Award categories and finalists

This category recognises initiatives where people strategy drives the adoption of AI, automation, HR technology, or data analytics to transform how work is done and how people are supported. It highlights HR’s role in leading ethical, inclusive, psychologically safe, and sustainable digital change.

Finalists:

1. Department of Transport
2. Darta Saving Life Assurance Dac
3. TE Connectivity

This category recognises initiatives consultants, suppliers, or partnerships that have delivered strategic HR or L&D outcomes for a client organisation.

Finalists:​

1. HERO Recruitment Ltd
2. NFP HR Solutions
3. Work Matters

This category honours individuals, teams, or strategic programmes that have advanced equality, diversity and inclusion in meaningful, sustainable ways.

Finalists in the public sector:​

1. Irish Rail
2. Technological University of Shannon (TUS)
3. Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

Finalists in the private sector:​

1. Bank of Ireland
2. Tesco
3. John Sisk & Son
4. Three Ireland
5. Aer Lingus

This category recognises strategies that plan a future-fit workforce by redesigning work, jobs, workforce structures and ways of working to meet evolving business needs.

Finalists:​

1. Tusla, Child and Family Agency
2. The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer
3. Three Ireland

This category recognises organisations with fewer than 150 employees that demonstrate strategic, agile, and high-impact people practices.

Finalists:​

1. Prosperous Financial
2. Ellab Ireland Ltd
3. Darta Saving Life Assurance Dac

This category recognises initiatives that strategically align education, learning and development with business goals to close critical skills gaps and build future capability.

Finalists in the public sector:​

1. Department of Transport
2. Enterprise Ireland
3. Longford County Council
4. ESB
5. Uisce Éireann
6. Bus Éireann

Finalists in the private sector:​

1. Bank of Ireland
2. Sedgwick
3. Tesco Ireland
4. ABP Ireland & Affiliates
5. Kerry Group plc
6. Musgrave

For an individual who has championed the people profession and acted as a visible, values-driven role model. Recognises those who influence culture, mentor or sponsor others, and demonstrate measurable leadership impact within and beyond their organisation and across the profession.

Finalists:

1. Claire Murphy - South Coast Logistics
2. Barry Boyle - Allianz Darta Saving Life Assurance
3. Martha Ryan - Boots Ireland
4. Juanita Brennan - Coca-Cola Ltd
5. Anna Byrne - ProAmpac

This category recognises people-led change or transformation strategies that have restructured teams, redefined ways of working, or reshaped culture.

Finalists in the private sector:

1. Bank of Ireland
2. Boots Ireland
3. Tayto Snacks

Finalists in the public sector:

1. ESB - ESB's Sustainability Transformation Enablement Programme(STEP)
2. An Garda Siochana - Garda Trainee Recruitment 2025 - It's a job worth doing!
3. Coimisiun na Mean - Living our Values: Embedding Culture, Courage, and Connection in Ireland's Evolving Media Regulator
4. Health Service Executive (HSE) - National integrated Staff Records and Pay (NiSRP) Programme: implementing an integrated HR and Payroll system across the HSE
5. Health Service Executive (HSE) - HSE Recruitment HIVE: Recruiting with confidence: supporting regional teams through change

For People strategies that strengthen culture, drive engagement, support wellbeing, or embed ESG values—clearly linked to business priorities. This category seeks holistic initiatives with visible senior leadership support and quantifiable impact on employee engagement, productivity, retention, or organisational performance.

Finalists:

1. TE Connectivity
2. Irish Rail
3. Boots Ireland
4. Tayto Snacks
5. Novartis
6. An Post Insurance

Celebrating HR/L&D/OD teams that deliver excellence across the people function - demonstrating alignment to organisational strategy, cross-functional collaboration, and consistent impact.

Finalists:

1. National Vehicle Distribution
2. Health Service Executive (HSE)
3. Tayto Snacks
4. Tesco Ireland
5. Boots Ireland

Recognises the strategic design and implementation of fair, inclusive, transparent and motivating reward and recognition frameworks.

Finalists:

1. SD Worx Ireland
2. Tayto Snacks
3. National Shared Services Office

For a high-performing early-career professional (within first five years in HR, L&D, Recruitment or OD) who demonstrates strategic thinking, innovation, and clear contribution to business outcomes.

Finalists:

1. Lauren Churchouse - Fineos
2. Sinead Gilligan – Irish Rail
3. Mark Coughlan – Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
4. Eric Gibson - Bank of Ireland

For strategies that strengthen organisational capability through effective attraction, development, engagement, and retention of talent.

Finalists:

1. Health Service Executive (HSE)
2. Department of Defence
3. ODEON Cinemas Ireland
4. BioMarin International Limited
5. Ecocem