Welcome to the HR Tech Asia Awards 2026 – Celebrating Excellence in HR!

Best C-suite Leader

This award recognises a C-level executive (CEO, MD, CFO, COO, CIO, President, etc.) who embraces and champions HR via:

• A demonstrated track record in supporting HR and driving, from the top, agreed HR strategies and initiatives
• Ability to lead and create an environment that focuses HR and all employees on the organisation’s priorities, directives and their expected place in the process
• Contribution and implementation to specific HR initiatives including talent development and retention strategies
• Business related HR sensitivity and savviness
• Communication effectiveness with and towards employees
• Innovation within other HR disciplines and areas
• Champion of change and innovation
• Leader in continuous organisational improvement and development

HR Team of the Year

This award recognises an HR Team that embraces, champions and lives the values of HR via:

• Retention rate within the team
• Team morale and engagement
• Team Productivity
• Team contribution and implementation of specific HR initiatives
• Team effectiveness in delivering cost effective HR administration services
• Ability to improve bottom line profits and employee productivity

Employer of Choice

This award recognises a leading organisation that embodies all of the following criteria, and more:

• Management’s commitment to human capital
• Communications within the company
• Brand alignment and visibility
• Above average staff retention rates
• Talent management initiatives
• Mentoring and succession planning
• Training, learning and development policies and practices
• Work life balance initiatives
• Health and safety practices and procedures
• Compensation and benefits and rewards & recognition
• Recruitment procedures
• Workplace harmony and physical environment
• Overall corporate culture and employee engagement
• Non-discriminatory practices
• Innovation
• Corporate Social Responsibility practices
• Performance management

Best Workplace Culture & Engagement (above 500 employees)

This award recognises the character and personality of your organization – what makes it unique in terms of its’ values, traditions, beliefs and how the company has leveraged on this to create employee engagement.

• Values, beliefs and attitudes and how they are ingrained in your organisation’s DNA
• Unique traditions and rituals and how these are carried out on a regular or long term basis
• Types & variety of programmes and activities also used for employee engagement
• Innovative / new engagement strategies implemented within the last year
• Employee engagement surveys undertaken
• Impact of employee engagement on retention rates
• Balance between employee morale and engagement
• ROI

Best Workplace Culture & Engagement (below 500 employees)

This award recognises the character and personality of your organization – what makes it unique in terms of its’ values, traditions, beliefs and how the company has leveraged on this to create employee engagement.

• Values, beliefs and attitudes and how they are ingrained in your organisation’s DNA
• Unique traditions and rituals and how these are carried out on a regular or long term basis
• Types & variety of programmes and activities also used for employee engagement
• Innovative / new engagement strategies implemented within the last year
• Employee engagement surveys undertaken
• Impact of employee engagement on retention rates
• Balance between employee morale and engagement
• ROI

Best Use of Technology

This award recognises the best implementation of HR technology within an organisation to increase efficiencies and optimise HR processes for greater business results.

•  Innovation / new technology implemented
•  Comparison between traditional way of working and the new implementation of technology
•  Impact from the use of technology in aspects of HR (e.g. talent acquisition, performance management, etc)
•  Measureable results indicating that the use of this technology has enhanced efficiency and productivity of the HR department and overall business
•  Employee buy-in and feedback regarding the use of technology and new way of working
•  Effective use of budget and return of investment

Best ASEAN Human Development

This award is presented in partnership with the ASEAN Human Development Organisation (AHDO) and recognises organisations that exemplify human development via:

• • Definition of human development as a purpose supported by key initiatives in the company’s development strategy in ASEAN
  • Examples in at least 2 ASEAN countries
  • Investment and resources devoted to the human development of employees and stakeholders (partners and communities)
  • Workforce productivity, technology and sustainability programmes, including stakeholders such as the contingent workforce
  • Cooperation with government, education and community stakeholders in ASEAN countries
  • Fair work, voice, rights, representation, diversity and inclusion in policies and practices
  • Human development and human centric ethics for leaders of the organisation
  • Evidence of human development through measurement, impact and sustainability of the workforce

HR Diversity and Inclusion Excellence

This award is presented in partnership with the Business Coalition for Gender Equality (BCGE). It recognises organizations that outperform in D&I (diversity and inclusion) areas within the organisation’s infrastructure, practices, and culture as genuine efforts and make achievements to certain extents in the following three categories:

1. Leadership and Commitment

• • D&I Vision and strategy aligned with business strategy
  • D&I/gender-related reporting
  • Demonstration of leaders’ commitment to D&I agenda in their walks of the talk
  • D&I KPIs in annual performance appraisals or capacity development reviews for managers, senior management, top management, and C-Suite levels (Bonus point)

2. D&I Infrastructure as Organizations DNA

• • D&I-related policies or equivalent guidelines
  • D&I-related programs for nourishing the inclusion process
  • D&I committee/council or related working group to support initiatives and implementation (Bonus point)
  • System to monitor and analyze workforce diversity (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, key diverse backgrounds) (Bonus point)

3. Championing D&I Initiatives as Market Leaders

• • Implementation of D&I-related activity or event/campaign
  • Provision of at least three training sessions, discussions, or webinars on D&I topics
  • Usage of inclusive words, language, and visuals in all communication of organisation
  • Communication on D&I efforts and agenda to multi-stakeholder

ESG Excellence in Action

This award is presented in partnership with the ESG Institute and recognises organisations that value, demonstrate and embed sustainability into their people and culture for a fairer, cooler, greener future across Asia:

• • • Organisation has public commitment and plan for sustainability and ESG.
      For example: an under 1.5˚C world, net zero, circular or regenerative
    • Showcases how CHROs and HR are embedding the decision-making culture of ESG into the DNA of the business
    • Demonstrate how Leaders KPIs are materially linked to progress to this commitment and plan
    • Evidences at least 20% of employees are aware of or engaged in ESG action
    • Measurement results showing impact on business value.
      For example through employee engagement or talent acquisition in HR or outside HR through customer retention, procurement excellence, stakeholder engagement or acquisition of funds.
    • Evidences collaboration beyond the business entity to accelerate the transition to a fairer, greener future
    • Impact design incorporates Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) and demonstrated integrated impact across there three arenas of a responsible business

Excellence in Employee Experience

Recognising organisations that design exceptional end-to-end employee journeys, from onboarding to exit, powered by feedback, tech, and culture.

Award Description:
This category recognises organisations that deliver outstanding end-to-end employee experiences—from onboarding to offboarding—by embedding purpose, technology, and feedback into every stage of the employee lifecycle. These organisations create environments where employees feel valued, empowered, and engaged throughout their journey.

Excellence in Talent Acquisition

Highlighting innovative and inclusive approaches to talent attraction, employer branding, and candidate experience.

Award Description:
This category celebrates organisations that redefine how talent is attracted and hired through creative employer branding, candidate-centric approaches, and smart hiring technologies. It recognises strategies that address evolving candidate expectations while building strong, inclusive, and future-ready workforces.

Best Strategy for Talent Retention

Recognising impactful retention strategies including internal mobility, recognition, benefits, engagement, and long-term workforce sustainability.

Award Description:
This award honours organisations that excel in retaining top talent through engaging cultures, internal growth opportunities, and meaningful employee value propositions. These organisations demonstrate a strong commitment to keeping their people inspired, recognised, and supported over the long term.

Excellence in Hybrid and Flexible Work Strategies

Celebrating organisations that have successfully implemented hybrid, remote, or flexible work models with positive cultural and business outcomes.

Award Description:
This category recognises organisations that have redefined the workplace by embracing hybrid and flexible work arrangements. Whether through remote work policies, flexible hours, or results-driven cultures, this award honours companies that enable work-life integration while maintaining productivity, collaboration, and employee engagement.

Excellence in Workplace Wellness & Wellbeing

Recognising initiatives that promote mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing, along with holistic support systems for employees.

Award Description:
This category honours organisations that prioritise employee wellbeing as a strategic business objective. From mental health support and stress management to physical wellness and emotional resilience, this award celebrates companies that take a proactive and holistic approach to nurturing a healthy, engaged, and high-performing workforce.

Excellence in Multi-Generational Workforce Strategy

Celebrating inclusive initiatives that engage, support, and unite a diverse age-range of employees through mentorship, flexibility, and shared learning.

Award Description:
This category recognises organisations that have successfully embraced and implemented strategies to support, engage and unite a multi-generational workforce. From Baby Boomers to Gen Z, today’s workplace is more age-diverse than ever – and this award honours companies that proactively foster intergenerational collaboration, knowledge sharing and mutual respect among employees of different age groups.