We're looking for experienced HR leaders to help us judge the 2026 Middle East People Awards. A strong panel will ensure fair assessment as entries grow across the region.
The CIPD in the Middle East wants senior leaders to join the judging panel for the 2026 Middle East People Awards. The programme grows every year with more entries, more countries taking part and more sectors represented. We’re also adding new categories based on feedback from the region’s people professionals.
We launched the Middle East People Awards in 2019. Since then, they’ve become a trusted way to recognise excellence in people management and development. Each year, we see more entries from more places.
Entries come from aviation, financial services, energy, FMCG, healthcare, government and professional services. They span both public and private sectors, showing how diverse people practice is across the region. Nominations for the 2026 cycle open on 20 May, which is International HR Day.
We’re proud of our judging process. It’s what makes the awards credible. Each year, we build a panel that reflects the region’s people community.
We need judges with senior experience. You should be (or have been) a CHRO, HR director, head of talent, L&D or OD, senior HR consultant, or business leader with strong people leadership credentials. We recommend at least 10 to 15 years’ experience in senior roles.
We also want the panel to reflect the diversity of the region’s people profession. This means:
Our aim is to bring together corporate practitioners, consultants, thought leaders, regional nationals and international experts. This gives every entry a fair assessment.
“Our judges bring deep expertise and regional insight, and their contribution is essential to ensuring the awards reflect the diversity, ambition and professionalism of our community.”
Our judging process is what makes the awards trustworthy. We keep improving it as the programme grows.
Here’s what’s involved:
Each judge commits one full day per category during the presentation period. This ensures you can properly engage with the work being presented.
“As the awards continue to grow each year, we remain committed to a fair, balanced and transparent evaluation that reflects the highest standards of the people profession across the region.”
We assess all entries against the CIPD Profession Map. This means looking for evidence‑based practice, outcomes‑driven work and principles‑led decision‑making. This approach strengthens confidence in the results and raises standards across the region’s people profession.
As a thank you for your time, energy and expertise, we’ll invite all our judges to the 2026 Middle East People Awards ceremony on 10 December in Dubai, free of charge. We’ll also recognise all judges during the gala.
We want senior leaders who care about recognising the work shaping the future of the people profession in the Middle East. You should have significant leadership experience in people practice and be able to commit to the scoring and presentation stages.
If you’d like to be considered for the 2026 judging panel, please complete the expression of interest form. For more information, contact us at awards@cipd.ae.
17 Mar, 2026
16 Feb, 2026
