2026 WINNERS & EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Award Categories
- FutureYou Australian HR Champion (CEO) of the Year
- Australian HR Director of the Year
- Western Sydney University The College Australian HR Manager of the Year
- LHH Australian HR Rising Star of the Year
- Right Management Australian HR Team of the Year (>1000 Employees)
- Australian HR Team of the Year (≤1000 Employees)
- Best Graduate Development Program
- Best Health & Wellbeing Program
- bts Best Leadership Development Program
- Best Learning & Development Program
- Greenhouse Best Recruitment Campaign
- Vialto Best Remote Work Strategy
- Best Reward & Recognition Program
- Valsoft Best Use of Technology
- Best Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Program
- Best Workplace Flexibility Program
- SG Fleet Employer Of Choice (>1000 Employees)
- Timecloud Employer Of Choice (100-999 Employees)
- Employer Of Choice (1-99 Employees)
- Employer Of Choice (Public Sector & NFP)
FutureYou AUSTRALIAN HR CHAMPION (CEO) OF THE YEAR
Winner: Roberto Scenna, Defence Bank

In the photo from L to R: Emily Wilson from FutureYou and Roberto Scenna from Defence Bank
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Drew Morland, IOR
- Emily Scott, Waverley Council
- Dr. Geoff Allan, Austroads
- Hope McGarry, Ingram Micro
- Martin Merrick, Volvo Group Australia
- Stephanie McGregor, Marinus Link
- Susan Sadler, Red Wagon Workplace Solutions
Sponsored by

AUSTRALIAN HR DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Winner: Brad McLean, BlueScope
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- 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 The College AUSTRALIAN HR MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Michelle Poffandi, Versent Group

In the photo from L to R: Glenn Campbelll from Western Sydney University The College and Michelle Poffandi from Versent Group
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Claire Bateman, Uniting Church QLD Synod
- Correne Vorster, FTI Consulting
- Elizabeth Pasoski, Benedict Recycling
- Emily Innes, Gallagher Bassett Services
Sponsored by

LHH AUSTRALIAN HR RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
Winner: Tia Utz, Icon Group

In the photo from L to R: Tia Utz from Icon Group and James Mcilvena from LHH
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Andrea Dojcinovska, Vitex Pharmaceuticals
- Bronte Cavallero, Publicis Groupe
- Ele Gnauck, Adica Insurance (Aioi Nissay Dowa)
- James Schlunke, Capgemini
- Joshua Abramson, ForHealth Group
- Krishna Sen, Leora Healthcare
- Rhea Roy John, Orora
Sponsored by

Right Management AUSTRALIAN HR TEAM OF THE YEAR (>1000 EMPLOYEES)
Winner: Anglo American

In the photo from L to R: Ben Mansour from Anglo American and Sally-Anne Blanshard from Right Management
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- 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
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AUSTRALIAN HR TEAM OF THE YEAR (≤1000 EMPLOYEES)
Winner: Oral Health Victoria

In the photo: Bridie Williams from Oral Health Victoria
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Cliftons Event Solutions
- Delta Power & Energy
- Edwards Lifesciences
- FTI Consulting
- hipages Group
- Loan Market Group (LMG)
- Nexon Asia Pacific
BEST GRADUATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Winner: Lendlease

In the photo from L to R: Jodette Cleary from Hipages and Claire Merriman from Lendlease
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Australian National University
- Capgemini
- Mineral Resources
- MTR Australia
- MUFG Bank
- Oral Health Victoria
BEST HEALTH & WELLBEING PROGRAM
Winner: Marinus Link

In the photo: Stephanie McGregor from Marinus Link
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Commonwealth Bank
- Downer Energy & Utilities
- Edwards Lifesciences
- Metso Australia
- TAFE NSW
- THE ICONIC
- Ventura
- Victoria University (thrive* team)
- Village Roadshow Theme Parks
BTS BEST LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Winner: Cochlear

In the photo from L to R: Carolyn Taylor from Cochlear and Stephanie Peskett from bts
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Coles
- Flybuys
- Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service Staff
- James Hardie
- KPMG Australia
- QBE Australia
- Richard Crookes Constructions
- TSA Riley
- Westpac
Sponsored by

