Latest / Edan Haddock - Total Talent / Top 20 HR Influencers in Australia 2025 – Spotlight & Stories

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Top 20 HR Influencers in Australia 2025 – Spotlight & Stories · Edan Haddock - Total Talent

• 0:51
  SPEAKER_00: Hi everyone and welcome back to Eden Haddock Total Talent.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_00: I'm your host, Eden Haddock, Head of Talent and People Experience at Movember.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_00: Today's episode is a bit special.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_00: We're diving into Favorcon's top 20 HR influences in Australia for 2025.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this list is fascinating because it's not about who's loudest or who's got the biggest following.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: It's about who's consistent, authentic, and actually shaping the HR conversation in Australia.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: And yes, I'm on the list too, but today isn't about me.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: It's about celebrating the incredible voices who are pushing our industry forward.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: So does a list like this matter?
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_00: HR has changed.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_00: We used to be in the background, contracts, payroll, compliance, all of that.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_00: Important always, of course, but but invisible.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: Now HR is center stage.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_00: We're shaping culture, we're influencing strategy, we're literally redefining what success looks like in business.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_00: And the people on this list, they're the ones leading those conversations.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: They're not just recruiters, they're community community builders, right?
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_00: They're advocates, they're strategists.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_00: And here's the thing if you want to stay on the pulse, you need to know who these voices are.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_00: I've met many through this list that I wasn't following.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_00: So it's quite exciting.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_00: I want to dive into the methodology.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_00: Let's talk about the methodology.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_00: Because if you're like me, the first question is always how did they come up with this?
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_00: Is it likes, followers?
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: Is it just a popularity contest?
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: Nope.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: FavorCon actually uses something called an authority score.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_00: And it's based on three things audience, engagement, and views.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: But it's not raw numbers.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: That's why it's really interesting.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: It's percentile based.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: So you're being compared to your peers in HR, not to a TikTok influencer with a million dance followers, right?
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: They also look for consistency.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_00: Are you showing up?
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_00: Authenticity, are you the real deal?
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_00: And they even penalize for bots and fake engagement.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're just chasing vanity metrics, you won't make this list.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_00: What I love is that it rewards the right behavior, generosity, thoughtfulness, sparking conversation.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: And that's why this list actually means something.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_00: So, alright, let's get into it.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_00: Starting at number 20 and working all the way up to number one.
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_00: At number 20, Tony Ting, who is a HR leader with global experience across Asia, Europe, and Australia.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_00: Tony brings a multicultural lens to leadership.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_00: His posts highlight cross-cultural management, inclusion, and well-being.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_00: And what people love?
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_00: He makes HR human.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_00: Tony's one of the people that I mentioned I wasn't following, and I'm loving following him.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_00: At number 19, we have Carly George, who is a recruitment marketing specialist at BHP.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_00: Carly's brilliant at treating candidates like customers.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_00: Her posts balance employer branding insights with openness about ADHD and mental health.
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_00: That vulnerability is powerful.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_00: At 18, okay, it's me, Eden Haddock, Head of Talent and People Experience at Movember.
• 4:55
  SPEAKER_00: I made this list, I feel, because of building communities like Rubberband, right?
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_00: Even though I'm not leading Rubber Band, this list I probably was when it was published, right?
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_00: But I also love creating spaces like this podcast.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_00: Look, for me, it's really about connection, I feel.
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_00: I'm proud to be on the list, and I, you know, I don't want to be modest about it.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I'm celebrating.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: Number 18, Eden Haddock, head of talent and people experience at Movember.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_00: At number 17, we have India Morish Randon, who is an employer brand specialist at Booper Australia.
• 5:33
  SPEAKER_00: India ties employer branding to healthcare, helping talent see the meaning behind their work.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_00: She's really creative and she's making waves.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_00: I'm really enjoying following India.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_00: And at 16, Shane Morgan, founder and CEO of SAP Tua Group and publisher of the ANSAP magazine.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: Shane is a SAP recruitment veteran.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_00: He owns his niche, supports his community, and he's built authority by doubling down on what he does best.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_00: At number 15, we have Anna O'Dea, founder and director of Iceberg Recruitment.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_00: Anna's not just a recruiter, she's an advocate.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_00: Through her leading ladies series, she's called out gender pay gaps and workplace bullying.
