Employer of Choice: Large Organisations

This award recognises the best big companies to work for in South Africa. At the core of any great organisation is an HR department whose innovative values create a productive and enjoyable place of work. As an employer of choice, your reputation precedes you and jobseekers view you as a desirable place to work. That’s the first goal of any effective recruitment strategy – to be a 1st choice employer for top talent.

Aim to demonstrate:

• A fulfilling workplace environment that brings out the full potential of the workforce.
• Effective recruitment, engagement and retention of superior employees.
• Low rate of staff turnover.

Employer of Choice: Small to Medium Organisations

This award recognises the best small-to-medium-sized organisation (annual revenue R5 – R35-million) to work for in South Africa. Organisations must show how they have implemented effective HR policies that have enriched the employee experience and attracted top people to the organisation.

Aim to demonstrate:

• Achievements in areas such as organisational culture and leadership; employee education, training & development; employee health, safety & satisfaction; Evidence of performance management and employee recognition.
• Low rate of staff turnover.

Employer of Choice: Public Sector Organisations

This award recognises the best Public Sector organisation to work for. Key to any efficient Public Sector entity is an HR department whose innovative values create a productive, happy environment – because this plays a major policy role in establishing standards of excellence in response to South Africans’ service delivery needs.

Aim to demonstrate:

• High rate of efficiency, testifying to employees’ motivation.
• The calibre of people working for you.
• A culture of staff development and advancement.
• Low rate of staff turnover.

Best Learning and Development Strategy

This award recognises and celebrates the HR team, HR-strong organisation or employee learning service provider, that has delivered impressive outcomes by maximising the training and skills development of employees, with positive business results. “Learning and Development” can encompass coaching, mentoring programmes, bursaries, internships, e-learning, etc.

Aim to demonstrate:

• The effectiveness of your learning strategies or solutions in upskilling employees.
• The cost-effectiveness of your strategies or solutions.
• Their positive impact on both employee motivation and business performance.

2018 Technology Champion – Organisation

This category’s trophy will go to a company that has fully embraced digital disruption and motivated its employees to do the same, by evolving its workplace culture to become rich in the use of innovative technology; including “smart office” systems, cloud-based worksharing solutions; cutting-edge conferencing technology, digital learning opportunities for staff, etc.

Aim to demonstrate:

• An innovation-driven workplace environment, drawing on a variety of technological solutions.
• Significant level of capital invested in technology within the last 1-2 years.
• Improved business performance due to the successful integration of your human and tech capital.

2018 Technology Champion – HR Team

This award goes to an HR team that is using the latest HR-specific technology to greatest effect – making it a highly responsive and effective HR department. The result: a higher staff retention rate and effective talent acquisition; improved engagement with staff; efficient HR processes and high staff satisfaction levels.

Aim to demonstrate:

• High levels of efficiency.
• Consistent staff engagement.
• Particular tech solutions you have introduced, with positive outcomes.
• Improved departmental cost-efficiency.

Social Media Talent Sourcing Award

59% Of employees say that their company’s social media played a role in them taking the job. The winning organisation, recruitment company or HR team will be deploying a variety of social media platforms (LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, etc.) to source and acquire industry-best talent.

The judges want to know about more than acquisition numbers; they will also consider the size of entrants’ online communities, as well as the use of social media tools such as targeted post-boosting, Facebook Pixel, LinkedIn Conversion Tracking; and Google Analytics.

Aim to demonstrate:

• An effective social media-recruitment strategy – and the results thereof.
• High levels of inbound enquiries due to an extensive social media reach.

HR Tech Service Provider of the Year

This award looks for innovative South African service providers that create and distribute HR technology solutions to clients in business or government – for example, payroll software solutions or user-friendly digital HR platforms for employees. Enter now if you can showcase cost-effective tech solutions that you have provided to clients, to boost their HR function’s impact and efficiency.

Aim to demonstrate:

• Examples where your South-African-made tech solutions have had an effective, positive impact on the HR function of a client company.
• Plans to evolve or expand your offering going forward.

Corporate Wellness Champion

The winner of this category will show sustained commitment to, and investment in, employee health and wellbeing. The Judges will look for awareness campaigns or programmes focused on employee health and wellness; and a corresponding positive impact on attendance and productivity. The scope is broad: examples might range from in-office wellness classes to rest rooms, healthy catering, flexitime or natural light and aeration.

Aim to demonstrate:

• Examples of successful awareness campaigns or workplace health & wellness programmes.
• Decreased absenteeism.
• Improved employee wellness, motivation and productivity.

