Northern Ireland’s top HR talent and best workplaces recognised at CIPD Awards

Eleven of Northern Ireland’s top employers and leading HR talent have been recognised for shaping better jobs and workplaces after winning accolades at the CIPD Awards in Northern Ireland 2026.

The awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of HR professionals and people teams who play a leading role in investing in their workforce and delivering initiatives and strategies to improve the workplace, and support business performance.

More than 350 professionals attended the black-tie ceremony held at the Titanic Belfast where the winners were announced by Mark Simpson, BBC News NI’s community correspondent, who hosted the event.

The winners of the awards are:

• Best HR student – Georgina Shephard, Northern Ireland Hospice
• Best early career/apprenticeship programme – Prestige Insurance Holdings Ltd
• Rising star of the people profession - Sorcha Conlon, PwC
• Best health and wellbeing initiative – Police Service of Northern Ireland
• Best equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiative – Danske Bank
• Best learning and development initiative – Thales
• Best employee experience programme – Danske Bank
• Best consultancy or strategic partnership – EHR Consulting
• Best in AI, technology and workforce transformation - Lewis Silkin LLP
• People Team of the Year – Fibrus Ltd

Neil Carberry, Chief Executive of the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, attended the event, commenting he said:

“It’s great to be in Belfast in my first week at the CIPD, celebrating people who are showing what outstanding people practice looks like in action.

“Productivity and performance do not improve by accident. They depend on the quality of leadership, management, skills and the decisions organisations make about their people.

“What we are recognising tonight is the impact that people professionals are having on organisations across Northern Ireland - building capability, strengthening performance and helping businesses grow.”

Outstanding HR professional 

The coveted Outstanding contribution to the field of people development in Northern Ireland went to Gillian McAuley, the former Chief People Officer at Eakin Healthcare, who retired earlier this year.

 The judges commended Gillian’s exceptional and lasting contribution to the HR profession throughout a distinguished career spanning more than 25 years in some of Northern Ireland's most respected organisations.

Throughout her senior HR roles at organisations - including Viridian Group (now Energia), Devenish Nutrition and Eakin Healthcare - Gillian has focussed on helping create workplaces where both individuals and organisations can thrive. The judges highlighted her legacy of transformational leadership and her deep commitment to putting people at the heart of organisational success.

A former employment lawyer, Gillian was the President of the NI Chamber of Commerce in 2022–23 and now remains on their Board. She also currently sits on the Board of the British Chamber of Commerce as Non-Executive Director and is a member of Council with the Ulster University.  In the past Gillian served on the NI Hospice Board and with the NOW Group.

Ryan Calvert, divisional head of HR, sales, marketing and recruitment at MCS Group - headline sponsor of the CIPD Awards in Northern Ireland - commented: 

“Throughout her impressive career in the people profession, Gillian has consistently influenced positive workplace change across many organisations in Northern Ireland.

“She remains committed and resolutely focussed in helping businesses to grow and innovate, and this is evident through her many voluntary roles and governance positions. On behalf of the profession, I’d like to congratulate her for her incredible contribution in helping to create more resilient and engaged workforces across Northern Ireland, and more productive, future-fit businesses.”