Nanjing, China, 15 October 2025 – The 2025 International Digital Talent Development Conference was successfully held at the Convention Centre of Nanjing Software Valley, Nanjing, China. Co-organised by ICDL Asia and MACRO Think Tank, with support from the Nanjing Association for Enterprise Digital Transformation and the Nanjing Human Resources Association, the event brought together 120 delegates from over ten countries across the Asia-Pacific region, alongside over 100 senior executives and human resource professionals from leading Chinese enterprises.
Driving Global Dialogue on Digital Talent Development
With the theme of Collaborative Growth with Boundless Intelligence, the conference fostered in-depth discussions on global strategies for human resource innovation in the AI era. Participants explore best practices and collaborative approaches to building a resilient, future-ready digital workforce.
Opening Address by Ms. Tina Wu, CEO of ICDL Asia
Opening Address by Ms. Wei He, CEO of MACRO Think Tank
The programme was structured into Three key chapters — New Perception, New Initiatives, and New Practices in examining the transformation of digital talent development from ideation to implementation. Representatives from academia, industry, and professional associations shared their insights on how artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies are reshaping skills development across sectors globally.
New Perception: Redefining Talent Development in the Digital Era
The first chapter, New Perception, featured four keynote presentations that redefined the foundations of talent development through a data-driven and AI-enabled perspective. Speakers shared strategies for integrating global vision with local execution to strengthen talent ecosystems and align with the evolving demands of digital economies.
Cultivating Innovative Talent to Drive Development presentation by Mr. RongYu Ding, Secretary of the Party Committee of Jiangsu Open University
External Variables of Human Resource Value: Technological Evolution and Organisational Innovation presentation by Mr. Anxun Bu, Founder of MACRO Think Tank
Global Practices and Trends in AI-Powered Digital Transformation presentation by Mr.Damien O’ Sullivan, CEO of ICDL Foundation
The concept, characteristics, and identification methods of “X-type” talents in the Al era presentation by Ms. Wei He, CEO of MACRO Think Tank
New Initiatives: Launching Strategic Global Collaborations
Chapter Two, the New Initiatives segment introduced three landmark initiatives marking a new phase in international collaboration for advancing digital talent development.
Official Launch of the Global Digital Talent Union (GDTU)
Key representatives including Mr. Damien O’Sullivan, CEO of ICDL Foundation, Ms. Tina Wu, CEO of ICDL Asia, Mr. Lan Xiaoyu, General Manager of ICDL China, Dr. Luo Yulan, Vice President of Jiangsu Open University, and other institutional leaders officially launched the Global Digital Talent Union (GDTU).
The GDTU aims to bridge regional and standardisation gaps in digital talent development and to foster an open, collaborative, and inclusive digital talent ecosystem. The four pillars include:
- Alignment with the ICDL International Digital Literacy Standard
- Innovative training and education frameworks
- Certification interoperability and recognition
- Construction of a collaborative digital talent ecosystem
AI Key Talent Development Initiative
Mr. Xie Fengbo, Assistant General Manager of Macro Think Tank, introduced the AI Key Talent Development Initiative, featuring a four-tier talent framework for cultivating multi-disciplinary professionals:
- Chief Digital Officer (CDO)
- Data Analyst (DA)
- AI Agent Coach (AC)
- Digital Craftsman (DC)
The initiative seeks to nurture leaders and practitioners skilled in analytics, AI applications, and business innovation through integrated learning pathways.
Transparent Talent Community
The Transparent Talent Community was jointly launched by Mr. Anxun Bu, Founder of Macro Think Tank, alongside leaders from industry associations. Guided by the principle “Trust through Transparency, Strength through Sharing, and Growth through Contribution,” the community aims to promote global knowledge exchange, collaboration, and peer learning within the digital talent ecosystem.
New Practices: Showcasing Case Studies and Cross-Regional Collaboration
The Chapter Three, New Practices highlighted real-world case studies and insights from international experts on emerging technologies and AI-driven workforce transformation featuring case studies that include topic such as
Journey of Innovation and Breakthrough: Talent Management in the AI Era presentation by Ms. Liu Junjun, Senior Human Resources Specialist, Kingdee Software (China) Co., Ltd, China
Digital Intelligence and Global Talent Ecosystem by Dr. Li Haobin, Academic Director, Master of Science (Maritime Technology and Management) Co-Director, Centre of Excellence in Modelling and Simulation for Next Generation Ports (C4NGP), National University of Singapore, Singapore
Empowering Global Workforce with 100 Million Silicon-Based Workers by Ms. Liling Chen, Partner of Nanjing Silicon based Intelligence Technology Group Co., Ltd, China
An AI Practitioner’s Perspective on Talent Demand and Knowledge Popularisation by Dr. Jacky Yu Jin, Co-Founder of Luma Technologies Global, Singapore
Standards · Skills · Mobility: A Trilateral Agenda for Digital Literacy Collaboration — China–Singapore–Thailand sharing by Mr. Thanapon Torsittidethkul, Managing Director, Business Competitive Intelligence Co., Ltd, Thailand
Each speaker emphasised the importance of AI and digital transformation in driving innovation, enhancing workforce productivity, and accelerating digital transformation. Their presentations demonstrated how technological advancements are reshaping industries, supporting enterprise growth, and empowering a digitally competent workforce.
Industry Visits to Nanjing Software Valley
In the afternoon, delegates also had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of cutting-edge digital technologies through industry visits to leading innovation hubs, including Nanjing Software Valley, Nanjing Silicon-Based Intelligence Technology Group and Nanjing TetraBOT Electronic Technology.
Delegates explored the history, milestones, and achievements of Nanjing Software Valley —one of China’s key innovation clusters—located at the heart of Nanjing’s technology zone. The visit provided a first-hand look at how the region fosters enterprise innovation and digital industry development.
At Silicon Intelligence, delegates witnessed cutting-edge applications of digital human technology, where AI-driven avatars replicate human capabilities to perform professional roles such as doctors, educators, and content creators. Participants also interacted with Digital Humans, including Digital Doctors, experiencing how this technology is revolutionising human–machine collaboration.
At TetraBOT Electronic Technology, delegates observed the practical use of robotics and automation in carrying out high-risk and complex tasks traditionally performed by humans. The visit offered valuable insights into how robotics innovation is expanding real-world applications and advancing safety and efficiency in industrial operations.
The 2025 International Digital Talent Development Conference marked a significant milestone in advancing dialogue and collaboration on digital talent strategies across Asia. Through thought leadership, strategic initiatives, and case studies, the conference underscored the collective commitment of global partners led by ICDL Asia and MACRO Think Tank towards building an inclusive, skilled, and future-ready workforce for the AI era.