There are 17 award categories in this year’s HR Leadership Awards, recognising excellence across the entire HR spectrum. The judging process for the HR Leadership Awards 2009 is broken down into two separate stages.

Submissions are assessed against a set of essential and desirable criteria. This approach allows for flexibility in recognising innovation or creativity, while specific quantitative evidence linked to business outcomes validates qualitative claims.

Nominations are first passed on to an extensive shortlisting panel, which is comprised of leading HR academics from around the country. This panel is responsible for examining each submission, and shortlisting candidates based on individual award criteria.

A final judging panel, comprised of independent industry experts and professionals, selects winners from the shortlisted finalists based on individual award criteria and in consultation with members of the shortlisting panel.

Both panels of judges will expect nominations to meet as many criteria as possible.