BEST LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Winner: Anglicare Sydney

In the photo from L to R: Sheila Matete-Owiti from Anglicare Sydney and Phillip Van Mourik from Wageloch
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Airbus Australia Pacific
- Allianz Australia
- Aurecon
- Coleman Greig Lawyers
- Hilton Hotels of Australia
- James Hardie
- Levande
- UniSuper
Greenhouse BEST RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN
Winner: Deloitte Australia

In the photo from L to R: Tom Hyde from Greenhouse and Belinda Willis from Deloitte
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Accor
- Angle Finance
- Inlogik
- InstantScripts (Wesfarmers Health)
- Penrith City Council
- TBH (Tracey Brunstrom & Hammond)
Sponsored by
Vialto BEST REMOTE WORK STRATEGY
Winner: Pupal

In the photo from L to R: Gemma Mulready from Pupal and Hugh Cook from Vialto
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Metso Australia
- NTI
- Populous
Sponsored by
BEST REWARD & RECOGNITION PROGRAM
Winner: Edwards Lifesciences

In the photo from L to R: Fleur Kearns and Saisha Verma from Edwards Lifesciences
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Adica Insurance (Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Company Australia)
- Australia New Zealand Recycling Platform
- Brisbane Catholic Education
- Eli Lilly ANZ
- Insurance Australia Group (IAG) Retail Insurance division
- Latitude Financial Services
- Orica
- The Lottery Corporation
Valsoft BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY
Winner: Commonwealth Bank

In the photo from L to R: Gnaneeka Kodagoda from Vocantas and Tim Casey from Commonwealth Bank
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- BOQ Group
- Cancer Council NSW
- EY Oceania
- Commonwealth Bank
- Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service
- Metso Australia
- Nestlé Oceania
- Nexon Asia Pacific
Sponsored by

BEST WORKPLACE DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION PROGRAM
Winner: IKEA Australia

In the photo from L to R: Todd Reynolds from Energy Queensland and Harriet Pope from IKEA Australia
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Accor
- Amazon Operations Australia
- ASIC
- Deloitte Australia
- Essential Energy
- Munich Re
- Our Watch
- Publicis Groupe
- Queensland Rail
BEST WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY PROGRAM
Winner: Defence Bank

In the photo from L to R: Kate Hickman from Infoxchange and Kristen Bugeja from Defence Bank
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Allianz Australia
- Beaumont People
- Our Watch
- Scyne
- Telix Pharmaceuticals
SG Fleet EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (>1000 EMPLOYEES)
Winner: NBN Co

In the photo from L to R: Lei Iglesia from NBN Co and Lindsay Underwood from SG Fleet
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Allianz Australia
- Aussie Broadband
- EML Group
- Metso Australia
- Newcastle Greater Mutual Group
- Story House Early Learning
- Westpac
Sponsored by

Timecloud EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (100-999 EMPLOYEES)
Winner: Eli Lilly Australia

In the photo from L to R: Oliver Butler from Timecloud, Katie Price from Eli Lilly and Luke Butler from Timecloud
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Cancer Care Associates
- Crawford & Company
- Defence Bank
- Edwards Lifesciences
- Jumbo Interactive
- Munich Re
- NTI
- Richard Crookes Constructions
- Versent Group
Sponsored by
EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (1-99 EMPLOYEES)
Winner: Brisbane Economic Development Agency

In the photo from L to R: Jacqui Paurini from Accor and Abigail Chambers from Brisbane Economic Development Agency
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Australian Physiotherapy Association
- Resolve
- RDC.AI
- SignManager
- Telix Pharmaceuticals
- Unified Lawyers
EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (PUBLIC SECTOR & NFP)
Winner: NBN Co

In the photo from L to R: Lei Iglesia from NBN Co and Stacey Dawes from National Breast Cancer Foundation
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Brisbane North Primary Health Network (BNPHN)
- Cancer Council NSW
- City of Stirling
- Our Watch
- Stroke Foundation
- Stuartholme School
- The Disability Trust
