the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI), and the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) in Canada. HRPA is the professional regulatory body and the professional association for HR professionals in Ontario, Canada. It oversees more than 21,000 members in 28 chapters across the province. AHRI is the national association representing HR and people management professionals. It has around 20,000 members from Australia and across the globe.

HRINZ said the agreement is the first step toward a closer working relationship between the three organisations and that it signals an ongoing commitment to building connections and strengthening the profession through global networks.

They anticipate the agreement will bring a number of benefits for each organisation in potential areas such as programmes, product and resource sharing across geographies, exchanges and international study tours, joint research and the mutual recognition of professional designations.

HRINZ Chief Executive, Chris Till said the organisation was “honoured” to be partnering with the Australian and Canadian associations.

"We truly live in a global village, and as the professional body for human resource practitioners and people managers in New Zealand, it is important that HRINZ has strong, broad and valuable connections and networks worldwide... We are certain that this will have many benefits for our members as well as for the human resources profession as a whole in New Zealand and globally," he said.

The leaders of HPRA and AHRI echoed his sentiments, with Bill Greenhalgh, HRPA CEO, commenting "we live in an increasingly interconnected world economy. While each country has its unique cultural and legal characteristics, the professionalisation of HR needs exchangeable, valued and credible designations based on a global body of knowledge. The understanding with Australia and New Zealand that we announce reflects this need".

AHRI CEO Lyn Goodear, added: "In view of the increasing impact of global influences on the economic and business context within which professional associations operate, it makes a great deal of sense for associations of like mind to work in unison to achieve common objectives. Representing the Australian HR profession, I am therefore delighted to be entering into a partnership with our HR counterparts in Canada and New Zealand to explore opportunities and synergies to work in collaboration for our mutual benefit".