The cream of Australia's HR industry gathered at the Australian HR Awards in Sydney on Friday night. We're proud to announce the winners of an exciting, hotly contested battle of excellence involving the nation's leading HR professionals.
Friday night proved to be an exciting and suspense-filled night at the Australian HR Awards. After weeks of anticipation, the awards were announced to a packed room of over 700 HR professionals at Sydney’s Doltone House, Darling Island.
Popular media personality Julia Morris had the room in stitches throughout the evening, while musical entertainment was provided by the exceptionally talented band, The Diamonds.
2014 saw a record number of nominations from some of the country’s largest and most innovative companies. The high calibre of entries received this year resulted in an impressive list of finalists – and an even finer list of winners.
Highlights included inspirational speechs by HR Rising Star, Matthew Francis of RSPCA Qld, and HR Hall of Fame winner Michaela Healey of National Australia Bank. While all categories were hotly contested, the results of the HR Director of the Year and the HR Team of the Year categories produced an audible buzz of excitment in the ballroom.
HC congratulates all winners and will follow up with more from the awards in coming days. A full list of winners is below.
Popular media personality Julia Morris had the room in stitches throughout the evening, while musical entertainment was provided by the exceptionally talented band, The Diamonds.
2014 saw a record number of nominations from some of the country’s largest and most innovative companies. The high calibre of entries received this year resulted in an impressive list of finalists – and an even finer list of winners.
Highlights included inspirational speechs by HR Rising Star, Matthew Francis of RSPCA Qld, and HR Hall of Fame winner Michaela Healey of National Australia Bank. While all categories were hotly contested, the results of the HR Director of the Year and the HR Team of the Year categories produced an audible buzz of excitment in the ballroom.
HC congratulates all winners and will follow up with more from the awards in coming days. A full list of winners is below.
| Category | Company | Individual |
| Australian HR Champion (CEO) | Accenture Australia | Jack Percy |
| Australian HR Director of the Year | Diageo | Lucinda Gemmell |
| Australian HR Manager of the Year | Bankstown City Council | Simone Cook |
| Australian HR Rising Star of the Year | RSPCA Qld | Matthew Francis |
| HR Hall of Fame | National Australia Bank Limited | Michaela Healey |
| Australian HR Team of the Year | QBE Insurance Australia Limited | |
| Best Change Management Strategy | Merck, Sharp & Dohme | |
| Best Employee Value Proposition | Australian Red Cross Blood Service | |
| Best Health & Wellbeing Strategy | Johnson & Johnson | |
| Best HR Innovation and Corporate Creativity | Suncorp | |
| Best HR Marketing & Communications Strategy | Telstra | |
| Best HR Strategic Plan | Brisbane Airport Corporation | |
| Best Learning & Development Strategy | Fitness First | |
| Best Recruitment Strategy | Campbell Arnott's | |
| Best Reward & Recognition Strategy | Schweppes Australia | |
| Best Use of Technology | Commonwealth Bank of Australia | |
| Best Workplace Diversity & Inclusion Strategy | Deloitte | |
| Employer of Choice (<1000) | Heritage Bank | |
| Employer of Choice (>1000) | Deloitte | |
| Employer of Choice (Public Sector & NFP) | QSuper |