‘It was a lovely surprise to be named - the calibre of people in the list was incredible’
As we head further into 2021, our expectations of leadership continue to change. Gone are the archaic ideals of silent, faceless executive teams – with COVID-19 ushering in a new era of human-centric management.
In that vein, HRD recently announced our Global 100 2021 – a definitive list of the best and brightest HR practitioners across the world. And, as always, HR leaders in Australia flourished – with 18 leaders landing a place on the prestigious list.
“I must admit it was a lovely surprise to be named - the calibre of people in the list was incredible,” Michael Morris, talent director at Employsure, told HRD.
“I remember looking at similar awards when I started my HR career as an administrator, so many years ago, and I would look at those who won - the companies they were associated with and try and ‘steal with pride’ wherever I could. I knew they were best in class, but to have my name associated with this at a global level is a real honour. As I said to my team when one of them surprised me with it, I’m just a face (and not a very good looking one) for a much wider team, that I believe are some of the best talent professionals in the business.
“In our supporting role to the business, we know we are doing our job right when engagement is high, attrition is low, and the business is succeeding which I’m fortunate to say that we have at Employsure.”
2020 proved just how integral HR is to the survival of a company, with senior executives leaning on HR leaders to provide guidance in the chaos. The individuals honoured on this list were chosen for their tenacity in the face of disruption, their ability to lead through change, and their unwavering commitment to their people.
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“I feel humbled to have been named in the Global 100,” added Julie Carroll, CHRO AsPAC at Serco.
“At Serco Asia Pacific I’m privileged to work with a dedicated and talented team of HR professionals and with a senior leadership team who recognise that the people strategies we implement directly impact our ability to make a positive difference in the lives of others.”
So, what exactly do these leaders predict for Australian employers this year? Well, according to Ivan Pierce, national human resources manager at Youi Insurance, it all comes down to the employee experience.
“2021 is shaping up to be another fascinating year from an HR perspective,” he told HRD. “We will continue to increase our focus on enhancing employee experience – in particular our ability to measure and understand through data analysis how we can better support improved employee experience and drive business performance.
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“This will be particularly important in 2021 as the global pandemic continues to evolve and influence how businesses are operating. We expect continued twists and turns effecting the mix of remote and in-office work, which will challenge businesses to find more effective ways to support both employees and Leaders to navigate these shifting dynamics.”
Take a look at HRD’s Global 100 full list here.
