'This is HR's night, they deserve recognition'
HR professionals from across Australia filled the ballroom at the Fullerton Hotel in the Sydney CBD last week for the Australian HR Awards 2024.
The gala event recognised the best talent in the Australian human resources profession over the past year.
Winners were named across 20 categories, including Best Graduate Development Program, Best Use of Technology, Best Recruitment Campaign and, of course, Best HR Director of the Year.
Attendees filed out towards midnight agreeing the evening was a spectacular success.
Peter Stewart, CEO of disability service provider estara, accepted the award for Australian HR Campion of the Year, sponsored by software provider Martian Logic.
“We are in the people business,” he told HRD. “Championing the amazing work our 700 people do on a day-in, day-out basis just feeds my soul.”
HR awards: ‘They deserve recognition’
As Australians measure their pennies at supermarket checkouts, Coles Group HR director Kris Webb – awarded HR Director of the Year – said a highlight of 2024 was getting the right work hours for her team of 125,000 workers.
“Communicating that to 900 stores across the country is a huge piece of work,” Webb said. “If we have the right people in stores, our customers are happier.”
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HR deserves the benefit of sophisticated tools, said Anwar Khalil, the CEO of headline sponsor and HR technology provider Martian Logic.
“HR is not admin, it is about providing human resources solutions,” he said. “Professionals like the ones recognised tonight at these awards provide solutions and benefit companies. This is a huge task.”
Khalil summed up the awards night as the band played on: “This is HR’s night. They deserve recognition. It’s a beautiful thing, very powerful.”
HR Manager of the Year for 2024 is Janani D’Silva, who heads the HR team at Capgemini Australia and New Zealand.
“HR is a team sport,” she said. “There is no one person who stands out. It’s nice to be propped up by a huge group of colleagues.”
‘The awards mean a lot to us’
Attendees mingled and caught up with industry colleagues and counterparts over dinner between three awards announcement sessions, emceed by comedian Merrick Watts.
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority does fantastic work for people affected by scams and Sue Stone accepted the award for HR Team of the Year for an organisation with more than 1,000 employees.
“We have an incredible, hard-working team that really care about our employees,” she said, pointing to DEI, health and wellbeing and leave-enhancement programs. “Our people really respect and appreciate that.”
Sponsors also included Referoo and hubPass by hub.health, who supported categories such as Best Health and Wellbeing Program (hubPass by hub.health) and Best Recruitment Campaign (Referoo), among others.
“The awards mean a lot to us,” said Referoo co-founder and CEO Neil Rose. “It’s been a busy year. Technology is taking away a lot of the drudgery of HR and allowing people to really add value to the process.”
“People and culture is at the heart of what we do,” said Midnight Health CEO & Founder Nic Blair (Midnight Health brands include hubPass by hub.health). “Recognising the people who look after people is at the core of what we like to do as a business and why we support the awards.”
After the last trophy was handed out and closing remarks were delivered, the dancefloor quickly filled with winners, nominees and happy HR advocates.
A full list of this year’s winners can be found here. Congratulations, everybody – and see you next year!