The winners will be announced at the HRD National HR Summit New Zealand on Wednesday, 19 November 2025
At a time when technological, legal and social changes are transforming the role of HR, there has never been a more important time to acknowledge the industry leaders, rising stars and teams who are helping to shape successful organisations and businesses.
The HRD Awards New Zealand 2025 recognise the individuals and teams who have made significant contributions to the HR profession in the past year
The winners will be announced at the HRD National HR Summit New Zealand on 19 November 2025 at The Cloud, Auckland.
The excellence awardees for the HRD Awards New Zealand 2025 are:
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
NZ HR DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Ceri Rowland, Douglas Pharmaceuticals
Elene Panton, Parliamentary Service
Felicity Brown, Flintfox
Gareth Cameron, Cordis, Auckland
Karly Boast, LawVu
Payal Kulkarni, JW Marriott Auckland
Tracey Goldstine, Securecom
NZ HR MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Ava Kulkarni, VAPO
Dee Johnston, Engineering New Zealand
Helen Smith, 2degrees
Jo Willdig, Whanau Awhina Plunket
Jocelyn Marsh, Jani-King (NZ)
Lynne Gibbons, Ember Korowai Takitini
Peter Keegan, Waitaki District Council
Shivani Nath, Lightforce Solar
NZ HR RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
Ellie Webb, Red Badge Group
Grace Kowalenko, 2degrees
Lorraine Bryant, Spectrum Consulting
Lucy Northcoat, Orion New Zealand
Rebecca Ralph, IHG Hotels and Resorts
Stuart Titterrell, Mitre 10 New Zealand
COMPANY AND TEAM AWARDS
EMPLOYER OF CHOICE < 200 STAFF
Jani-King (NZ)
JW Marriott Auckland
New Zealand Rugby
Oyster Property
Securecom
Sharesies
Transport World
EMPLOYER OF CHOICE > 200 STAFF
2degrees
Air New Zealand
Barker Fruit Processors
Cordis, Auckland
2degrees
Air New Zealand
Connetics
Cordis, Auckland
Douglas Pharmaceuticals
Fonterra Co-operative Group
Four Points by Sheraton Auckland (Marriott International)
Mitre 10 New Zealand
