Australian HR Awards 2021 winners revealed

Congratulations to this year's winners

Australian HR Awards 2021 winners revealed

The winners of the 2021 Australian HR Awards have been announced, shining a spotlight on the industry’s top performers after another challenging year.

Sponsored by Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors (ABLA), the Australian HR Awards returned as a virtual event, celebrating HR professionals across more than a dozen team and individual categories, including HR champion, rising star and employer of choice.

Nigel Ward, CEO at ABLA, 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.” 

Read on to see the full list of this year’s winners:

Individual awards

Australian HR Director of the Year – sponsored by Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors

Winner: Sarah Derry, Accor

Australian HR Champion (CEO) of the Year - sponsored by Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors

Winner: Mick Frewen, CareFlight

Australian HR Manager of the Year

Winner: Luke Fleming, ICC

Australian HR Rising Star of the Year

Winner: Emma Quirk, Australia Post

Company and team awards

Australian HR Team of the Year (> 1000) – sponsored by pymetrics

Winner: Deloitte Australia

Australian HR Team of the Year (≤ 1000) – sponsored by HAYS

Winner: Investa

Best Graduate Development Program

Winner: Marsden State High School

Best Health & Wellbeing Program – sponsored by YOUtax

Winner: Charter Hall

Best Leadership Development Program

Winner: Johnson & Johnson

Best Learning & Development Program

Winner: Investa Property Group – Innovation Institute

Best Recruitment Campaign

Winner: Youi

Best Remote Work Strategy – sponsored by Globalization Partners

Winner: Vix Technology

Best Reward & Recognition Program – sponsored by Achievers

Winner: Youi

Best Use of Technology

Winner: Ausgrid

Best Workplace Diversity & Inclusion Program – sponsored by Ceridian

Winner: Allianz Australia Insurance

Best Workplace Flexibility Program – sponsored by ServiceNow

Winner: Telstra

Employer of Choice (>1000 employees)

Winner: PepsiCo Australia & New Zealand

Employer of Choice (1 - 99 Employees)

Winner: Bendelta

Employer of Choice (100 - 999 Employees)

Winner: Adobe

Employer of Choice (Public Sector & NFP)

Winner: Export Finance Australia

To see the full list of winners and excellence awardees, visit the Australian HR Awards website here.