HR Influence Awards: Nominations are open for the Top 12 ANZ

There’s plenty of HR content online. Hot takes. Frameworks. Templates. Threads.

But real influence is rarer.

It’s the HR contributors whose work changes what actually happens inside organisations. The one who lifts capability across the profession. The one whose ideas turn into better outcomes, not just better posts.

That’s exactly what the HR Influence Awards are here to recognise.

And yes, we’re bringing big awards energy. Think ARIA Awards for HR — spotlight, celebration, and genuine credibility — but for the leaders shaping better work across Australia and New Zealand.

What are the HR Influence Awards?

The HR Influence Awards recognise HR and People & Culture contributors across Australia and New Zealand whose influence drives real outcomes.

This is not about who posts the most.
It’s not about follower count.
It’s not about hype.

It’s about influence you can point to: outcomes, adoption, capability uplift, and meaningful change.

Each year, we publish one list:

Top 12 ANZ

A single list, designed to be easy to share and hard to fake.

Who can be nominated?

Anyone working in HR or People & Culture across ANZ can be nominated, including:

• HR leaders and managers
• People & Culture leaders
• Talent/recruitment leaders
• Organisational development and learning leaders
• Workplace relations and ER leaders
• Culture and engagement leaders

In-house or consulting. Loud or low-key. If they’re driving real outcomes, they’re in scope.

Can I nominate myself?

Yes! Self-nominations are welcome.

If you’re doing work you’re proud of, submit it. Share what changed, what improved, and why it matters. If you have links that support your nomination, include them in your response.

What makes an influential HR leader? (Our criteria)

We look for influence that shows up in outcomes, not just the audience.

Impact

Outcomes and meaningful change.

Voice

Consistent contribution to the industry.

Innovation

New approaches that stick.

Community

Lifts others and builds capability.

Influence

Changes decisions or behaviour (not just reach).

Is this based on follower count?

No. This is not a popularity contest.

Reach can be a signal, but it’s not the goal. We prioritise evidence of influence — the kind that shifts behaviour, improves outcomes, and strengthens the HR profession across ANZ.

How we’ll choose the Top 12

A judging panel will review nominations against the published criteria and supporting evidence (including links provided in nominations and publicly available information).

We look for:

• clear outcomes and impact
• credibility of claims
• consistency over time
• contribution to others (inside and/or beyond their organisation)

We’ll also manage conflicts of interest. Judges don’t score nominations where there’s a relationship or direct conflict.

What happens next?

The campaign runs in four simple phases:

1. You nominate — anyone can nominate; self-nominations welcome
2. We review — assessed against criteria and supporting evidence
3. We reveal — the Top 12 ANZ list goes live publicly
4. We spotlight — short interviews and practical ideas shared weekly

Presented by Compono

The HR Influence Awards are presented by Compono.

Compono helps organisations understand how people work — using behavioural science to bring clarity to hiring, team performance, and leadership.