Over 300 finalists shortlisted for Australian AI Awards

Several AI innovators in human resources have become finalists at the prestigious Australian AI Awards 2026.

Powered by Momentum Media, the third annual Australian AI Awards is poised to have its biggest year so far, with a record 305 finalists.

These include seven companies that have been nominated in the AI Innovator – Human Resources category.

The finalists for this category are Access Offshoring, Clearhead, ELMO Software, Employment Hero, nXus People, PrimeSoft Global, and TOA Global.

Momentum Media received an astounding 744 submissions this year across 10 individual and 27 group categories. The highest-scoring individual winner will walk away with the coveted Excellence Award trophy at this year’s black-tie ceremony.

Click here to view the full list of finalists.

Finalists who made the shortlist include AI innovators in accountancy services, cybersecurity, banking, industrial sector, information technology, legal practices, and aerospace, as well as academics and researchers, rising stars, and AI leaders in SMEs, startups, and enterprises.

Adoption of AI has surged in the past few years, particularly with the availability of generative AI tools like ChatGPT.

Indeed, Australian Bureau of Statistics research found that almost half reported they were embracing new technologies like AI to boost efficiencies in their business.

Adoption of AI was the highest for businesses in information, media and telecommunications (38 per cent), professional, scientific and technical services, and financial and insurance services (both 24 per cent) in 2024–25.

In this environment where businesses are pioneering the use of AI in innovative ways, the Australian AI Awards recognises professionals, organisations, and solutions that have transformed the Australian economy across human resources, as well as banking, law, defence, aerospace, mortgage broking, and cyber.

The awards celebrate individuals and businesses that developed and used innovative AI solutions to grow their businesses and provide national recognition to professionals and organisations. An Australian AI award signals to organisations, investors, boards, and clients that your work meets the highest national standard.

Winning an award could strengthen the profile of professionals and organisations, boost credibility and trust with clients, colleagues, and the wider profession, create opportunities for career progression, and help them distinguish themselves from others and gain a competitive edge in their profession and industry.

How winners are chosen

The Australian AI Awards, in conjunction with event stakeholders Momentum Media and a panel of leading AI professionals, involves a robust awards methodology to assess and benchmark Australian professionals and businesses pioneering the use of AI.

Momentum Media applies an independent, rigorous, and transparent judging process, ensuring that every winner earns their place on merit.

Each submission is reviewed independently by at least three judges with relevant domain expertise. Judges score against the published criteria for each category. The panel is drawn from industry, academia, and government, with no sitting judge permitted to assess a category in which they have a conflict of interest.

The full judging panel convenes to review scores, discuss leading submissions, and reach consensus on winners and finalists in each category. Where scores are tied, the panel chair facilitates discussion to reach a determination.

The winners will be announced on Friday, 30 October 2026 at the glittering black-tie gala ceremony at Hyatt Regency, Sydney.

Click here to buy your tickets now for the awards ceremony and don’t miss out!

For more information about the awards program, click here.

To view the full list of finalists, click here.

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