Australian HR Awards 2026 excellence awardees named

Ahead of the Australian HR Awards 2026, taking place on 4 September, HRD Australia is delighted to announce this year’s excellence awardees.

The honours - brought to you by Key Media - celebrate the achievements of the last twelve months and highlights the incredible, inspiring and hard work of the HR profession.

They are a testament to the importance of HR in driving organisational success and building a competitive advantage in today’s dynamic business environment – with hopes this year of the biggest events yet.

The excellence awardees for the 2026 Australian HR Awards are:

FutureYou Australian HR Champion (CEO) of the Year   

Drew Morland, IOR 

Emily Scott, Waverley Council  

Dr. Geoff Allan, Austroads 

Hope McGarry, Ingram Micro 

Martin Merrick, Volvo Group Australia  

Roberto Scenna, Defence Bank  

Stephanie McGregor, Marinus Link 

Susan Sadler, Red Wagon Workplace Solutions 

Sponsored by FutureYou

Australian HR Director of the Year   

Brad McLean, BlueScope  

Dilek Senturk, Aspire Early Education & Kindergarten  

Dora Peake, Versent Group  

Gemma Martin, University of NSW  

Kate Ludwig, Story House Early Learning  

Rachael Britton, McCabes Lawyers 

Sarah Novelli, BGIS 

Sarah Peebles, ISS  

Tanith Jones, Gallagher Bassett 

Zemeel Saba, Oral Health Victoria 

Western Sydney University Australian HR Manager of the Year   

Claire Bateman, Uniting Church QLD Synod 

Correne Vorster, FTI Consulting  

Elizabeth Pasoski, Benedict Recycling 

Emily Innes, Gallagher Bassett Services 

Michelle Poffandi, Versent Group 

Sponsored by Western Sydney University

LHH Australian HR Rising Star of the Year   

Andrea Dojcinovska, Vitex Pharmaceuticals  

Bronte Cavallero, Publicis Groupe  

Ele Gnauck, Adica Insurance (Aioi Nissay Dowa)  

James Schlunke, Capgemini  

Jemma Gabriel, Village Roadshow Theme Parks  

Joshua Abramson, ForHealth Group 

Krishna Sen, Leora Healthcare  

Rhea Roy John, Orora 

Tia Utz, Icon Group 

Sponsored by LHH

Right Management Consultants Australian HR Team of the Year (>1000 Employees)   

Anglo American 

BGIS 

Capgemini 

Dept of Education QLD — Teacher Recruitment Team 

Gallagher Bassett Services 

HWLE Lawyers 

ICON Group 

MYOB- Talent Acquisition Team 

Stryker 

The Y NSW 

Sponsored by Right Management

Australian HR Team of the Year (≤1000 Employees)   

Cliftons Event Solutions 

Delta Power & Energy 

Edwards Lifesciences 

FTI Consulting 

hipages Group 

Loan Market Group (LMG) 

Nexon Asia Pacific 

Oral Health Victoria  

Best Graduate Development Program   

Australian National University 

Capgemini 

Lendlease 

Mineral Resources 

MTR Australia 

MUFG Bank 

Oral Health Victoria 

Best Health & Wellbeing Program   

Commonwealth Bank 

Downer Energy & Utilities 

Edwards Lifesciences 

Marinus Link 

Metso Australia 

TAFE NSW 

THE ICONIC 

Ventura 

Victoria University (thrive* team) 

Village Roadshow Theme Parks 

Best Leadership Development Program   

Cochlear 

Coles 

Flybuys 

Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service Staff 

James Hardie 

KPMG Australia 

QBE Australia 

Richard Crookes Constructions 

TSA Riley 

Westpac   

Best Learning & Development Program   

Airbus Australia Pacific 

Allianz Australia 

Anglicare Sydney 

Aurecon 

Coleman Greig Lawyers 

Hilton Hotels of Australia 

James Hardie 

Levande 

UniSuper 

Greenhouse Best Recruitment Campaign   

Accor 

Angle Finance 

Deloitte Australia 

Inlogik 

InstantScripts (Wesfarmers Health) 

Penrith City Council 

TBH (Tracey Brunstrom & Hammond)  

Sponsored by Greenhouse

Vialto Best Remote Work Strategy   

Metso Australia 

NTI 

Populous 

Pupal   

Sponsored by Vialto

Best Reward & Recognition Program   

Adica Insurance (Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Company Australia)  

Australia New Zealand Recycling Platform 

Brisbane Catholic Education 

Edwards Lifesciences  

Eli Lilly ANZ 

Insurance Australia Group (IAG) Retail Insurance division 

Latitude Financial Services 

Orica 

The Lottery Corporation   

Best Use of Technology   

BOQ Group   

Cancer Council NSW 

CBA Human Resources - Grow Your Career Project Team 

EY Oceania 

Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service 

Metso Australia 

Nestlé Oceania  

Nexon Asia Pacific  

Best Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Program   

Accor 

Amazon Operations Australia  

ASIC  

Deloitte Australia  

Essential Energy 

IKEA Australia 

Munich Re 

Our Watch 

Publicis Groupe 

Queensland Rail 

Best Workplace Flexibility Program   

Allianz Australia 

Beaumont People 

Defence Bank  

Our Watch  

Scyne 

Telix Pharmaceuticals  

SG Fleet Employer of Choice (>1000 Employees)   

Allianz Australia   

Aussie Broadband 

EML Group 

Metso Australia 

NBN Co 

Newcastle Greater Mutual Group  

Story House Early Learning  

Westpac Group 

Sponsored by SG Fleet

Timecloud Employer of Choice (100-999 Employees)   

Cancer Care Associates   

Crawford & Company 

Defence Bank   

Edwards Lifesciences  

Eli Lilly Australia  

Jumbo Interactive 

Munich Re 

NTI 

Richard Crookes Constructions 

Versent Group 

 Sponsored by Tmecloud

Employer of Choice (1-99 Employees)   

Australian Physiotherapy Association   

Brisbane Economic Development Agency 

Resolve 

Rich Data Corporation (RDC.AI) 

SignManager 

Telix Pharmaceuticals 

Unified Lawyers  

Employer of Choice (Public Sector & NFP)   

Brisbane North Primary Health Network (BNPHN)  

Cancer Council NSW 

City of Stirling 

NBN Co  

Our Watch 

Stroke Foundation 

Stuartholme School 

The Disability Trust