Australian HR Awards 2021: HRD reveals this year’s excellence awardees

HRD has revealed the excellence awardees of this year’s Australian HR Awards. Announced ahead of the gala’s return as a physical event later this year, the awards celebrate the industry-leading efforts of individuals, teams, and organisations across the country.

Spanning 20 categories, this year’s excellence awardees have demonstrated truly innovative people practices in the wake of the pandemic. As businesses began to recover from the 2020 lockdown, HR had the mammoth job of supporting their staff, their leaders, and the needs of the organisation. With no rulebook for dealing with the aftermath of a pandemic, HR has been at the forefront in rethinking the future of work.

Nigel Ward, CEO at Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors, this year’s event partner, said 2021 has already been a defining year for the HR industry.

“I was amazed last year to see so many in the HR community with the capacity to just keep going, despite having all the issues and troubles in their backpack.  Often these HR mangers played the role of leader, mentor, technician and more than ever last year, counsellor, being the sponge for the emotions of an organisation,” he told HRD.

“The 2021 Australian HR Awards provide an opportunity for the community to show solidarity and to put that backpack down for a moment, reflect, take a breath, and celebrate what they have guided the business community through.

“More than ever it’s a great time to celebrate together. We are really hoping we can gather together in person at the end of the year and have a great celebration for a very deserving community.”

The 2021 Australian HR Award winners will be announced at the gala at Sydney’s Doltone House on Friday 3 September (click here to register and save your spot). Below is the full list of this year’s excellence awardees:

AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS LAWYERS & ADVISORS AUSTRALIAN HR DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

• Alex Diab, Business Australia
• Amanda Daly, Redlands City Council
• Amanda Hart, Dyson
• Jenny Mate, St John Ambulance
• Jules Nickson Pole, Deutsche Bank
• Mari Ruiz-Matthyssen, Melbourne Airport
• Natalie Nicholson, hummgroup
• Sarah Derry, Accor

AUSTRALIAN HR MANAGER OF THE YEAR

• Brooke Adams, Slalom Australia
• Jocelyn King, Busy Bees Early Learning
• Luke Fleming, ICC Sydney
• Melissa Hume, Autosports Group
• Peter Bowen, Gold Coast Health
• Robert Feltrin, AS Harrison & Co
• Sarah Kokozian, Turbosmart

AUSTRALIAN HR RISING STAR OF THE YEAR

• Adelle Reid, Endeavour
• Brittany Bell, Rozelle Interchange Project
• Chui Ann Lee, Schneider Electric
• Emma Quirk, Australia Post
• Jack Simmons, Accor
• Jacqueline Chow, CareFlight
• Lucinda Thomas, The Kraft Heinz Company
• Shelley Kennedy, Raaf

AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS LAWYERS & ADVISERS AUSTRALIAN HR CHAMPION (CEO) OF THE YEAR

• Benjamin Basil, Eli Lilly Australia & New Zealand
• David Anderson, Big Red Group
• Drew O'Malley, Collins Foods
• Glenn Morgan, Deutsche Bank
• Jason Tonelli, Performics Mercerbell
• Mick Frewen, CareFlight
• Simon McGrath, Accor
• Swati Dave, Export Finance Australia

HAYS AUSTRALIAN HR TEAM OF THE YEAR (<1000 EMPLOYEES)

• Australian Financial Complaints Authority
• Business Australia
• Danone
• Investa
• Novotech
• QinetiQ
• The Kraft Heinz Company
• VERTO

AUSTRALIAN HR TEAM OF THE YEAR (>1000 EMPLOYEES)

• Craveable Brands
• Deloitte Australia
• genU
• H&M AUNZ
• Johnson & Johnson
• PepsiCo ANZ
• REA Group
• Telstra

EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (1-99 EMPLOYEES)

• Bendelta
• Big Red Group
• Edwards Lifesciences
• Halcyon Knights
• Howden Australia
• LiveHire
• Mindbody
• Varian

EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (100-999 EMPLOYEES)

• Adobe
• Australian Catholic Superannuation
• Business Australia
• Danone
• Diageo
• Eli Lilly Australia and New Zealand
• Hewlett Packard Enterprise
• Investa
• Jodette Cleary
• QinetiQ
• The Kraft Heinz Company

EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (>1000 EMPLOYEES)

• Accenture
• Busy Bees Early Learning
• Craveable Brands
• PepsiCo ANZ
• Publicis Groupe
• Schneider Electric
• VetPartners

EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (PUBLIC SECTOR & NFP)

• Achieve Australia
• Cancer Council Queensland
• CareFlight
• Export Finance Australia
• Level Crossing Removal Project
• Penrith City Council
• The Disability Trust
• VERTO

BEST GRADUATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

• Coles Group
• Colin Biggers & Paisley Lawyers
• EY
• Marsden State High School
• Planet Innovation
• QinetiQ
• Schneider Electric
• Steadfast Group
• TransGrid

BEST HEALTH & WELLBEING PROGRAM

• Charter Hall
• Coles Group
• Deutsche Bank
• Randstad Australia
• Starlight Children's Foundation
• SydWest Multicultural Services
• Telstra
• Unilever Australia

BEST LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

• KPMG’s Future Partner Development Program
• Deloitte Australia
• EY
• Johnson & Johnson
• Origin Energy
• Level Crossing
• Energy & Water Ombudsman Victoria
• Zurich Financial Services

BEST LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

• Deloitte Australia
• EY - Transformation Realised Summit
• hipages
• Investa Property Group – Innovation Institute
• Marsden State High School
• Silver Chain - Group Capability Team
• The Disability Trust
• The Kraft Heinz Company

BEST RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN

• Australia Post
• BHP
• deliberatepractice
• Hastings Deering
• Rio Tinto
• Startek Australia
• TSA Group
• Youi

GLOBALIZATION PARTNERS BEST REMOTE WORK STRATEGY

• Big Red Group
• DBM Consultants
• Findex
• Golf Australia
• REA Group
• TikTok Australia
• Varian
• Vix Technology

ACHIEVERS BEST REWARD & RECOGNITION PROGRAM

• BGIS
• Colin Biggers & Paisley Lawyers
• Edwards Lifesciences
• Marsden State High School
• NDIS
• Pepper Money
• Sodexo
• Youi

BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY

• Apiam Animal Health
• Ausgrid
• Australia Post
• Brisbane Motorway Services
• Gold Coast Health
• Rio Tinto
• Tata Consultancy Services
• Transport for NSW
• TSA Group
• VetPartners

BEST WORKPLACE DIVERSITY & INCLUSION PROGRAM

• Accenture
• Allianz Australia Insurance
• Deloitte Australia
• Deutsche Bank
• Diageo
• EY
• Gold Coast Health
• Hastings Deering (Australia)
• RMIT University
• University of Queensland
• Zurich Financial Services

SERVICENOW BEST WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY PROGRAM

• Diageo
• Hollard Insurance
• Johnson & Johnson
• NSW Department of Premier & Cabinet
• PepsiCo ANZ
• Queensland Rugby League
• Telstra
• WentWest