UAE - Etihad Airways' head of projects, Abdul Basit Al Rawahi, was recently lauded with a Human Resources Leadership award at the World Human Resources Congress held in India recently.

Recognising individuals who have excelled in the field of HR by Global Advisory Council, Abdul Basit was credited for his part in transforming Etihad’s human resources with the use of best practices and instilling a culture of continuous improvement.

The company's exponential growth in business meant that an integrated support network was needed for the airline's line managers. Thus, some of the initiatives Abdul Basit has helped put across includes the development of a one-stop hub to align Etihad's business and HR practices.

"The HR business partnership model has been an effective addition to our business structure, through the recruitment and retention of talent within Etihad Airways," Abdul Basit says.

The company has also rolled out a corporate reward and recognition scheme to acknowledge top performing teams and individuals of Etihad in order to instill a culture of continuous improvement.

According to Abdul Basit, Etihad’s HR practice plays a vital role in establishing the airline carrier as a highly effective strategic business partner with innovative solutions and services that are aligned with the company's strategy.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, says, “Abdul Basit has shown a great understanding and commitment to human resources and we are extremely proud that he is a part of Etihad’s development of people, particularly the terrific work he has done with Emirati nationals in the airline.”