Who’s Speaking at HR Retail Africa 2027

Shelleny Govender Dhooma

Dynamic and visionary HR Executive with a passion for building positive, inclusive workplace cultures and driving organisational performance through strategic talent management, innovative HR practices, and a deep commitment to employee development. As Human Resources Director for the African Cluster at AstraZeneca, a global, science-led and patient-focused biopharmaceutical company, Shelleny leads diverse teams to align people strategies with business objectives, ensuring the attraction, retention, and development of top talent while strengthening organisational capability, engagement, and performance across multiple markets.

A true advocate for continuous improvement, Shelleny has spearheaded initiatives that build workforce capacity, accelerate skills development, and enable organisational transformation. Known for her collaborative leadership style and ability to translate strategy into meaningful action, she has earned the trust of colleagues and stakeholders at all levels by combining strategic insight with practical execution.

In recognition of her impact on the HR profession and her contributions to shaping the future of work, Shelleny was honoured in 2026 as an HR100 Leader to Watch at the World HR Summit, recognising her leadership, innovation, and influence in advancing people practices and organisational transformation across Africa and beyond.

Shelleny remains actively engaged with the evolving HR profession as a Chartered HR Professional (SABPP), a member of the Institute of Directors South Africa (IoDSA), and a holder of a Master's Degree in Human Resource Management. She has also served on the HR Advisory Board of Boocademy, contributing to the development of future-ready skills worldwide.

Passionate about the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in the world of work, Shelleny is increasingly focused on leveraging AI to augment talent acquisition, workforce planning, leadership development, and employee experience. She is a strong advocate for the responsible and human-centred adoption of AI, harnessing its power to enhance decision-making, reduce bias, unlock workforce potential, and create sustainable value for both people and business.