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

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

Honouring organisations that craft meaningful, tech-enabled employee journeys grounded in purpose, feedback, and culture.

Award Description:

This category recognises organisations that deliver exceptional, end-to-end employee experience—from onboarding to offboarding—by integrating purpose, technology, and employee feedback at every stage of the talent lifecycle. These organisations foster a culture where individuals feel heard, valued, and empowered, and where every interaction is thoughtfully designed to strengthen engagement, inclusion, and connection.

The winner in this category exemplifies how a consistent and strategic approach to employee experience can drive measurable outcomes in satisfaction, retention, and performance.

Award Criteria:

Entrants should demonstrate excellence through the following:

• A clearly defined and holistic employee journey map, with intentional touchpoints and feedback loops at every stage
• Personalised, tech-enabled onboarding and offboarding experiences that reflect organisational values
• Proactive employee listening strategies (e.g., pulse surveys, EX platforms) and tangible actions in response to feedback
• Initiatives that cultivate a strong sense of inclusion, belonging, and shared purpose
• Recognition and rewards programmes that align with employee contributions
• Measurable improvements in increased engagement, improved retention, or enhanced employee satisfaction
• Consistent and scalable application of employee experience strategies across teams, departments, or geographies

Excellence in Talent Acquisition

Recognising forward-thinking organisations that transform talent attraction through innovation, inclusivity, and exceptional candidate experience.

Award Description:

This category honours organisations that are redefining the talent acquisition landscape through bold employer branding, inclusive hiring practices, and the strategic use of technology. These organisations take a candidate-first approach, balancing innovation and empathy to attract the right talent, strengthen their employer brand, and build future-ready workforces.

The winner in this category demonstrates how modern recruitment strategies can deliver measurable business value while enhancing the overall candidate experience.

Award Criteria:

Entrants should demonstrate excellence through the following:

• Compelling employer branding initiatives with a clear and differentiated employee value proposition
• Use of creative and effective sourcing strategies, including recruitment marketing and non-traditional channels, to attract quality talent
• Intentional efforts to embed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) into all stages of the hiring process
• Deployment of technology to personalise, simplify, or accelerate the recruitment journey
• Initiatives that support internal talent mobility or proactive talent pipeline building for future workforce needs
• Key performance indicators such as reduced time-to-hire, improved quality-of-hire, and high candidate satisfaction scores

Best Strategy for Talent Retention

Recognising organisations that go beyond attraction to build enduring employee relationships through purposeful, data-driven retention strategies.

Award Description:

This category honours organisations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to retaining talent by cultivating meaningful career journeys, fostering loyalty, and anticipating workforce needs. Through a combination of strategic initiatives—ranging from internal mobility and personalised development to proactive engagement and flexible benefits—these organisations succeed in creating workplaces where employees choose to stay and grow.

The winner in this category demonstrates how a well-integrated talent retention strategy can enhance organisational performance, culture, and resilience.

Award Criteria:

Entrants should demonstrate excellence through the following:

• Clear linkage between retention initiatives and broader business or workforce strategies (e.g., future skills, succession planning)
• Use of exit data, stay interviews, employee listening tools, or predictive analytics to identify risk areas and shape targeted interventions
• Programmes that support career progression, lateral movement, and upskilling that enable employees to grow within the organisation
• Retention-enhancing offerings such as competitive pay, wellbeing benefits, hybrid work, and other flexible arrangements tailored to employee needs
• Initiatives that focus on high-potential, high-performing, or at-risk employee groups through tailored engagement or retention programmes
• Programmes and tools that empower people managers to support team engagement, recognise burnout risks, hold meaningful career conversations, and retain top talent

Excellence in Hybrid and Flexible Work Strategies

Recognising organisations that have transformed the workplace with inclusive, sustainable, and high-performing flexible work models.

Award Description:

This category celebrates organisations that have successfully implemented hybrid, remote, or flexible work arrangements to drive both cultural and business impact. These organisations adopt new ways of working through policy, technology, leadership, and culture, empowering employees to thrive regardless of location or schedule.

The winner in this category demonstrates how thoughtful, inclusive, and well-executed flexible work strategies can boost engagement, productivity, and innovation while fostering trust, collaboration, and equity across distributed teams.

