Senior HR professionals from sectors ranging from technology and financial services to education, retail and healthcare have been recognised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) for their impact on organisations and workforces.
The CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, unveiled its HR30 2026 list on the opening day of its Festival of Work event in London on Wednesday. The annual recognition programme celebrates senior people leaders who have delivered significant and measurable results within their organisations over the past year.
The list reflects the increasingly strategic role HR leaders are playing as organisations respond to rapid technological change, shifting workforce expectations and ongoing economic uncertainty.
Spotlight on strategic people leadership
The HR30 programme recognises individuals judged to have delivered meaningful organisational change, innovation and workforce impact.
This year’s list includes leaders from a broad range of organisations, including insurer Aviva, semiconductor and software company Arm, retailer Matalan, coffee chain Starbucks, media company BritBox International, children’s charity UNICEF UK and several NHS trusts.
The list was assessed by an expert panel of senior HR leaders and practitioners, with recognition based on evidence of measurable impact rather than job title or organisational size.
Outgoing CIPD chief executive Peter Cheese said the profession was playing an increasingly important role in organisational success.
“This year’s HR30 recognises a group of senior HR professionals who are not only championing the value of the people profession but delivering meaningful, measurable impact for their organisations and for their workforces,” he said in comments provided to HRreview.
“As the world of work continues to shift at pace, the role of HR has never been more critical to organisational success. HR30 celebrates outstanding leadership across the profession, shining a light on those setting the direction and making a difference.”
HR’s influence continues to expand
The announcement comes as HR leaders face growing responsibilities across areas including workforce planning, artificial intelligence adoption, employee wellbeing, skills development and organisational culture.
Recent research from a range of organisations has pointed to increasing involvement by HR teams in business strategy, transformation programmes and long-term workforce planning, extending well beyond traditional personnel management responsibilities.
The diversity of organisations represented in the HR30 reflects that wider trend, with recognised leaders spanning the public, private and charitable sectors.
The HR30 2026 honourees will be formally recognised during a celebration event held as part of the CIPD Festival of Work at Excel London.
HR30 2026
The full HR30 2026 list is:
- Caroline Andrews, chief customer and people officer, IAG Cargo
- Louise Brown, vice principal, corporate services, Wigan and Leigh College
- Rami Busbait, head of talent management, Savvy Games Group
- Amanda-Jane Capon, chief people officer, idverde UK
- Jon Dawson, chief people officer, Lore Group & Global Holdings Management Group UK
- Nicola Dent, people and culture director, Stadler Rail UK
- Martyn Dicker, director of people, UNICEF UK (now Battersea Dogs Home)
- Charlotte Eaton, chief people officer, Arm
- Hannah Elkin, head of human resources, Citipost Mail
- Aly Fadil, chief people officer, Matalan
- Pamela Flynn, chief people officer, Manchester Metropolitan University
- Claire Fox, chief people officer, Digital Science
- Nik Galanis, head of equity, diversity and inclusion delivery, Department for Work and Pensions
- Debra Gardner, chief people officer, LSL
- Heather Saville Gupta, senior vice president, people and culture, BritBox International
- Danny Harmer, group chief people officer, Aviva
- Martin Holmes, people director, Creed Foodservice
- Ellie Jobes, group people director, Bagnalls
- Daniel Robert Moczynski, head of HR, NWH Group
- Sarah Moyo, people and communications director, Thalia Waste Management
- Katie Obi, chief people officer, OneAdvanced
- Julija O’Keeffe, head of people, Ringtons
- Kerri O’Neill, chief people officer, UK and Ireland, Ipsos
- Helen Pericleous, vice president of people and talent, Zilch
- Tim Pointer, operating partner, Three Hills
- Lisa Robbins, vice president, partner resources, Starbucks Coffee Company
- Cheryl Samuels, people and culture director, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation NHS Trust
- Claire Scrafton, deputy director of HR and governance, Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Saira Shah, chief people officer, West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Andrew Stephenson, former chief human resources officer, Equiniti (now with Dove Nest Group)
William Furney is a Managing Editor at Black and White Trading Ltd based in Kingston upon Hull, UK. He is a prolific author and contributor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional, with over 127 published posts covering HR, employee engagement, and workplace wellbeing topics. His writing focuses on contemporary employment issues including pension schemes, employee health, financial struggles affecting workers, and broader workplace trends.
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- William Furney
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