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_00: She's using her platform to push real change.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_00: Again, I'm enjoying following Anna.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_00: I wasn't previously.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_00: At number 14, someone I know quite well, Laura Fraser, managing director of Fraser Tremble Executive.
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_00: Laura's agency is award-winning, but it's her voice on skills first hiring and fairness that stands out.
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_00: She's really raising the bar on candidate experience.
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_00: At number 13, we have Ben Dumcombe, director of Talent Hub, and the host of the Salesforce Recruitment Podcast.
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_00: Ben has placed over 350 Salesforce professionals.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_00: His content is deep, specialized, and practical.
• 7:19
  SPEAKER_00: He's the go-to if you're in that ecosystem, right?
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_00: Well done, Ben.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_00: Next up, at number 12, we have Ivani Salanki Prabaka, chief people officer at Adlacian.
• 7:36
  SPEAKER_00: Ivani leads people strategy for one of the world's most recognizable tech companies.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_00: She's a TED speaker, a D E I champion, and a global voice for distributed work.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_00: At number 11, Blake Thompson, founder of XRecruiter.
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_00: Blake helps recruiters set up their own agencies.
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_00: His posts mixed business advice with mentorship on resilience and accountability.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_00: He's both a coach and a doer.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_00: I've always really connected with Blake's content, and I think it's that.
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_00: It's the strategy, but it's also on the tools.
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm a and I'm a firm believer in the power of that.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_00: So we're up to the top 10.
• 8:24
  SPEAKER_00: Here we go.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_00: At number 10, we have Callum Sr., who is a recruitment specialist in digital and tech.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_00: Callum's content is simple, clear, and it's useful.
• 8:36
  SPEAKER_00: From interview tips to culture advice, he makes recruitment approachable.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_00: So authentic.
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_00: I love Callum's content.
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_00: At number nine, it is a friend.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_00: It's Russell Ayles.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_00: Russell is redefining recruitment ethics in retail and e-commerce.
• 8:57
  SPEAKER_00: His influence comes from standing firm on transparency and fairness.
• 9:01
  SPEAKER_00: And again, he owns his niche.
• 9:05
  SPEAKER_00: Well done, Russell.
• 9:06
  SPEAKER_00: Love you, mate.
• 9:08
  SPEAKER_00: At number eight, we have Nicola Steele.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_00: Nicola is a senior executive at the Advisory Board Center.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_00: She is a podcaster and she's a LinkedIn top voice.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_00: Nicola has 25 years in tech recruitment.
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_00: Wow.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_00: She mentors, speaks, podcasts.
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_00: She's a true builder of talent communities.
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_00: At number seven, we have Emma Egan.
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_00: She is a strategic HR recruiter and career coach.
• 9:38
  SPEAKER_00: With over two decades in HR recruitment, Emma now also coaches.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_00: And what sets her apart is her generosity.
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_00: She constantly shares resources and advice.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_00: Number six is Jessica Kimber, employer brand and inclusion leader.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_00: Jessica doesn't rely on corporate clout.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_00: She's built her influence on consistency and authenticity, carving her own space in EVP and inclusion.
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_00: All right, we are now going to talk to the top five on the list.
• 10:18
  SPEAKER_00: At number five, we have Trisha Chapman, leadership and people strategist.
• 10:25
  SPEAKER_00: Trisha focuses on leadership blind spots, emotional intelligence, inclusivity, and practical advice.
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_00: Her posts are research-based, but they're very actionable.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_00: So they connect really well.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_00: I love following Trisha.
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_00: At number four, we have Matt McFarlane, senior HR thought leader.
• 10:49
  SPEAKER_00: Now, Matt doesn't post daily.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_00: In fact, he posts quite sparingly.
• 10:56
  SPEAKER_00: But when it does, it matters.
• 10:58
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that's that's really sound advice.
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_00: His inserts are grounded, clear, and they're trusted.
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_00: He doesn't take a spray and pray approach to his content.
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_00: And it's really great to see that at number four, ranking number four.
• 11:13
  SPEAKER_00: It's not all about volume.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_00: At number three, another friend, Rich Lewis Jones from Smart Recruiters.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_00: And Rich is a HR transformation consultant.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_00: Rich is bold.
