The Future of Workforce Planning with David Edwards: Leading with Strategy, Humanity & AI - 2026 Next Practices Weekly

In this thought-provoking session of Next Practices Weekly, David Edwards challenged conventional thinking about Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP), urging organizations to move beyond treating it as an HR process and instead position it as a core business discipline. Drawing from decades of experience across banking, telecom, consulting, and global operations - including transformative workforce initiatives at NatWest Group and Ericsson, Edwards reframed SWP as a strategic lever for risk mitigation, capability building, and enterprise transformation in an AI-accelerated world.

Hosted by Katheryn Brekken, PhD, and Tom Stone, the conversation explored how workforce planning must evolve to include all worker types, from full-time employees to gig talent and AI agents, while balancing innovation with humanity. Edwards emphasized that effective workforce strategy requires cross-functional ownership, data-driven decision-making, and courageous leadership willing to align talent planning directly with business strategy.

Key Topics Discussed

• Reframing Workforce Planning as a Business Imperative
  SWP must move beyond headcount forecasting and become embedded in enterprise strategy. Edwards emphasized that when workforce planning is owned cross-functionally, not just by HR, it becomes a driver of competitive advantage.
• Managing the Total Workforce Ecosystem
  Today’s workforce includes employees, contractors, gig workers, third-party partners, and AI agents. Organizations must develop integrated planning models that account for all talent inputs contributing to business outcomes.
• Balancing AI Innovation with Human-Centric Leadership
  AI presents immense opportunity, but leaders must approach adoption thoughtfully. Edwards underscored the need to combine data intelligence with empathy, ethics, and creativity to ensure sustainable transformation.
• From Reactive Hiring to Capability Planning
  Rather than responding to short-term talent gaps, leading organizations are building long-term capability strategies focused on upskilling, reskilling, and redeploying talent to meet evolving business demands.
• Cross-Functional Accountability and Strategic Clarity
  True workforce planning requires collaboration across finance, strategy, operations, and HR. Edwards shared practical frameworks for aligning workforce decisions with financial and operational planning cycles.

As the discussion unfolded, Edwards pushed HR leaders to reclaim their role as enterprise architects of capability. He outlined practical frameworks for integrating AI into workforce models, aligning planning efforts with long-term strategic objectives, and leading with both analytical rigor and empathy. For organizations navigating volatility, skills disruption, and rapid technological advancement, this session delivers a clear message: workforce planning is not optional - it is foundational. If you are serious about reducing business risk, accelerating transformation, and ensuring human potential thrives alongside AI, this is a recording you won’t want to miss.

Resources Shared

• Register for the 2026 Conference
  Don’t miss i4cp's premier annual event - Next Practices Now Conference—where forward-thinking leaders gather to explore the future of work. Secure your seat

• 2026 Priorities & Predictions Report: Explore i4cp’s latest insights to guide your talent, leadership, and culture strategies in the year ahead - read the full report

To ensure open discussion, this event was exclusively for HR practitioners. Vendors and consultants were not permitted to attend.