana was nominated to attend the forum by Professor Liu Hong, Associate Vice President (International Engagement) of NTU and Director (Research and Executive Education) of NCPA.

The GovHR Forum, co-organised by the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Civil Service Affairs and the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, brought together senior government officials, distinguished scholars, representatives from international organisations, and professionals from leading human resource and GovTech companies around the world.

Held in the Academy’s iconic Round Hall, the forum welcomed over 200 participants from more than 16 countries and regions, including Qatar, Mongolia, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, the United States, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Russia, Rwanda, Singapore, and Turkmenistan. Representatives from the United Nations and other multilateral organisations were also in attendance.

The forum commenced with an official opening ceremony, during which a congratulatory letter from the President of Kazakhstan was conveyed by Mr. Kyrykbayev Arman, Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy Issues and Communications. This was followed by the launch of a new book, “Public Administration in the New Reality”, edited by Mr. Alikhan Baimenov, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Astana Civil Service Hub and one of the book's editors.

Dr. Wardhana delivered a talk during the Interactive Panel “Training and Competence Development for Civil Servants”, where he elaborated on a model for effective civil service training for the coming decade and offered his perspectives on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on public sector governance.

This year's annual event comprehensively addressed pivotal topics in public administration, including human resource management in the public sector, the integration of artificial intelligence, the development of data-driven and proactive HR strategies, and the vital strengthening of civil servants' professional competencies. Each topic was explored in dedicated sessions, utilizing diverse formats such as interactive panels, fishbowl dialogues, and foresight sessions, fostering dynamic engagement among participants.

During the interview with local media, Dr Wardhana was requested to comment on the importance of capacity development for civil servant and its role in the development of a country with reference to Singapore. He was also invited to share opinions on the current state of governance system in Singapore and Southeast Asian countries in a podcast arranged by the Academy.