Nominations open for The Australian HR Awards 2026

Australia’s premier celebration of HR excellence is back, with nominations now open for the Australian HR Awards 2026 ahead of a black-tie gala in Sydney on Friday, 4 September 2026.

To be held at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, 1 Martin Place, the event will bring together leading HR professionals, executive teams and people-focused organisations from across the country for a night of recognition, networking and celebration. Guests will enjoy networking drinks from 7:00pm, followed by a three‑course dinner and awards ceremony from 7:30pm to 10:30pm, and drinks and dancing through to midnight. The dress code is black tie.

Stage one of the awards – nominations – is officially underway. A nationwide call for entries runs from 7 April to Friday, 8 May 2026 (11:59pm), via HRD Australia’s online channels.

Any individual, team, company or organisation operating in the HR profession in Australia is eligible to submit a nomination, either on their own behalf or to recognise a colleague, leader or organisation. Entries must be lodged through the official Australian HR Awards online portal on or before 8 May 2026; late submissions may be refused.

Submissions should highlight achievements and measurable results from the previous 12 months. Entrants will respond to category‑specific criteria within the portal and can upload supporting documentation. Any information marked confidential will be treated as such and will not be released without permission.

Once submissions close, the Australian HR Awards team will review all entries and draw on HRD Australia’s extensive industry knowledge and connections to identify the standout entries in each category. These will be named Excellence Awardees and will move through to the next stage of the program.

Five-stage methodology to identify Australia’s best in HR

The 2026 program will once again follow a rigorous five‑stage process to ensure a fair and credible outcome:

1. Stage One – Nominations: Open, national nominations from 7 April to 8 May 2026 through the online portal, open to all eligible HR professionals, teams and organisations.

2. Stage Two – Research and selection of Excellence Awardees: The Australian HR Awards team will assess submissions and draw on market knowledge to identify the top performers in each category as Excellence Awardees.

3. Stage Three – Confirmation of Excellence Awardees: Excellence Awardees will be notified by email and announced on HRD Australia’s website, recognising them as finalists in their respective categories.

4. Stage Four – Judging: A panel of independent judges – senior HR leaders and respected industry figures – will receive detailed information on each Excellence Awardee. Judges will assess against the published criteria and allocate scores; any judge with a conflict of interest in a category will recuse themselves to ensure impartiality. The highest‑scoring Excellence Awardee in each category will be named the winner.

5. Stage Five – Awards Ceremony: The winners will be formally announced at the official gala event on Friday, 4 September 2026 at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, with results also published on HRD Australia’s website.

Showcasing the full spectrum of HR achievement

The 2026 awards program spans both individual and organisational achievement, reflecting the breadth and complexity of modern HR.

Individual awards include:

• Australian HR Director of the Year

• Western Sydney University Australian HR Manager of the Year

• Australian HR Rising Star of the Year

• Australian HR Champion (CEO) of the Year

Company and team awards include:

• Australian HR Team of the Year (≤1000 Employees)

• Australian HR Team of the Year (>1000 Employees)

• Employer of Choice (1–99 Employees)

• Employer of Choice (100–999 Employees)

• SG Fleet Employer of Choice (>1000 Employees)

• Employer of Choice (Public Sector & NFP)

• Best Graduate Development Program

• Best Health & Wellbeing Program

• Best Leadership Development Program

• Best Learning & Development Program

• Greenhouse Best Recruitment Campaign

• Vialto Best Remote Work Strategy

• Best Reward & Recognition Program

• Best Use of Technology

• Best Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Program

• Best Workplace Flexibility Program

These categories recognise everything from strategic people leadership and talent development to culture, wellbeing, technology enablement, diversity, equity and inclusion, and flexible work.

Building on the legacy of 2025’s standout winners

The 2026 awards will build on a strong foundation of excellence showcased in 2025, when organisations and leaders from across sectors were recognised for innovation and impact in people strategy.

In 2025, leaders such as Susan McKee of Oral Health Victoria (Australian HR Champion – CEO of the Year), Ben Mansour of Anglo American (Australian HR Director of the Year), Hannah Timcke of LMG (Australian HR Manager of the Year) and Riki Tanaka of Hilton (Australian HR Rising Star of the Year) underscored the calibre of leadership shaping the profession.

On the organisational side, Abano Healthcare took out HR Team of the Year (>1000 Employees), Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation secured multiple honours including HR Team of the Year (≤1000 Employees) and Employer of Choice (100–999 Employees), while Westpac Banking Group was recognised as Employer of Choice (>1000 Employees). Programs at TAFE NSW, NBN Co, Aurecon, Powerlink Queensland, Edwards Lifesciences, Australia Post, John Holland and others highlighted how strategic HR can drive performance, engagement and social impact.

The 2026 awards are expected to attract an equally strong field, as HR teams continue to respond to evolving expectations around hybrid work, wellbeing, skills, AI‑driven transformation and inclusive culture.

A night of recognition, entertainment and networking

Beyond the trophies, the Australian HR Awards gala is a key networking moment on the HR calendar. Attendees will have the chance to connect with peers, celebrate their teams and benchmark their work against the best in the industry.

The 2026 event will feature comedian Dave Hughes, bringing his trademark energy to the stage, alongside MC Teegan Bishop as featured entertainer, ensuring a lively and memorable evening in the heart of Sydney’s CBD.

Discounted accommodation is available for attendees at The Fullerton Hotel via the dedicated KEY‑HR rate (accommodation code: KEY2026). Parking and directions are available via the event’s online information, and guests are encouraged to share their experiences and support finalists on social media using the hashtag #HRAwardsAU.

How to get involved

HR leaders, teams and organisations interested in taking part in the 2026 Australian HR Awards should:

• Review the award categories and identify those that best match their achievements over the past 12 months

• Prepare evidence‑based submissions aligned to the category criteria, highlighting outcomes, innovation and impact

• Submit nominations via the official Australian HR Awards online portal before Friday, 8 May 2026 (11:59pm)

For further information on nominations, categories, methodology or event logistics – including sponsorship opportunities – enquiries can be directed to the awards team at [email protected].

With nominations now open and the countdown to 4 September underway, the Australian HR Awards 2026 promise to once again spotlight the people, programs and organisations setting the benchmark for HR excellence across Australia.