The HR Research Institute has announced the formation of the 2026 Future of Learning Technology and Upskilling Advisory Board, comprising industry leaders, learning and development specialists, and technology experts. This board will lead a research initiative and virtual event focused on workplace learning as organizations increasingly prioritize employee development and measurable outcomes. The advisory board's guidance will help HR leaders use learning technologies effectively, measure the impact of upskilling programs, and address gaps that hinder learning success.
The board will explore emerging trends including AI-driven personalized learning, workforce skill tracking, and digital learning strategies. These explorations will shape research and events that provide HR and L&D professionals with actionable tools and frameworks. The HR Research Institute releases annual "State of the Industry" reports in various HR topic areas, including last year's research report, HR.com's Future of Learning Technologies 2025, covering similar topics. This and other free research reports and infographics can be downloaded at https://hr.com/researchinstitute.
The newly formed advisory board features distinguished experts including Christopher Allen, President of Allen Interactions; David Creelman, CEO of Creelman Research; JD Dillon, VP Strategic Alignment at Axonify; Sheila Jagannathan, Global Head of Capacity Building and Digital Learning at The World Bank; and Christine Janssen, PhD, Founder and CEO of Edstutia. Other members include Brad Kogut, Head of Talent at Anywhere Real Estate; Heather Lambert, VP of Learning & Organizational Development at Wellpath; Christopher Lind, Executive Advisor for Business Transformation at Christopher Lind Co.; and Todd Moran, Chief Learning Strategist at NovoEd.
Additional board members are Stacy Marshall, Associate Vice President of People and Technology Consulting at HUB International; Lisa Menke, Sr. Learning Experience Designer & Facilitator at TEKsystems; Philip Pinkerman, Learning and Development Manager at Bristol Farms; Heidi Schisel, VP of People & Culture of Commercial, Medical and Government Affairs at Genentech; and Caitlynn Sendra, PhD., Sr. Research Scientist at the Future of Work Research Lab at SAP SuccessFactors. Matthew Casey-Sudvary, Learning and Talent Development Consultant, and Sam Herring, Vice President and General Manager of Intrepid at VitalSource, complete the advisory board.
"This advisory board will help the HR industry stay ahead of the curve," said Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com. "By sharing guidance for upcoming research and events, these thought leaders will equip HR professionals to boost employee skills, engagement, and organizational performance." The HR Research Institute, powered by HR.com, identifies key trends and best practices to help more than 2 million HR professionals and their organizations make strategic decisions with informed and insightful research findings. The institute has published hundreds of high-quality reports across a wide array of HR topics.
The importance of this initiative lies in addressing the critical need for organizations to effectively develop their workforce amid rapid technological change and evolving skill requirements. As businesses face increasing pressure to demonstrate return on investment in employee development, the advisory board's work will provide evidence-based approaches to learning technology implementation and upskilling measurement. The research outcomes could influence how organizations worldwide approach talent development, potentially improving workforce adaptability, closing skill gaps, and enhancing organizational competitiveness in an increasingly digital economy.
The HR.com's Future of Learning Technology and Upskilling 2026 Virtual Event is scheduled for July 7, 2026. HR.com's free membership offers many benefits, including access to over 300 exclusive primary research, state-of-the-industry reports, and infographics. These resources are published based on surveys developed with the assistance of a panel of thought leaders and industry experts on advisory boards. Visit https://hr.com/hrresearchinstitute to maximize your HR potential.
