Hr Business Partner

MARIA ROWENA NAVOA

Email: ***********@*****.*** LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/maria-rowena-n-18038725 Profile

Strategic HR leader with 25+ years across Asia and North Africa. Expertise in Shared Services, HR Business Partnering, and People & Organizational Development, with a strong record in talent, rewards, and organizational transformation. Trusted advisor to senior leaders, shaping people strategies that align compliance, culture, and business performance.

Key Achievements

• Led HR transformation across Asia at Aboitiz, embedding agile practices, digitization, and AI solutions to improve service delivery and employee experience.

• Introduced flexible/remote work policies ahead of industry trends, enhancing engagement and ensuring continuity.

• Directed multi-country HR operations at Schlumberger, covering Asia, Middle East, and North Africa, driving major HRIS and payroll transformation projects.

• Recognized globally as HR Service Quality Lead and Engagement Champion for leadership in employee engagement and process standardization.

Relevant Experience & Accomplishments

• Employee Services: Built trust-based cultures that improved engagement and performance. Guided managers on conflict resolution, internal communications, and employee relations while balancing legal risk, business needs, and engagement.

• Performance & Rewards: Designed and managed salary structures, allowances, and benefits to sustain a high-performance culture while ensuring internal equity, fairness, and market competitiveness.

• Recruitment & Talent Planning: Anticipated workforce needs and developed strategies for short- and long-term resourcing, addressing demographic shifts, scarce skills, and turnover.

• Learning & Development: Delivered learning strategies aligned with business outcomes, reducing discretionary spending by focusing on measurable impact and capability building.

• Employee Engagement: Designed and facilitated surveys, focus groups, and workshops to capture employee insights and partnered with leaders to translate results into action.

• HRIS & Payroll: Directed HRIS and payroll operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency; led digitization and automation initiatives.

• Global Projects & Leadership: Recognized globally as a project lead and champion for HR process documentation, employee engagement, change management, and system migrations. Experience

The Fred Hollows Foundation Mar 2024 – Present

People Partner – Asia

• Drive strategic HR initiatives and deliver high-impact operational support across Asia (China, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Hong Kong).

• Champion engagement with managers and employees on policies, compliance, and issue resolution—strengthening risk management and ensuring timely, fair outcomes.

• Lead people strategies aligned with the HR agenda, embedding flexible, agile, and future-ready practices across the employee lifecycle.

• Partner with senior leaders to shape policies suited to local laws and cultural contexts while ensuring global alignment.

• Spearhead HR projects, leveraging global expertise and embedding best practice in talent, leadership, and organisational development.

Aboitiz Foods Aug 2017 – Dec 2023

Senior Assistant Vice President, Global Business Services Mar 2020 – Dec 2023

• Directed HR strategy across Asia, building a world-class organization through talent attraction, total rewards, and engagement.

• Led HR Shared Services, accountable for KPIs, SLAs, and a consistent, employee-centric experience across HR operations.

• Championed agile adoption across HR teams, enhancing collaboration, responsiveness, and delivery speed.

• Drive digital transformation, embedding automation, AI-enabled query management, and digitized workflows.

Assistant Vice President, Business HR Aug 2017 – Feb 2020

• Served as strategic partner to business leaders, advising on org design, workforce planning, and leadership development.

• Introduced flexible/remote work policy, balancing employee needs with business continuity.

• Championed change initiatives to streamline structures, policies, and processes.

• Coached senior leaders on inclusion, engagement, and risk mitigation.

• Advanced HR operations by aligning rewards and promotion processes with equity and market competitiveness.

Citadel Pacific Ltd. Jan 2017 – Jul 2017

Talent Management & Compensation & Benefits Manager

• Designed and implemented total rewards strategies, ensuring competitiveness and alignment with company culture.

• Led talent management solutions, using design-thinking to connect business needs with talent pipelines and driving aggressive talent acquisition. Schlumberger 2000 – 2016

Employee Support Specialist (HR Business Partner) – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Oct 2014 – Dec 2016

• Aligned HR strategy with business goals, connecting HR Hubs with local operations across Asia and North Africa.

• Led cross-functional HR projects, driving performance improvement, policy implementation, and risk mitigation.

• Strengthened HR capability through analytics, continuous improvement, and expertise-sharing.

• Advised senior leaders on workforce planning and talent management, balancing global priorities with local needs

Employee Services Leader – Asia, Middle East, Europe & North Africa Sep 2010 – Oct 2014

(Assignments: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Sep 2010 – Dec 2011; Dubai, UAE Jan 2012 – Feb 2013 & Jan – Oct 2014; Crawley, UK May – Dec 2013)

• Directed regional HR operations across Asia, Middle East, and Europe/North Africa, ensuring compliance with local legislation and global standards.

• Led payroll and HRIS transformation projects, embedding automation, process efficiency, and service excellence.

• Championed change management, driving hub migration projects and new system rollouts while sustaining employee trust and service quality.

• Directed multi-country service delivery teams, ensuring consistent KPIs, SLAs, and employee experience across diverse geographies.

• Partnered with global HR leadership to standardize policies and processes, balancing local adaptation with regional and corporate alignment.

Compensation & Benefits Analyst – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Mar – Aug 2010

• Supported regional C&B strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate principles, internal equity, and market competitiveness.

• Conducted job evaluations and market surveys; recommended salary structures and benefits plans.

• Prepared compensation packages and assignment letters, ensuring consistency across countries.

• Monitored statutory changes, advising on compliance and benefits adjustments. HR Supervisor & SAP Champion – Doha, Qatar Dec 2003 – Feb 2010

• Led HR operations including compensation, staffing, and relocation, ensuring compliance with business plans.

• Implemented succession planning and career development programs for local and expatriate talent.

• Directed crisis management planning, supporting the Country Manager in business continuity.

• Championed SAP HR systems, improving process efficiency and data accuracy. HR Supervisor & Executive Assistant to Country Manager – Kuwait Apr 2000 – Nov 2003

• Managed recruitment, onboarding, and employee development programs.

• Oversaw C&B administration, ensuring competitive practices to attract and retain talent.

• Supported the Country Manager in crisis management and business continuity planning. Early Career – Philippines

Personnel & Administration Manager – E. Excel International 1996 – 2000

• Directed HR and administration functions aligned with business goals and labor law compliance.

• Managed core HR operations: recruitment, performance management, compensation, and benefits.

• Strengthened employee relations, improving retention and performance. Assistant Training Manager – FPD Guardforce 1993 – 1995

• Developed and delivered training programs including induction and orientation.

• Designed learning plans aligned with performance goals.

• Evaluated training effectiveness, improving ROI and employee capability. HR & Development Officer – JRK Foods 1990 – 1993

• Managed recruitment, onboarding, and employee relations.

• Coordinated training and career development programs.

• Supported performance management and compensation processes. Education

Bachelor of Laws – University of Santo Tomas, Manila (1986 – 1990) Bachelor of Science in Psychology – University of Santo Tomas, Manila (1981 – 1985)

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