Klaudia Nowakowska of Hollyfort was named HR Rising Star of the Year at the HR Leadership & Management Awards 2026, claiming one of the most closely watched individual honours in Irish HR. The award was presented at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, on 15 October 2026, recognising a practitioner whose work has shaped people outcomes in a fast-growing construction business.

The judges’ citation highlighted the breadth of Klaudia’s contribution. Her work has delivered meaningful improvements in employee engagement, cost efficiency, employee relations, and learning and development. Judges singled out her ability to connect HR initiatives directly with business performance, a skill that distinguishes emerging HR leaders who can speak the language of operations and finance as fluently as that of people.

“Klaudia Nowakowska has made a significant impact across a broad range of HR functions, delivering meaningful improvements in employee engagement, cost efficiency, employee relations and learning development,” the panel said. “Her ability to connect HR initiatives with business performance is particularly impressive, supported by strong operational outcomes and leadership recognition.”

The panel also recognised the context in which that work took place. Klaudia’s contribution within a growing construction business reflects the impact that thoughtful, commercially focused HR practice can have on both employees and organisational success. In sectors where project timelines, safety standards, and workforce availability shape every decision, HR professionals who can translate people priorities into operational results are increasingly central to business planning.

The award also signals a wider shift in how the awards assess early-career and rising HR talent. Rather than judging solely on seniority or team size, the panel looked for evidence of influence, practical problem-solving, and the ability to deliver results across several HR disciplines at once. For emerging practitioners across Ireland, that standard offers a useful benchmark for their own development and for the impact they can demonstrate.

For organisations preparing 2027 entries, Klaudia’s win points to the value of nominating individuals whose impact can be evidenced clearly. Strong outcomes, supported by leadership recognition and commercial context, make a compelling case for rising talent to be heard alongside established leaders.

Visit the official HR Leadership & Management Awards website to explore winners and finalists by category, and subscribe to the newsletter for coverage of Ireland’s leading HR initiatives.