SHRI Launches Official Website: shrisamoa.ws

Members of the Samoa Human Resources Institute (SHRI) that launched its website at its Annual General Meeting last Friday, 30th April 2021, at the ELISA Hotel.[/caption] APIA, SAMOA – 05 MAY 2021: President of the Samoa Human Resources Institute (SHRI), Afioga Nonu Lemauga Saleimoa Vaai acknowledges with gratitude the key Sponsors – Samoa Ports Authority, Samoa Shipping Services, Samoa Shipping Corporation, Samoa Life Assurance Corporation and ANZ Bank (Samoa) Ltd – for their kind donations that enabled the Institute to successfully launch its official website, another its key milestones. The Website is a result of a 12 months project in partnership with local IT firm – Brownsystech. The Website is a key component of the SHRI 2020 Engagement Strategy said the President. Since its official inception on 24 November 2018, the SHRI journey has been both challenging and rewarding in all respects.  People in our organisations continue to be predominantly considered as a controlled key cost component rather than a key potential investment for growth and this is the continuous challenge of the HR profession in Samoa, to shift this mindset so that people become a key component of any strategy for success. “Since our launch, we have faced a Measles Epidemic and a COVID-19 Pandemic that had not only substantively impacted the implementation of the SHRI Strategic Plan, but challenged us all in the HR profession to consider new ways of working, and looking at the world and its people from new lenses,” said Nonu. “The website is a response to the feedback from Members for an Online Self Help Service. This is now in place with the SHRI Website where Members can log on for assistance. It is aimed to be a One Stop Shop for Members on upcoming SHRI events as well as a key source of information for all essential HR matters, not only locally but in the regional and global arena,” explained the President. “Embarking on the SHRI journey during these unprecedented times required commitment and hard work as well as a lot of faith, belief and passion. Rome was not built in a day. I would like to thank our Executive Committee and the Digital Inclusive & Communications Committee (DICC) for the dedication and commitment to bring the SHRI Website to life particularly during this time where virtual meetings and online discussions are becoming the new norm.  It is also a testament of SHRI’s commitment and support to its member engagement and ongoing professional development.” Despite the challenges of the Measles Outbreak in Oct 2019 – February 2020 and the COVID 19 State of Emergency Restrictions from March 2020, the Executive Team and Sub Committees continued with progressing some key milestones and activities under its 5 Year Strategic Plan 2019 – 2023 including:

• Train The Trainer / Developing HR Standards Training, (17 – 22 May 2021) by the Accreditation and Certification Committee (ACC).
• HR Public Seminar – June 2021 – “HR in times of Global Uncertainties like COVID 19”

The main challenge for SHRI is building its membership base.  These types of capability building programmes in the HR field aim to attract and retain the interests and commitment of members, particularly in the appreciation of the HR profession in Samoa.  The benefits are often not immediately visible and recognised but there must be an acceptance and a belief of the key role of HR in any organisation’s strategy, which can only come about with a deep understanding and appreciation of what HR is about. “Whilst many consider themselves HR professionals and practitioners, there is a recognised need to formalise HR standards as a profession for the development of Samoa, today and in the future – just like we see in other professions.” Plans are already in the pipeline in 2021 for seeking donor funding assistance and support for SHRI’s upcoming programmes.