Meet the Top 12 Influencing HR in Australia and New Zealand

The inaugural HR Influence Awards have today named 12 HR and People & Culture professionals as the most influential practitioners in Australia and New Zealand for 2026. Presented by workforce intelligence platform Compono, the awards are the first in the region to define and measure HR influence as an evidence-based category, recognising professionals whose work has changed outcomes, decisions, and capability across the profession.

The Top 12 were selected from more than 180 nominations and assessed against five criteria: Impact, Voice, Innovation, Community, and Influence. Unlike existing industry awards, the HR Influence Awards carry no entry fees, no pay-to-play, and no paid placements. Selection is based entirely on published criteria and supporting evidence.

Shark Tank Australia investor and entrepreneur Andrew Banks, who joined the judging panel, said the calibre of this year's cohort set a new benchmark for the profession.

"Every person on this list can point to something that changed because of their work. These aren't people building personal brands for the sake of it. They've moved the needle inside organisations and then shared what they learned so others could do the same," Mr Banks said.

"From a refugee employment model referenced as best practice nationally, to 400 neurodivergent professionals placed in corporate roles at BHP, ANZ, and Microsoft, to a First Nations leadership program producing senior promotions and board appointments - this is HR work with real, measurable consequences."

The 2026 cohort spans corporate, tech scale-up, not-for-profit, social impact, and consultancy sectors. Ten winners are based in Australia and two in New Zealand. Seven are women and five are men. Their combined body of work includes multiple AFR Best Places to Work recognitions, Great Place to Work certifications, AHRI and SEEK awards, a Churchill Fellowship, a published book, and community platforms serving hundreds of frontline HR practitioners.

Compono CEO and corporate psychologist Rudy Crous said the awards were created to fill a gap in how the profession recognises influence.

"Most HR awards celebrate organisational achievement or require formal membership and fees. We wanted to do something different. If you've changed how people work, and there's evidence to prove it, that should be enough. Your job title, your employer size, your follower count, none of that determines whether you belong on this list," Mr Crous said.

"What connects all 12 winners is that their influence doesn't stop at their own organisation's walls. They mentor, they build communities, they share frameworks freely. That kind of generosity is what actually lifts a profession."

The HR Influence Awards 2026 Top 12 ANZ:

Kerri-Ann Allen, Chief People Officer, Eucalyptus (Sydney, NSW)

Sharon Gray, Chief People Officer, OzHarvest (Sydney, NSW)

Edan Haddock, Head of Talent & People Experience, Movember (Melbourne, VIC)

Teresa Lilly, Founder, Culture Pilot Co (Sydney, NSW)

Anna Liumaihetau Darling, Head of People & Culture, Sharesies (Auckland, NZ)

Drew Mayhills, Chief Learning & Innovation Officer, AIM WA (Perth, WA)

Matt McFarlane, Founder & Director, FNDN (Gold Coast, QLD)

Aron Mercer, Author & Doctoral Researcher, Griffith University (Sydney, NSW)

Melissa Milner, People & Culture Lead, ASRC (Melbourne, VIC)

Alex Pusenjak, Global VP, People & Culture, Fluent Commerce (Sydney, NSW)

Deepak Singh, Founder, Mission and Rhythm / PeopleStack (Melbourne, VIC)

Lisa Young, Founder, HRHQ / Exceed HR NZ (Auckland, NZ)

Meet the Top 12 and explore their work at hrinfluenceawards.com.au.

ENDS

About Compono

Compono is a workforce intelligence platform and integrated HR software for mid-market companies. While other HR platforms focus on control and compliance, Compono helps organisations understand and harness human variability through hiring, culture insights, and leadership development. The HR Influence Awards are presented by Compono as part of its commitment to recognising and elevating the people profession across Australia and New Zealand.

Media contact

Mathan Allington
Compono 
media@compono.com