When you think of HR excellence in action, whose leadership immediately comes to mind? Well, now is your chance to let us know as nominations for the 2026 CHRO Awards are officially open until the end of March 2026.
This is your invitation to recognise CHROs, HR directors, and senior HR executives who report directly to exco, and have demonstrated outstanding leadership over the past year.
Submitting a nomination couldn’t be easier. Simply click here and put forward the HR executive whose work has shaped people, business and the future of work in meaningful ways.
Every nominee will participate in a rigorous interview and evaluation process, with winners revealed at an elegant gala evening on 24 November 2026, at the Polo Room, Inanda Club.
Nominations can be submitted by a colleague, employee, partner or customer. To qualify, nominees should have held their current HR executive role for at least 18 months. For the Young CHRO of the Year Award, nominees must be 40 or younger.
CHRO South Africa also recently introduced a brand-new category that shines a well-deserved spotlight on the unsung heroes of government HR strategies – the Public Sector CHRO of the Year Award. The Public Sector CHRO of the Year award honours an outstanding leader driving innovation in government HR.
This year’s categories include:
- CHRO of the Year
- Public Sector CHRO of the Year
- Young CHRO of the Year
- Strategy & Leadership Award
- Transformation & Empowerment Award
- HR & Technology Award
- Learning & Development Award
- Talent Management Award
- Employee Value Proposition Award
Could your nominee be the one lifting one of these trophies in 2026?
To relive the previous Awards’ glitz and glam, visit the CHRO Awards website and immerse yourself in the signature glamour that continues to make this event one to highlight in the HR calendar.
