2025 WINNERS & EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Award Categories
- Australian HR Champion (CEO) of the Year
- Australian HR Director of the Year
- Australian HR Manager of the Year
- Australian HR Rising Star of the Year
- PageUp Australian HR Team of the Year (>1000 Employees)
- Australian HR Team of the Year (≤1000 Employees)
- Best Graduate Development Program
- Humpty Dumpty Foundation Best Health & Wellbeing Program
- Best Leadership Development Program
- linkABLE Best Learning & Development Program
- Referoo Best Recruitment Campaign
- Deel Best Remote Work Strategy
- Best Reward & Recognition Program
- Referoo Best Use of Technology
- Best Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Program
- Best Workplace Flexibility Program
- Employer Of Choice (>1000 Employees)
- Employer Of Choice (100-999 Employees)
- Employer Of Choice (1-99 Employees)
- Dayforce Employer Of Choice (Public Sector & NFP)
AUSTRALIAN HR CHAMPION (CEO) OF THE YEAR

Winner: Susan McKee, Oral Health Victoria
In the photo accepting the award on behalf of Susan: Zemeel Saba, Chief People and Culture Officer at Oral Health Victoria
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Andrew Alcock, HUB24
- Colette Giha Carella, iCare Support Services
- Dr Aniss Chami, Vitex Pharmaceuticals
- Drew Morland, IOR
- John Burns, Abano Healthcare
- Peter Maloney, Lextech
- Tony Clark, NTI
AUSTRALIAN HR DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Winner: Ben Mansour, Anglo American
In the photo from left to right: Ben Mansour, Anglo American and Brie Valentine, FTI Consulting
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Charmaine Loratet, Altis Consulting
- Francesca Calandra, Nexon Asia Pacific
- Sarah Novelli, BGIS
- Sharon Dunn, ASI Solutions
- Snezana Bakalovski, CyberCX
- Zemeel Saba, Oral Health Victoria
AUSTRALIAN HR MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Winner: Hannah Timcke, LMG (Loan Market Group)
In the photo from left to right: Accepting the award on behalf of Hannah Timcke, Carly Lloyd, Loan Market Group and Brent Duffy, Maximus International
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Correne Vorster, FTI Consulting Australia
- Elizabeth Pasoski, Benedict Group
- Gemma Russo, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation
- Laura Gay, Suncare Community Services
- Maria McGrath, Austroads
- Nadia Achie, Vitex Pharmaceuticals
- Renae Carter, Airservices Australia
AUSTRALIAN HR RISING STAR OF THE YEAR

Winner: Riki Tanaka, Hilton
In the photo: Australian HR Rising Star winner Riki Tanaka from Hilton
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Damien Atkins, The Tassal Group
- Jasmine Hartwig, Kestrel Coal Resources
- Lynette Cardinal, Vertical Scope Group
- Sarah Carvalho, Konica Minolta
- Sarah Thompson, BGIS
- Tasha McCallum, Capgemini
PageUp AUSTRALIAN HR TEAM OF THE YEAR (>1000 EMPLOYEES)

Winner: Abano Healthcare
In the photo from left to right: Derek Del Simone from Abano Healthcare and Fiona Moreton from PageUp
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Amart
- BGIS
- Capgemini
- City of Parramatta
- CyberCX
- The Disability Trust
Sponsored by

AUSTRALIAN HR TEAM OF THE YEAR (≤1000 EMPLOYEES)

Winner: Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation
In the photo from left to right: Mariam Hares from Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation and Nick Shelton from Amart
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Adecco
- ASICS Oceania
- Edwards Lifesciences
- Freedom Furniture
- Heinemann Oceania
- Infrastructure Australia
- LMG (Loan Market Group)
- Oral Health Victoria
- Richard Crookes Constructions
BEST GRADUATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Winner: Powerlink Queensland
In the photo from left to right: Emma Rogers from Powerlink Queensland and Charmaine Loratet from Altis Consulting
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Capgemini
- FDM Group Australia
- HUB24
- MYOB
- Oral Health Victoria
- Westpac Group
Humpty Dumpty Foundation BEST HEALTH & WELLBEING PROGRAM

Winner: TAFE NSW
In the photo from left to right: Amanda Logue from TAFE NSW, Paul Francis OAM from the Humpty Dumpty Foundation and Mark Hesse from TAFE NSW
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Adobe
- Commonwealth Bank
- Edwards Lifesciences
- Johnson & Johnson
- Metso Australia
- Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
- Publicis Groupe
Sponsored by

BEST LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Winner: Aurecon
In the photo from left to right: Snezana Baka from CyberCX and Beck Mattinson from Aurecon
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Brisbane Catholic Education
- Bunnings Group
- Commonwealth Bank of Australia
- Kinetic
- KPMG Australia
- Linfox
- NSW Premier’s Department
- QBE Insurance Group
- TPG Telecom
linkABLE BEST LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Winner: NBN Co
In the photo from left to right: Sarah Stone from linkABLE and Miranda Jensen from NBN
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Airbus
- Australian Association of Social Workers
- Capgemini
- FDM Group Australia
- KPMG Australia
- Mirvac
- Queensland Performing Arts Centre
- The Salvation Army- Salvos Stores
Sponsored by

Referoo BEST RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN

Winner: Coles Group
In the photo from left to right: Sarah Papadimitriou from Coles Group and Neil Rose from Referoo
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Abano Healthcare
- ASICS Oceania
- Boston Consulting Group
- Coxons Group Australia
- DLA Piper Australia
- Liverpool City Council
- Trideca
Sponsored by

Deel BEST REMOTE WORK STRATEGY

Winner: Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation
In the photo from left to right: Caroline Resende from Deel and Mariam Hares from Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Fluent Commerce
- Inclusee
- NTI
Sponsored by

BEST REWARD & RECOGNITION PROGRAM

Winner: Edwards Lifesciences
In the photo: Samantha Akin from Edwards Lifesciences
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Amart
- ghd Hair
- Krispy Kreme Australia
- Rio Tinto
- Story House Early Learning
- Suncorp
- Village Roadshow Theme Parks
Referoo BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY

Winner: Orora
In the photo from left to right: Joshua Adams and Stefani Kurta from Orora, and Neil Rose from Referoo
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Abano Healthcare
- Colonial First State
- El Jannah
- Metso Australia
- Norton Rose Fulbright
Sponsored by

BEST WORKPLACE DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION PROGRAM

Winner: Australia Post
In the photo from left to right: Alice Klontzaris from CBA and Eddie Trejo, Leia Trimh, Faiza Shakori from Australia Post
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Deloitte Australia
- Dentons Australia
- Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service
- Jumbo Interactive
- Merck Australia
- WithYouWithMe
- Vertical Scope Group
BEST WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY PROGRAM

Winner: John Holland
In the photo from left to right: Tina McCreery from Deloitte and Brandon Perrin
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Daiichi Sankyo Australia
- Nexon Asia Pacific
- Our Watch
- Oz Hair and Beauty
- Systra ANZ
- Telix Pharmaceuticals
EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (>1000 EMPLOYEES)

Winner: Westpac Banking Group
In the photo from left to right: Mary Hogg from Hilton and Kristie Leopardi from Westpac Banking Group
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Allianz Australia
- Amart
- BGIS
- City of Gold Coast
- Colonial First State
- CyberCX
- Metso Australia
- Village Roadshow
EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (100-999 EMPLOYEES)

Winner: Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation
In the photo: Mariam Hares from Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Adica Insurance
- Adobe
- Edwards Lifesciences
- Freedom Furniture
- HUB24
- HNECC Primary Health Network
- Munich Re
- NTI
EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (1-99 EMPLOYEES)

Winner: Daiichi Sankyo Australia
In the photo from left to right: Tara Haubert from Asics Oceania and Natalie Down from Daiichi Sankyo Australia
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Australian Physiotherapy Association
- Australian Scaffolds Access
- Corporate Technology Services (CTS)
- Fastmail
- Information Quality
- Infrastructure Australia
- Trideca
Dayforce EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (PUBLIC SECTOR & NFP)

Winner: Inclusee
In the photo from left to right: Simon Brocklehurst from Dayforce and Rachael Cook from Inclusee
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Infrastructure Australia
- Latrobe Health Services
- Our Watch
- The Disability Trust
- Wesley Mission Queensland
- Windermere Child & Family Services
Sponsored by

