Working closely with sponsors Repsol, Overlap, and Châteauform’, the Learning and Performance Institute launched "LEARNING LIVE Networks Iberia", a two-day event that brought together senior directors and leaders to identify and tackle current challenges in workplace learning.

The event took place in mid-April at the magnificent Châteauform' country house called "El Bosque" and welcomed heads of learning and CLOs from Repsol, Santander, Gas Natural Fenosa, CaixaBank, VidaCaixa, Volvo, Telefónica, Médicos Sin Fronteras, Correos, Ferrovial, Avis Budget Group, Heineken, Iberia-IAG, Merck Sharp and Dohme Spain, Bricomart, and Sanofi.

Across the two days, delegates worked on a number of challenges in learning, motivated by inspirational speakers: Donald Taylor, Chairman, Learning Technologies; Celia Berenguer, CLO, Sanofi; Lori Niles-Hofmann, Ex Director of Digital Learning and Global Performance in Scotiabank and recently CLO in Fuse Universal; Edmund Monk, CEO, The Learning and Performance Institute; Gordon Trujillo, Senior Director for Digital Learning, Visa; Debbie Bennet, SVP Marketing & Engagement, Citibank; and Mike Miller, Division Manager Global Dealer Learning, Caterpillar Inc.

Peppe Auricchio, Executive Director for Innovation in Learning at IESE Business School, chaired the event.

The attendees collected ideas on innovation in learning during the "Think Tanks" and worked with Overlap to integrate these ideas into their projects:

• artificial intelligence: applications to measure learning impact
• "agile" development of a learning and performance ecosystem
• involving marketing for launching learning solutions
• development of a network of experts in real time
• gamification in new apps
• connectivity with the providers' LMSs
• new roles in learning: experience designer, data scientist, performance consultant, digital content curator
• chatbots with data mining to create high-impact micro learning
• change management and performance improvement integration in the usual practice of the learning department

"LEARNING LIVE Networks Iberia is a natural evolution of the LPI's LEARNING LIVE brand and enables learning leaders based in Spain, Portugal and the surrounding regions to join forces in tackling the toughest challenges in learning," said Edmund Monk, CEO at The Learning and Performance Institute. He added, "Building upon the success of the UK network, this event firmly establishes LEARNING LIVE Networks as a world-class service for global learning leaders, providing action-based workgroups, practical advice, and the latest industry research and trends. With unfettered access to top industry figures from providers and internal L&D functions, members of the network have an invaluable forum in which to inspire one another and build strong business relationships."

Monk continued, "Over the past twelve months, we've made great strides investing for international growth in a number of areas, and the launch of LEARNING LIVE Networks Iberia is an important step in this direction."

Speaking about the launch event, Ernesto Barrios, Learning Office Manager, Repsol, said, "LEARNING LIVE Networks Iberia provided a superb platform to demonstrate to attendees the value of sharing learning challenges across different sectors and companies. This event achieved the real meaning of 'networking', offering the opportunity for heads of learning to consider using solutions in their companies that are real and viable in other, similar environments."

LEARNING LIVE Networks Iberia will return for its second meeting in 2019, with online and virtual channels available throughout the year to existing members. The event is open to all learning leaders.