• 11:27
  SPEAKER_00: He calls that outdated HR practices and sparks debate.
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_00: He's the provocateur on this list.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_00: You love me saying that, Rich.
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_00: And we really need those voices.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_00: Number two, unsurprisingly, Mitch King, who's workforce strategy and a future of work specialist is how he is described.
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_00: He takes big themes, AI, generational shifts, hybrid works, and turns them into insights that leaders can act on today.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_00: But he is bloody funny.
• 12:01
  SPEAKER_00: There is so much humor in Mitch's content, and that's why we've all connected with Mitch and that power of authenticity.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_00: Well done, Mitch.
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_00: And at number one, we have Nikki DeSilva, employer brand and HR innovation lead.
• 12:18
  SPEAKER_00: Nikki's content is consistent, authentic, and practical.
• 12:22
  SPEAKER_00: She's shaping conversations around employer branding and the future of HR, which is why she's right on the top of the list.
• 12:30
  SPEAKER_00: So celebration, Nikki DeSilva.
• 12:34
  SPEAKER_00: Reflections.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_00: So what do we learn from this, right?
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna put it into four categories.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_00: So first up, employer branding is everywhere.
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_00: From Nikki to India to Kali.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_00: It now really is the strategic pillar in our people functions.
• 12:55
  SPEAKER_00: Second, mental health and authenticity.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_00: I keep saying it, and I always get tongue-tied when I say that word, but it is so true.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_00: Mental health and authenticity resonate, right?
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_00: Leaders like Tony and Carly show us vulnerability is influence.
• 13:13
  SPEAKER_00: The third theme: community is secret source.
• 13:17
  SPEAKER_00: Anna with leading ladies, Blake with ex-Recruiter, and me previously with rubber band.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_00: We're strongest when we build spaces for dialogue.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_00: And fourth, specialization builds trust, whether it's Ben in Salesforce, Russell in in the retail sector, Shane in SAP.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_00: They've shown that being niche is powerful and really owning your space.
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_00: But I'll just throw in finally, I'm gonna throw one more theme.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_00: What I love is there is a blend of new and established voices here.
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_00: Ivania Lassian, right?
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_00: But then you've got Jess Kimber who is rising fast.
• 13:58
  SPEAKER_00: It proves that influence is open to anyone who shows up and shows up authentically.
• 14:07
  SPEAKER_00: So key takeaways.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_00: If you're a HR professional, start small.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_00: Post once a week.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_00: Consistency beats consistency beats perfection.
• 14:19
  SPEAKER_00: If you're an organization, empower your HR leaders.
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_00: They're your best brand ambassadors.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_00: And influence isn't about polish, and you've just heard me get tongue-tied a million times as I'm trying to talk here, right?
• 14:32
  SPEAKER_00: And I always do, and I own it, and I love it.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_00: It's me.
• 14:36
  SPEAKER_00: It's about being real, it's about being generous, and it's about showing up.
• 14:41
  SPEAKER_00: So never be worried that your content is not, it's not sleek, it's not polished.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_00: Just be yourself and just share and just talk from the heart.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_00: Show up.
• 14:54
  SPEAKER_00: So that's it for this episode of Total Talent.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_00: A huge congratulations to everyone who is on FavorCon's top 20 list.
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_00: You're shaping the future of work in Australia.
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_00: If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a colleague.
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_00: Follow all of these influences, right?
• 15:11
  SPEAKER_00: Like there were, as I said earlier, there were many that I weren't what that I hadn't been following, and doing so has been been really wonderful for me.
• 15:20
  SPEAKER_00: I'm learning new things from new people.
• 15:22
  SPEAKER_00: And keep the conversation going, right?
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_00: Keep it going.
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_00: We're a great industry here in Australia.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_00: Let's celebrate it.
• 15:29
  SPEAKER_00: I hope this list is even more interesting next year because it's it's it's fascinating.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_00: I love this.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_00: I love what Favorcon are doing.
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_00: So thank you.
• 15:39
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm Eden Haddock.
• 15:41
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks for listening, and I'll catch you next time.
• 15:44
  SPEAKER_00: Cheers.