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With traditional workforce models no longer applying and the future of work still being imagined, HR leaders are not just managing change – they are shaping the future of work itself.
A major challenge for HR leaders across all sectors is the rapid pace of technological change. The integration of AI and automation is reshaping roles, requiring HR leaders to rethink workforce planning, talent acquisition and skills development. There is a growing need to identify future skills, invest in training and help employees adapt to new ways of working.
At the same time, HR leaders must address the human side of transformation. Navigating employee concerns about job security, managing change fatigue and fostering a culture of trust and resilience are critical priorities.
The shift to hybrid and remote work has also introduced new complexities around collaboration, engagement and wellbeing, demanding innovative approaches to leadership and communication.
Compliance and risk management remain at the forefront, as evolving regulations around data privacy, psychological safety and employment law require constant learning.
On top of this, the expectation that HR should deliver strategic and business value has never been higher. Leaders are called upon to provide data-driven insights, shape organisational strategy and drive business outcomes – all while navigating an unpredictable external environment.
Celebrating excellence in HR
The Australian HR Awards 2025, held in September, recognised the HR leaders and teams playing a vital role in this transformation of workplaces across the country.
More than 600 people gathered at The Fullerton Hotel in Sydney’s CBD to celebrate the achievements of individuals and teams, with awards presented across 20 categories.
Event sponsors included Deel, Referoo, Dayforce, PageUp, linkABLE and charity partner Humpty Dumpty.
Innovation and adaptability in focus
The evening also showcased how the HR profession is evolving to meet new challenges. For example, as organisations increasingly embrace flexible and remote work, Deel – sponsor of the Best Remote Work Strategy – emphasised the importance of recognising innovation in this space. “Deel, the world’s largest fully remote company, is proud to sponsor this award,” a spokesperson said.
Similarly, the need for agile learning and development solutions was front and centre, with linkABLE highlighting how organisations can “supercharge capability and scale learning capacity, empowering initiatives without the overhead of full-time roles” by embedding seasoned expertise on tap.
Recognising outstanding individuals and teams
Ben Mansour, Vice President People and Corporate Relations Australia at Anglo American, was named HR Leader of the Year and paid tribute to his team.
“It’s an award that I would like to thank my team for,” he said. “Without the work of everyone behind the scenes and my team supporting me, I would not be here today. So it's really an award for them.”
Reflecting the scope of an HR leader’s role, Mansour said every day offered new challenges and opportunities.
“It’s a great part of the business because you need to be across almost every asset or factor of the business, and you need to drive really key relationships within your business to make an impact,” he said.
For Riki Tanaka, from Hilton, who was named HR Rising Star of the Year, the best part of working in HR is the people.
“I’ve always worked in hospitality, just meeting new people and making an impact on people’s lives from the start of recruitment to onboarding … I love that about HR,” she said after winning the award.
The critical role of recruitment in achieving business success was also recognised by Referoo, sponsor of the Best Use of Technology award. “Successful recruitment is the foundation of business growth,” the company said. “Referoo is proud to support and recognise those who shape the future of work.”
Partners supporting the HR community
Simon Brocklehurst, Large Enterprise Account Executive at Dayforce, sponsor of the Employer of Choice (Public Sector & NFP) award, said the Australian HR Awards aligned with Dayforce’s mission to make work life better.
“It's about making work life better for the employees and managers within the organisations that are our customers and taking the manual workload off of those customers so they can do the work they're meant to do,” he said.
Fiona Moreton, Senior Vice President of Partnerships at PageUp, sponsor of the Australian HR Team of the Year (>1,000 Employees) award, said the awards were a “great opportunity” to recognise people who excel at achieving HR at its best.
The team at HRD Australia are extremely proud to have hosted the Australian HR Awards for the 12th year in 2025. HRD continues to be Australia’s leading media resource for the HR profession, delivering essential news, insights and analysis to you each week.
The last 12 months have likely been a little smoother for the industry than the year before. While many organisations have found their rhythm, the HR profession still faces significant challenges, including talent shortages, employee wellbeing, evolving workplace expectations and economic pressures. That’s why the work of HR leaders, teams and professionals is so worthy of recognition. Despite these ongoing obstacles, HR professionals continue to step up and support employees and workplaces across the country.
The Australian HR Awards brought together the country’s outstanding HR professionals for an evening of celebration. Every year, the judging panel is impressed by the quality of Excellence Awardee submissions, consistently noting the depth, professionalism, innovation and leadership demonstrated by HR teams and individuals – and 2025 is no exception. The Australian HR Awards represent the pinnacle of achievement by HR professionals across the industry, from individual practitioners and teams to organisations of all sizes.
We want to thank the panel of judges who gave their time and expertise to the judging process. With hundreds of high-calibre nominations from across Australia, the level of competition was incredibly strong. The winners and Excellence Awardees represent the best of an elite group.
Finally, we would like to thank all our sponsors whose generous support of these awards is greatly appreciated. Our thanks go out to Dayforce, Deel, linkABLE, PageUp and Referoo.
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Nominations
A nationwide call for nominations was conducted from 7 April to
9 May 2025 using HRD Australia’s online channels.
Research and selection of Excellence Awardees
The Australian HR Awards team reviewed the submissions and drew on industry knowledge and information gained through HRD’s connections to the HR profession to identify the most outstanding teams and individuals in each category who would receive Excellence Awards.
Confirmation of Excellence Awardees
Once the research was completed, Excellence Awardees were confirmed in each category and notified by email. Excellence Awardees were also announced on HRD’s website.
Judging
The Australian HR Awards team provided full details of each Excellence Awardee to an independent panel of judges comprising HR industry leaders and senior representatives. The judges are well known and well respected in the industry, and their judgement is impartial, balanced, incisive and fair. Any judge with a conflict of interest in a particular category recused themselves from judging that category.
Awards ceremony
The winners in each category were announced at the Australian HR Awards official gala event and awards ceremony on Friday, 5 September 2025 at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney. Winners were also published on HRD’s website.
