It is an honour for me to take on the role of President of the Board for the Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations (CCHRA). Great opportunities lie ahead for our organization: we are working on a number of internal and external initiatives that will help ensure the CCHRA and, most importantly, the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation, are solidly positioned for the future.
The CCHRA Board of Directors is completing a broad-scale strategic plan that has examined every part of the organization. Internally, we are looking at how the CCHRA and its member provincial associations can work together more effectively and efficiently. The CCHRA is also determining its key priority areas for the coming years.
Our focus remains on ensuring the CHRP is a high quality designation with its underpinnings firmly grounded in rigorous, state-of-the-art criteria. In 2009, we undertook a number of initiatives geared at the continuous improvement of the designation, including taking a fresh look at HR’s Body of Knowledge to ensure CHRPs continue to have the skills and knowledge the business community expects. The results of the review will be available in early 2010 and will form the basis for changes to the Body of Knowledge and a strengthened future for the designation.
When I step back and look at the CCHRA, I see a group of people with common values brought together to ensure those values are upheld throughout the profession. We are much stronger when we work together, and must continue to do so at both the national and provincial level. By all measures, we are a young organization: it is incredible to think how far we have come in the 15 years since CCHRA was created, and what possibilities the future holds for us. I truly believe that we have power and potential that we have not yet grasped in our profession and in our organizations. I am pleased to see that all members of the CCHRA seem to be in general agreement of the role our organization is to play in the future of HR in Canada and internationally.
This is a new beginning for me and, in some ways, for the CCHRA, and I am pleased to be part of such a strong, dynamic organization.
I look forward to working with the provincial associations, as we strive to enhance the HR profession.
Debbie Bennett, CHRP
President, CCHRA