HR Tech Asia Awards 2026: Celebrating innovation, inclusion, and the future of work in Asia

HR Tech Asia Awards 2026 celebrated the outstanding contributions of organisations and individuals who are redefining human resources excellence across Asia. Held at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre as part of HR Tech Asia 2026, the awards ceremony recognised the very best in HR strategy, innovation, culture, leadership, and technology across competitive categories.

Organised by HRM Asia, HR Tech Asia Awards are among the most prestigious accolades in the region’s HR community, drawing nominations from a diverse field of multinational corporations, local companies, government agencies, and SMEs spanning the Asia-Pacific region.

The 2026 cohort of winners reflects the evolving priorities of HR leaders across Asia: cultivating engaged and inclusive workplace cultures, investing in employee wellbeing, embracing flexible and hybrid work models, and leveraging technology to drive smarter, faster people decisions.

Two organisations shared top honours on the night, each claiming three awards. Changi Airport Group swept Best Workplace Culture and Engagement (Above 500 Employees); Excellence in Workplace Wellness and Wellbeing; and Excellence in Learning and Development Strategy, sponsored by Coursera for Business. Cambridge University Press and Assessment Philippines was equally dominant, winning HR Diversity and Inclusion Excellence, Best Strategy for Talent Retention, and Excellence in Hybrid and Flexible Work Strategies.

VaynerMedia Asia-Pacific took home two awards – Excellence in Employee Excellence and Excellence in Talent Acquisition – reflecting the marketing agency’s forward-thinking approach to attracting and retaining top creative talent across the region.

PT Prudential Sharia Life Assurance was recognised for Best Workplace Culture and Engagement (Below 500 Employees), a reminder that high-impact employee engagement is not the preserve of large enterprises. Winning Engineering claimed Best Use of Technology, Commonwealth was named HR Team of the Year, and Central Retail Corporation (CRC) was honoured as Employer of Choice.

Two individual accolades rounded out the evening. Dr Sarawut Limchaikul was named Best HR Leader, recognised for his strategic thinking, championing of HR initiatives, and contribution to organisational transformation across the region. Yusuf Didi Setiarto took the Best C-Suite Leader award, sponsored by Accenture, in recognition of his exemplary commitment to driving people-first strategies from the top.

The full list of winners is as follows:

• Best Workplace Culture and Engagement (Above 500 Employees): Changi Airport Group
• Best Workplace Culture and Engagement (Below 500 Employees): PT Prudential Sharia Life Assurance
• Excellence in Workplace Wellness and Wellbeing: Changi Airport Group
• Excellence in Employee Experience: VaynerMedia Asia-Pacific
• HR Diversity and Inclusion Excellence: Cambridge University Press and Assessment Philippines
• Excellence in Talent Acquisition: VaynerMedia Asia-Pacific
• Best Strategy for Talent Retention: Cambridge University Press and Assessment Philippines
• Excellence in Learning and Development, sponsored by Coursera for Business: Changi Airport Group
• Excellence in Hybrid and Flexible Work Strategies: Cambridge University Press and Assessment Philippines
• Best Use of Technology: Winner Engineering
• HR Team of the Year: Commonwealth Capital
• Employer of Choice: Central Retail Corporation
• Best HR Leader: Dr Sarawut Limchaikul
• Best C-Suite Leader, sponsored by Accenture: Yusuf Didi Setiarto

The judging panel compromised prominent HR and business leaders, including Ksther Lim, CEO and Founder, The People Decoder; Jasmine Liew, Managing Director, Breakthrough Catalyst, Mallory Loone, Founder, Work Inspires; Zsofia Balatoni, Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder, Rothman & Roman; Dr Tanvi Gautam, HR Influencer, Author and Transformational Leadership Expert, Leadershift Inc; Rajeev Peshawaria, CEO, Stewardship Asia Centre; Vivien Li, Senior Director, HR, Otis; Glenn van Zutphen, Founder and CEO, VanMedia Group; Elisa Mallis, Global Vice-President of Research, Innovation and Content Creation, Centre for Creative Leadership; Sajjad Parmar, CEO and Founder, The Talent Accelerator; Karen Leong, Managing Director and Co-Founder, Influence Solutions; Kyawt Kay Thi Win, Country Director, Business Coalition for Gender Equality Association; and Scott Harrison, Founder and Chief Talent Officer, Harrison Talent Partners.

As organisations across Asia continue to navigate technological disruption, evolving workforce expectations and the enduring challenges of talent scarcity, HR Tech Asia Awards serve as a timely reminder of what world-class people practices look like in action. Nominations for HR Tech Asia Awards 2027 are expected to open later this year. For more information, visit https://hrtechfestawards.com.