HR Consultancy of the Year

An “HR Consultancy of the Year” candidate is defined as an independent service provider contracted by clients, on an ad hoc or project basis, to advise on or oversee change management, improvements to HR processes, or one-on-one engagement with employees as a diplomatic and impartial resource.

Aim to demonstrate:

• Expertise in change management and human capital strategy.
• Past track record or history of successes in HR consulting, to international standards.
• Examples of ad hoc or project work for clients that has resulted in the expected outcomes.
• Testimonial material from clients may form part of your submission.

HR Rising Star of the Year Award

TASCHA HERMANN

Tascha launched Green Grass Consulting in 2012 after spotting the need for a recruitment experience that didn’t leave clients pulling at their hair. From day one, Tascha vowed to take every client and every candidate seriously – no matter how big or small. Surrounded by her strong and loyal team, Tascha is bringing more and more top people together with the right roles, and earns high praise from her clients across South Africa. Tascha, YOU are the Rising Star of 2017!

HR Hall of Fame Award

JEANETT MODISE

Jeanett has been Santam’s much loved Executive Head of HR since 2014. She also serves as Non-Executive Director for Indwe Broker Holdings. Previous roles have seen her shine at SAP Africa, AngloGold Ashanti, IDC and Mutual & Federal. Amongst many, many other achievements, Jeanett has been a Non-Executive Director for Save the Children SA. A qualified Nurse and Midwife, her impressive academics include an MBL, B.Com & MDP (Unisa), SEP and AMP. Throughout all of her years as a high-achiever, Jeanett has remained  the ultimate embodiment of a true people-leader: empathic, wise, humble and down to earth. Congratulations and welcome to the Future of HR Hall of Fame, Jeanett Modise.

HR Leader of the Year Award

Sponsored by Thomas International

DIRUSHA GANAPATHY JUTA

Dirusha’s many previous accolades attest to her extraordinary charisma and passion. At IBM, she was awarded for her contribution to a Global HR transformation project. She was awarded Group Services Excellence Award at Africa Bank for setting a new standard of HR excellence. Her most recent accolade, in February this year, saw Dirusha awarded by the World HRD Congress as one of the “100 Most Influential Global HR Professionals.”

She is a respected member of COMENSA (Coaches and Mentors of SA), the Institute of People Management and the South African Career Development Association. Motivated by a desire to make a difference and a game-changing contribution to the HR industry, Dirusha recently set up an HR and Life- Coaching Consultancy, Beyond Transform,  aimed at addressing the fundamental HR gaps identified during her own corporate career. Dirusha is truly a key thought leader in redefining the Future of HR for all of us.

HR Rising Star of the Year

Beth McBride – Toll Global Forwarding – Freight Logistics

Dirusha Ganapathy Juta – Beyond Transform –

Kamoho Mofokeng – Thabo Mofutsanyana Education District – Education and Training

Khuselwa Mtetwa – ALCM Solutions – Information Technology

Lee Watts – Travel Start – Travel and Tourism

Mafeto Mailula – Eskom – Energy Sector

Phillip Tshikotshi – Aegis Outsourcing South Africa – Telecommunication Services

Tascha Hermann – Green Grass Consulting – IT Services

Tim Barry – African Heart Celtic Soul Consultancy – Recruitment

HR Leader of the Year

sponsored by

Carol Weaving – Reed Exhibitions -Exhibition & Conference Facilities

Dirusha Ganapathy Juta – Beyond Transform – Consulting

Francois Wilbers – Work Dynamics – Business Support Services

Geraldine Mokgethi – Mustek Ltd – ICT

Gerhard Fouché – Aspen Pharmacare – Health

Heather Swinerd – Accountability – Legal Services

Loueen Jones – Otis a United Technologies Company – ICT

Nina SternBerg – Home of Living Brands – Retail

Taryn Macus – Imperial Holdings – Transport & Logistics

Teryl Schroen – Accsys – Software

Thomas Mphahlele – Umsinsi Health Care – Health

Trevor van Wyk – Pioneer Foods – Food Processsing Groups

Verna Robson – Sun International – Gaming and Leisure

Hall of Fame

Adam Craker – IQ Business – IT Sector

Bertina Engelbrecht – Clicks Group – Retail / Pharmaceutical

Celeste Sirin – Employer Branding South Africa – Consulting and Training

Jeanett Modise – Santam – Financial Sector

Jules Newton – Avocado Vision – Skills Development