Nelia Du Toit

NELIA DU TOIT Global HR Transformation Leader | People & Culture Strategist | Neuro-Life Coach | AI-Driven HR Innovator | DEIA Expert | Talent Architect | HRIS Specialist Available for full-time remote leadership roles globally-|-| - | linkedin.com/in/neliadt EXECUTIVE PROFILE Experienced HR leader with 20+ years driving global HR transformation, digital innovation, and AI-powered people strategies across complex, multicultural environments. Proven success leading remote, cross-functional teams focused on scalable service delivery, compliance, and enhanced employee experience. Recognized for spearheading talent acquisition, culture transformation, payroll automation, and multi-country HR compliance aligned with ESG, CSRD, and data privacy frameworks. Skilled in leveraging AI and data analytics to optimize recruitment and workforce planning. Founder of RuthNel Agile HR and Vice President of the EMEA Disability Employee Resource Group. Trusted C-suite advisor, global leadership facilitator, and certified Neuro-Life Coach. Industry expertise spans Power & Renewable Energy, Mining, Construction, Agriculture, Finance, IT, and FMCG, including high-profile projects like Eskom Kusile and Medupi. Experienced in digital-first, remote, and tech-driven environments, implementing LMS, AI recruitment tools, and data-backed HR platforms. Passionate about cultivating inclusive, data-driven, and future-ready workforces, with a strong focus on wellness, psychological safety, and organizational well-being. ELITE RESULTS & IMPACT • • • • • • • • Delivered R800,000+ annual cost savings through strategic vendor renegotiations and process optimization. Secured over R25 million in SETA-aligned grant funding for workforce upskilling, including R3.8 million in 2024 alone. Led multi-jurisdictional HR compliance projects across South Africa, UAE, and EMEA, encompassing DG Reviews, BBBEE, and Employment Equity. Spearheaded LMS rollouts of various platforms,VR training onboarding experiences, and behavioural data mapping to enhance learning outcomes. Designed and implemented AI and advanced analytics-driven recruitment frameworks, significantly improving talent acquisition quality and time-to-hire. Standardized and automated payroll operations across multiple EMEA countries, boosting accuracy and reducing processing time by 30%. Ensured audit readiness and strengthened legal compliance through comprehensive employment risk assessments across diverse jurisdictions. Collaborated with HRIS and finance teams to integrate HR, payroll, and business systems, securing data integrity and compliance. RECOGNISED LEADERSHIP & INFLUENCE • Vice President – EMEA Disability Employee Resource Group; Senior Leadership Team liaison championing inclusion, accessibility, and culture transformation across diverse regions. • Selected in Top 50 EMEA Global Leadership Cohort (Leading Self program); Mentee in ERG Female Future Leaders initiative. • Franklin Covey Global Facilitator delivering "Leader+" and "Leading Self" programs, customized for EMEA & APAC cultural contexts. • Customer Experience (CX) Ambassador driving customer-centric HR and employee experience initiatives. • Employment Equity Manager and Skills Development Facilitator (SDF), leading workforce capability enhancement aligned with strategic objectives. • HR Digital HUB EMEA: Project Management and UX Designer for digital HR transformation initiatives including LMS and SharePoint platforms focused on accessibility and user experience. • Employee Wellness Champion overseeing neuroscience-informed wellness campaigns to support psychological safety during organizational change. • Led compliance projects including Dubai Labour Law adaptation and contract redesign aligned with evolving regulations. • Delivered R800,000+ annual cost savings through vendor optimization and training initiatives. • Acted as Deputy Regional Human Capital Manager, demonstrating leadership and operational excellence. • Facilitated disability awareness campaigns and cultural inclusion projects with measurable engagement impact. Select Endorsement: "Nelia consistently delivers strong, data-backed proposals and demonstrates solid business acumen. Her pragmatic and collaborative approach makes her a valued partner in global culture change and HR digital transformation initiatives." — Bruno ENTREPRENEURIAL VISION & CONSULTANCY • Founder – RuthNel Agile HR, a remote-first consultancy delivering innovative HR compliance solutions, executive leadership coaching, and data-driven DEI strategies across global markets. • Trusted strategic advisor on Employment Equity, BBBEE compliance, learnership program development, and leadership pipeline acceleration, enabling clients to meet regulatory requirements while driving workforce transformation. • Established and nurtured key partnerships with SETAs, NPOs, LMS vendors, and international HR networks, creating collaborative ecosystems that enhance talent development and learning scalability. • Designed and implemented bespoke HR frameworks that have supported multiple organizations in achieving operational excellence and culture evolution in hybrid and remote environments. CORE COMPETENCIES: • • • • • • Strategic HR Leadership & Transformation Global HR strategy across multiple regions (EMEA, UAE, APAC, UK, US); Digital HR innovation; Organizational change management (PMP® certified); Executive coaching & leadership development. Talent & People Analytics Predictive Index Specialist; AI-driven recruitment and behavioural interviewing; Succession planning; Employer branding and talent marketing. Compliance & Employment Risk Multi-jurisdictional compliance (EMEA, UAE, South Africa); GDPR and visa/work permit management; Employment equity and BBBEE leadership; Labour relations and union negotiations. Culture, Inclusion & Employee Wellness DEIA strategy design and implementation; Employee resource group leadership; Neuroscience-based wellness and psychological safety initiatives; Cross-cultural leadership. Recruitment & Talent Acquisition Global talent acquisition strategy; ATS optimization (Workday, SmartRecruiters); Executive search and DEI-aligned hiring; Remote team leadership. Operational Excellence & Cost Optimization Payroll management and vendor oversight; Budget alignment and service delivery design; Secured multimillion-rand workforce development grants; Virtual executive support and multicultural team leadership. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Founder & Global HR/OD Leader RuthNel Agile HR | Sep 2024 – Present (Consulting and Business development) • • • • • • • • • • • • Built strong partnerships with Top Employer auditing teams and business leaders, guiding clients through readiness assessments and TEI-aligned frameworks to accelerate their certification journey. Designed and implemented mini-audit methodologies for smaller organizations to align with global HR standards and compliance expectations. Launched and lead a global HR consultancy serving clients across South Africa, EMEA, the US, and Dubai, delivering innovative, remote-first HR solutions tailored to diverse business needs. Act as a strategic People Partner to client organizations and their employees, supporting the full employee lifecycle — onboarding, performance management, coaching, conflict resolution, and offboarding — with a focus on enhancing employee experience and legal compliance. Delivered strategic HR compliance reviews, risk management, and audit preparedness, enabling clients to meet multi-jurisdictional legal requirements and position themselves as Top Employers for certification and industry recognition. Developed and facilitated 25+ bespoke professional development programs and virtual learning environments, improving employee engagement and leadership capability across client organizations. Spearheaded cost optimization initiatives, generating over R500,000 in annual savings for clients through vendor renegotiations and streamlined HR service delivery. Designed and implemented talent acquisition strategies, leveraging AI-driven recruitment frameworks and behavioral analytics to accelerate quality hiring and reduce time-to-fill by up to 30%. Partnered closely with legal, payroll, and finance teams to ensure integrated HR/payroll compliance, data integrity, and accurate processing across multiple countries. Supported clients in workforce planning and organizational development projects, aligning talent strategies with business goals to drive sustainable growth and operational excellence. Delivered executive coaching and leadership development interventions, enhancing leadership pipeline readiness and boosting productivity across distributed, multicultural teams. Managed complex HR casework and employee relations matters, maintaining confidentiality, mitigating risk, and ensuring fair, compliant resolutions. Human Capital – Talent Development EMEA CNH Industrial AG | May 2021 – Sep 2024 (Agriculture and Construction)            Acted as a Strategic People Partner across the EMEA region, managing the full employee lifecycle—from onboarding to exit—while driving engagement, compliance, and culture across 20+ countries. Cost Optimization & Efficiency Gains: Delivered R800K+ in annual savings by realigning training vendors and service contracts; reduced HR admin time by 25% via digital automation. Engagement & Performance: Increased employee engagement by 15% and aligned KPIs through coaching, wellness campaigns, and scorecard transformation. HR Compliance & Transformation: Led Employment Equity and BBBEE initiatives in South Africa; chaired committees, submitted DG reviews, and ensured legal alignment. Modernized UAE contracts in line with evolving labour laws and DAFZA audits. