Get to know this year’s standouts in Australia and New Zealand
This year’s best HR executives by HRD integrate hard and human skills to lead their people through constant change.
Across sectors and geographies, they show a consistent pattern of attributes of being deeply people centred, commercially astute, culturally aware, and personally disciplined in how they lead through complexity and change.
The awardees of Hot List 2026 are confident with workforce analytics and AI-enabled tools, using skills intelligence to anticipate shortages, model future workforce needs and make evidence-based decisions.
Among the standouts across Australia and New Zealand are:
- Jess Lantieri of Judo Bank
- Gil Sewell of Ember Korowai Takitini
- Belinda Perisic of Coulter Legal
- Sharon Elding of Myriota
- Athena Chintis of Cliftons Event Solutions
- Cecil Fernandes of Golden Cockerel
Read the report and learn how the industry leaders are moving far beyond policy and process to become architects of culture and resilience, showing that impact, not activity, is the currency of HR excellence.