Award Criteria:

Entrants should demonstrate excellence through the following:

• Well-structured, clearly communicated, and consistently applied hybrid/flexible work policies that are adaptable to organisational and employee needs
• Inclusion of employee feedback and co-creation in designing or evolving flexible work models
• Use of integrated digital tools and platforms that support productivity, communication, collaboration, and inclusivity across locations and time zones
• Training, toolkits, and behavioural coaching to equip leaders and managers to support and engage hybrid or remote teams effectively
• Evidence of improvements in engagement, wellbeing, satisfaction, retention, or performance metrics tied to flexible work initiatives
• Demonstrated impact on business outcomes such as increased innovation, faster decision-making, cost optimisation, or expanded talent access
• Evidence that hybrid/flexible work is embedded into long-term planning, workplace design, and organisational culture

Excellence in Workplace Wellness & Wellbeing

Recognising organisations that champion a culture of care by embedding mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing into the employee experience.

Award Description:

This category honours organisations that make employee wellbeing a strategic priority—not just a programme, but a way of working. From mental health support and emotional resilience to physical wellness and sustainable work practices, these organisations take a proactive, holistic, and inclusive approach to fostering a thriving workforce.

The winner in this category demonstrates how wellbeing initiatives can drive engagement, reduce burnout, and enable long-term organisational performance while cultivating a culture where employees feel safe, supported, and empowered to flourish.

Award Criteria:

Entrants should demonstrate excellence in workplace wellness and wellbeing through the following:

• A strategic, organisation-wide approach that embeds mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing into the broader business and people strategy
• Inclusive, confidential, and easily accessible wellbeing resources such as counselling, coaching, EAPs, digital platforms, and peer support networks
• Training or frameworks that equip managers to support team wellbeing, conduct mental health check-ins, and model healthy behaviours
• Organisational efforts to build awareness, reduce stigma, and cultivate a culture where wellbeing is openly discussed and prioritised
• Structured and cultural initiatives that support sustainable work practices and help employees achieve a better balance and energy
• Use of data to evaluate wellbeing efforts and their impact on key outcomes such as engagement, absenteeism, productivity, turnover, or employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS)

Excellence in Multi-Generational Workforce Strategy

Celebrating forward-thinking organisations that foster collaboration, respect, and engagement across generations.

Award Description:

This category recognises organisations that have effectively embraced age diversity by designing inclusive strategies to engage, support, and unite employees across all life and career stages, from Baby Boomers and Gen X to Millennials and Gen Z. As workplaces become increasingly multigenerational, this award honours organisations that cultivate an environment where mutual learning, shared purpose, and respect, while adapting to the unique needs, preferences, and values of different age groups.

This organisation demonstrates how generational diversity can be a strength, using it to drive innovation, build resilient teams, and ensure continuity of knowledge across the workforce.

Award Criteria:

Submissions should demonstrate clear initiatives and outcomes across the following areas:

• Programmes or policies that attract, retain, and develop employees of all ages, ensuring equitable opportunities throughout the employee lifecycle
• Training, upskilling, and reskilling programmes that are accessible and relevant to both younger and older employees, fostering continuous growth for all
• Structured opportunities for cross-generational learning, including knowledge transfer, leadership development, and intergenerational dialogue
• Inclusive communication strategies and leadership styles that address different generational preferences, values, and motivators
• Support for different work-life needs through adaptable work options
• Initiatives that break down generational stereotypes, promote empathy, and create a psychologically safe environment for age-diverse teams to thrive

Excellence in Learning & Development Strategy

Celebrating outstanding strategies for upskilling, reskilling, and leadership growth, which cultivate a culture of continuous learning.

Award Description

This award recognises organisations that place learning at the heart of their people strategy, equipping employees with future-ready skills and fostering resilience in a fast-changing business environment. From building strong leadership pipelines to embedding digital upskilling, the award honours initiatives that are not only strategic and innovative but also deliver measurable impact, empowering individuals and strengthening organisational performance.

Award Criteria:

• A well-defined L&D strategy that aligns with overall business and workforce objectives
• Programmes for upskilling, reskilling, and future-readiness
• Leadership development initiatives, including high-potential and succession planning
• Innovative delivery methods (e.g. mobile learning, gamification, microlearning) that enhance engagement
• A learning culture supported by technology, feedback mechanisms, and active manager involvement
• Accessibility and inclusivity of learning opportunities across diverse roles, levels, and geographies
• Clear evidence of impact through metrics such as participation, completion rates, behavioural change, and business outcomes