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Vice President of the EMEA Disability ERG, leading inclusive hiring strategies and regional awareness initiatives. Digital L&D Innovation: Rolled out CNH iLearn, virtual reality (VR) safety training, and LMS integrations, including the creation of SA’s first digital training hub for tech-restricted hourly employees. Leadership Development: Facilitated global Franklin Covey leadership programs (Leading Self & Leader+), customizing content for cultural fit. Selected among top 50 EMEA employees for internal leadership track. Project Management & UX Design: Co-led the HR Digital HUB EMEA, co-developing a multilingual training portal with optimized user experience. Recruitment & Talent Analytics: Supported strategic workforce planning using Predictive Index assessments for high-impact hiring and succession strategies. CX & Culture Advocacy: Appointed CX Ambassador and SA Cultural Champion, delivering regional DEI and recognition campaigns. Skills Development & SETA Strategy: Managed apprenticeships, SETA funding, and female-focused scholarships aligned to transformation goals. Key Achievements:     Appointed Vice President of the EMEA Disability ERG. Created SA’s first digital training room for non-digital frontline employees. Frequently acted as Interim Regional Human Capital Manager, ensuring business continuity and team leadership. Delivered measurable KPI improvements via coaching and performance enablement. Previous Strategic HR Roles      Zamori Engineering – HR Business Manager (Feb 2019 – Apr 2021) → Led HR strategy for engineering teams, drove talent pipeline creation, and implemented cost-saving labour solutions. WHM Group – Divisional HR Manager (Oct 2018 – Jan 2019) → Oversaw HR compliance and organisational restructuring across multiple business units. Selepe Projects (Mitsubishi Hitachi) – HR/IR Manager (Mar 2017 – Aug 2018) (Senior HR Manager equivalent) → Managed union engagements and IR processes during the power plant construction phase, aligning site HR operations with project timelines. IES JV – Kusile Project – HR/IR Manager (Jun 2014 – Feb 2017) (Senior HR Manager equivalent) → Spearheaded workforce mobilisation and dispute resolution strategies on one of SA’s largest infrastructure projects. Aggatu Trading (FMCG) – HR/IR Manager (2008 – May 2014) (Senior HR Manager equivalent) → Developed end-to-end HR frameworks and employee relations EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS Key Certifications & Diplomas  SHRM-CP® Certified Professional – Institute of Human Resource & Leadership Development  Talent Optimizer on Predictive Index – Confidant Group  PMP® & Agile-Aligned Professional Training – PMI-ACP®, Agile Foundations, Project Management Series  Neuro-Life Coach Certification – ICR Accredited  Train-the-Trainer Facilitator (ETDP SETA) – NQF Level 5  Diplomas (Alison International & CTAA): o Human Resources o Legal Studies o Professional Counselling, Depression Counselling & Child Psychology  Corporate Recruiting Professional Certificate – American Staffing Association  Certificate in HR & Behavioural Management, Sexual Harassment Law (CCMA), and Employment Equity AI, HR Tech & Digital Transformation      AI for Business Generative AI in L&D, AI for Managers, Responsible AI for HR – Microsoft & LinkedIn OpenAI ChatGPT: Custom GPTs, OpenAI API Assistant Building, Microsoft Copilot Digital HR, AIOps, UX for AI, Data-Driven L&D, and AI-Powered People Management Driving Digital Transformation with Predictive & Generative AI Leadership & Coaching Programs    Global Leadership Certificate – Common Purpose UK (2024) Life Coach Mastery, NLP Practitioner & Master Practitioner Business Coaching & Mentoring (Basic & Advanced) Recruitment & People Analytics  People Analytics & Data-Driven Workforce Planning  AI-Powered Recruitment, Diversity & Unconscious Bias in Hiring  Social Media Talent Sourcing, Strategic Job Design, Employer Branding Compliance & Employment Law  Diploma in Legal Studies, Certificate in Employer-Employee Law  Employment Equity Committee Training  Environmental Management Systems (Northwest University)  Labour Relations Act, Wage Law & CCMA Protocols Workshop Highlights  Labour Relations Amendments • MerSETA Submissions  Emotional Intelligence (Levels 1–2) • Business Acumen  Project Management (Level 1) • Finance for Non-Financial Managers  Skills Development & Accreditation (CETA, SETAs) Total Certifications & Diplomas Completed: 100+ courses and credentials across HR, AI, coaching, compliance, UX, DEI, and leadership. TECHNICAL SKILLS HR & Payroll: SAP HR, Workday, SuccessFactors, Pastel Evolution, Xero, QuickBooks, Zoho People, Sage Payroll Global Payroll Tools: Workday Payroll, ADP GlobalView (familiar) Accounting & Vendor Platforms: QuickBooks, Xero, Pastel, Invoice & Vendor Management ATS: Workday, SmartRecruiters, Placement Partner, Indeed, PNet AI & Analytics: Predictive Index®, Microsoft Copilot, Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, VBA Macros, Glint Collaboration: Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, Teams, Zoom, Canva, Toggl Track Learning Platforms: LMS (iLearn, LinkedIn Learning), VR Training Environments HR Service Tools: Zendesk, ServiceNow (familiar) Compliance & Reporting: ESG/CSRD frameworks, Private Equity readiness LANGUAGES English (Fluent) | Afrikaans (Fluent) | Dutch (Basic) | French (Basic) | Italian (Basic) REFERENCES Available on request from C-Level and executive management