Irish HR leaders champion technology-enabled, people-centric approaches

Independent foodservice provider BaxterStorey Ireland featured strongly at the HR Leadership & Management Awards 2024, taking home three accolades including the coveted overall excellence in HR award at the 10th anniversary ceremony held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, on 10th October 2024.

The awards, hosted by Colm O’Regan, attracted 274 entries from organisations across Ireland, and recognised outstanding achievements in human resources leadership, with major employers including Cpl, Primeline Group, and Bon Secours Health System among the winners.

BaxterStorey, which employs over 8,500 people across locations in Ireland and the UK, was praised for creating an inclusive and supportive workplace environment.

Arran McDowell, people director UK and Europe at BaxterStorey, commented: “These awards are a testament to our commitment to creating an exceptional workplace for our people. A massive well done to our phenomenal people team for all their incredible work, dedication, and passion that made this possible.”

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Workforce solutions provider Cpl secured two significant wins, with best use of CSR in HR and the best workplace award. Sharon Vize, chief people officer at Cpl, stated: “None of these awards are possible without the continued hard work and dedication of our people experience team, who are passionate about our people and culture.”

Prof Edel Conway, judging coordinator, from Dublin City University, highlighted the exceptional quality of entries.

“Many submissions demonstrated a deep understanding of current HR trends such as digital transformation, employee well-being, diversity and inclusion, and the use of data analytics to drive decision-making,” she explained.

“Several entrants went beyond traditional approaches, presenting creative solutions to ongoing challenges, including hybrid work models and strategies to achieve better work-life balance.”

The awards highlighted significant shifts in Irish HR practices, with organisations moving away from traditional hierarchical models towards data-driven decision-making and digitalised processes.

A marked emphasis on employee well-being and flexible working arrangements was evident, particularly through hybrid models that balance remote and office-based work.

Primeline Group celebrated double success on the night. Nikki Mullin, chief people and culture officer, commented: “Winning two awards is testament to the team’s unwavering commitment to empowering people, fostering growth and nurturing leadership within Primeline. People will power our success.”

Other major winners included Bon Secours Health System, with chief people officer John McPhillips noting: “We are thrilled to receive this prestigious recognition from our HR peers. At Bon Secours Health System, we are passionate about creating an environment where talent is nurtured.”

The Department of Transport’s success was celebrated by assistant secretary, corporate affairs and central policy co-ordination Yvonne White, who said: “The culmination of three years of transformation, this recognises how we deliver public value and good governance, while attracting and retaining the best. Making our values meaningful requires active, ongoing support from secretary general Ken Spratt, this award is about everyone in the Department.”

Irish Distillers’ innovative employer branding was also recognised, with head of talent acquisition Mairead Griffin stating: “We are thrilled to be recognised for our efforts in building a unique employer brand that truly encapsulates the essence of Irish Distillers as a workplace.”

Rising talent was celebrated through the HR rising star award, won by Kaylyn Burke of CluneTech, who said: “I’m truly honoured to receive this recognition. It’s a reflection of the incredible support I’ve received from my colleagues at CluneTech.”

The event’s success was underpinned by strong industry support, with Terry Spence, director of B2B sales at One4all Rewards, noting: “One4all has worked closely with the HR sector for over 20 years, providing employee rewards and benefits. We sponsored this event to show continued support for industry excellence, to connect with key professionals who align with our business goals of fostering growth, whilst recognising outstanding achievements in HR and beyond.”

HRLocker’s chief marketing officer Jenny Martin emphasised the importance of recognising HR professionals. “HRLocker is proud to support the HR Leadership Awards,” she said. “Recognising HR professionals is vital because people are the foundation of business growth. Celebrating their work highlights their role in driving success and innovation. We are delighted to support these important awards and recognise their valuable contributions.”

Excel Recruitment’s director of commercial recruitment, Ciara Connolly, added: “We proudly support the HR leadership & management awards, recognising HR’s critical role in employee well-being and recruitment. These values align with Excel Recruitment’s expertise in hiring across diverse industries, reinforcing our shared commitment to building strong teams and driving organisational success.”

DeCare managing director Maureen Walsh reinforced the awards’ significance. “We proudly support the HR Awards as they spotlight excellence in the industry. Recognising outstanding achievements not only celebrates success but also inspires continuous growth and innovation. It’s a testament to the dedication of professionals shaping the future of HR, driving positive change in the workplace.”

Notable finalists included Uisce Éireann, where Dawn O’Driscoll, people and safety director, highlighted their HR team’s role in delivering transformative water services, and Avolon, whose chief people officer Ciara Ruane showcased their innovative Accelerate leadership development programme.

Another finalist was Meat Staff. Angela Bettio, international recruitment director, noted that since 2020 the company had revolutionised Ireland’s meat industry, delivering more than 1,000 skilled workers to address critical shortages. “By transforming lives and strengthening the sector, their exceptional impact has earned Meat Staff a nomination for the prestigious 2024 HR Leadership Awards,” she added.

Kevin O’Driscoll, director partnership programmes at Business River, the awards organiser, commented: “The calibre of entries this year reflects the remarkable evolution we are seeing in HR practices across Ireland. From the innovative use of AI and data analytics to the strong focus on employee wellbeing and flexible working, our winners and nominees have demonstrated exceptional leadership in addressing contemporary workplace challenges.”

“The record number of entries shows how the profession continues to adapt and innovate. Events like this are made possible through the support of sponsors, and we are thankful to our 2024 sponsors and professional partners, including DeCare, Excel Recruitment, HR Locker, and One4all, as well as our communications partner, The Irish Times. Their investment in the awards underlines their commitment and support of leadership and management excellence.”

HR Leadership & Management Awards 2024 judges

Edel Conway (judging coordinator) – professor of HRM, Dublin City University
Sarah Behan – learning and development specialist, Focus Ireland
Dr Mary Collins – chartered psychologist, RCSI
Katie Dunne – learning and development manager, Applegreen
April Gill – director of human resources and training, The K Club
Ruairi Guckian –founder and chief executive, Guckian Human Resources Consulting
Aidan Harney – OD director, EMEA, Intel Corporation
John Kennedy – head of HR, Iarnród Eireann
Miriam Manning – director of human resources, TELUS International Ireland
Anthony McDonnell – interim dean and professor of HRM, Cork University Business School, University College Cork
Gareth McGrane - HR director, Chadwicks Group
Blanaid O’Regan – director of people and culture, SIRO
Antoinette Quinn – director of human resources, Trinity College Dublin
Aricio Silvestre – HR business partner, Sodexo Ireland Limited
Kate Stapleton – employee relations leader EMEA, eBay

HR Leadership & Management Awards 2024 winners: