October 7, 2026 | HR Observer Editorial Bureau
The future of work is being shaped not only by those at the top of organisations, but also by a new generation of professionals who are challenging conventional approaches, building stronger workplaces and creating measurable impact within their organisations and industries. Recognising this shift, HR Observer has announced the winners of the 2nd Edition of the HR Observer 40 Under 40 Awards – 2026, celebrating 40 professionals whose careers and contributions reflect the changing nature of leadership, talent and work.
The 2026 cohort brings together professionals from India, Singapore, Kenya, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Nigeria, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, reflecting the increasingly global nature of the HR and workforce ecosystem.
The winners represent a wide spectrum of professional disciplines—from human resources, talent acquisition and people strategy to operations, technology, entrepreneurship, legal, healthcare and business leadership.
A Cohort That Goes Beyond Traditional HR
The HR Observer 40 Under 40 initiative was created to recognise professionals who are contributing meaningfully to the HR and workforce solutions ecosystem while also acknowledging that the future of work extends well beyond the traditional HR function.
The 2026 winners demonstrate this diversity.
Among the honourees are HR and talent acquisition leaders driving workforce strategies, founders building new businesses, operations leaders managing complex organisational functions, and professionals working at the intersection of technology, people and business transformation.
From Global Talent Acquisition Director Tran Thi Ha My at VINFAST in Vietnam to Vice President and Head of People Experience and Talent Transformation Hemant Kumar Ravi at Tenarai Inc. in India, the cohort reflects the increasingly strategic role of people and talent leadership.
The list also includes entrepreneurs such as Amneet Kaur Sahdra, Founder of Catalyze, and Dr. Gaurav Nigam, Founder of Dr. Dad, alongside business and functional leaders contributing to organisational growth in their respective fields.
Leadership Across Markets and Functions
One of the defining characteristics of this year’s list is its geographical diversity. India forms a significant part of the cohort, alongside professionals from Singapore, Kenya, Jordan, the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Nigeria, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.
This diversity reflects a broader transformation taking place across the global workforce. Organisations across markets are rethinking how they attract talent, build leadership pipelines, develop employees, strengthen employee experiences and prepare their workforces for a rapidly changing business environment.
From Talent Acquisition to Transformation
Talent acquisition remains a central component of the 2026 cohort, but the role itself is changing.
The winners represent a generation of professionals increasingly responsible for much more than recruitment. Their work intersects with workforce planning, employee experience, talent transformation, organisational capability, culture and business performance.
Professionals including Kavneet Kaur, Digital Ocean; Maris Pihle, Samsung Electronics MENA; Tze Hui Chung, UOB; Faisal Aldossary, KPMG Saudi Arabia; and Sana Sadaq, IDEMIA reflect the changing expectations placed on talent and people professionals.
Their roles demonstrate how recruitment and talent functions are becoming increasingly connected to broader organisational strategy.
Recognising Impact Beyond Job Titles
The 40 Under 40 2026 Awards are not intended simply to recognise senior titles or career progression.
The initiative seeks to identify professionals demonstrating leadership, innovation, meaningful impact, professional achievement, resilience and the potential to shape the future of work.
HR Observer’s 2026 selection approach considered professional achievements, leadership contributions, impact and the broader significance of each individual’s work.
As with the previous edition, the initiative looks beyond conventional HR titles and recognises professionals whose work contributes to people, organisations and the wider workforce ecosystem.
HR Observer 40 Under 40 – 2026
The 40 winners of the 2026 edition, listed alphabetically, are:
The HR Observer 40 Under 40 – 2026
The 40 winners of the 2026 edition, listed alphabetically, are:
| Winner | Organisation | Designation | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aiswarya J | Arabian Beverage Company | Human Resources Officer | Kuwait |
| Alaa Mostafa | Vantage | Talent Acquisition Specialist | Egypt |
| Amneet Kaur Sahdra | Catalyze | Founder | India |
| Batoul Zghoul | Jo Academy | Human Resources Manager | Jordan |
| Charlene Ser | Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) | Talent Acquisition Manager | Singapore |
| Christine Fahel | KPMG Middle East | Talent Development Lead | Jordan |
| Dr. Arunkumar Chandrasekaran | Yashodha Hospital | AGM – (Head of Operations) | India |
| Dr. Gaurav Nigam | Dr. Dad | Founder | India |
| Esther W. | VSquared Networks | Head of Human Resources & Administration | Kenya |
| Faisal Aldossary | KPMG Saudi Arabia | Talent Attraction Specialist | Saudi Arabia |
| Gladys Phua | UOB | AVP, Talent Acquisition Advisor | Singapore |
| Harisudhan Prithiviraj | Redington Middle East and Africa | Manager – HR & Admin – West Central & North Africa | Nigeria |
| Hemant Kumar Ravi | Tenarai Inc. | Vice President and Head of People Experience and Talent Transformation | India |
| Ipshita Mukerjee | Taazaa Inc | Director – HR | India |
| Jacinta Kahi | iSON Technologies | HR Manager – Eastern Africa | Kenya |
| Joyce Wamuyu Ngumbi | Rentokil Initial | HR Officer – Eastern Africa | Kenya |
| Juhayer Al Rasheed | Fugro | Senior Legal Counsel | Qatar |
| Julliet Waita | SUN PHARMA | Head of Human Resources (Kenya) | Kenya |
| Khalid Al Shizawi | UAE Space Agency | Head of Talent Acquisition | United Arab Emirates |
| Kavneet Kaur | Digital Ocean | Senior Recruitment Coordinator | India |
| Kawthar Aboushaar | AS Health Group | Human Capital Director | United Arab Emirates |
| Leen Kittawi | ULA | Ultimate Learning Academy Co. | Regional Talent Acquisition Specialist | Jordan |
| Mariam Al Haddad | Mubadala | Head of Talent Operations | United Arab Emirates |
| Maris Pihle | Samsung Electronics MENA | Talent Acquisition Manager | United Arab Emirates |
| Mercy K. | ICRC | HR Officer | Kenya |
| Mohamed El Atik | Dulsco Group | Human Resources Business Partner | India |
| Pascal Elias | M42 Health | Vice President, Human Capital | United Arab Emirates |
| Rizwana Shaikh | ACME Housing | CHRO | India |
| Roshan C Raju | — | Healthcare Operations Leader Hospital Operations | Facilities | Service Excellence | India |
| Sana Sadaq | IDEMIA | HR Lead | United Arab Emirates |
| Shirisha GV | CtrlS Datacenters | Assistant Manager – HRBP | India |
| Stephanie Yeo | Great Eastern | Talent Acquisition Partner | Singapore |
| Tasneem Lokhandwala | Pay10 Global | Global Senior Manager HR | United Arab Emirates |
| Tirada Na nongkhai | Mizuhada Group | HR Manager | Thailand |
| Tran Thi Ha My | VINFAST | Global Talent Acquisition Director | Vietnam |
| Tze Hui Chung | UOB | AVP, Talent Acquisition | Singapore |
| Uchenna Okpara Izuagba | Gastronaut Hospitality | Chief Human Resources Officer | United Arab Emirates |
| Vanessa Tavares | Alghanim International | Head of HR, Talent Acquisition and Learning & Development | Kuwait |
| Viraj Vidwans | Lumen Technologies | Associate Manager HRBP | India |
| Virak PHEAP | Brightstar International School | HR Manager | Cambodia |
Celebrating the Leaders Shaping What Comes Next
The 2026 HR Observer 40 Under 40 cohort represents a generation entering leadership at a defining moment.
AI and automation are transforming jobs. Organisations are redesigning workforce models. Employee expectations are changing. Talent markets are becoming increasingly global, while the boundaries between HR, technology, business strategy and organisational transformation continue to disappear.
In this environment, tomorrow’s leaders will need to do more than manage change. They will need to create it responsibly, connect people with business outcomes and build organisations capable of adapting continuously.
The professionals recognised in this year’s list are already contributing to that transformation.
Their stories are different, their markets are different and their functions are different—but they share a common characteristic: a demonstrated commitment to creating meaningful impact through their work.
HR Observer congratulates all 40 winners of the HR Observer 40 Under 40 Awards – 2026 and celebrates their achievements, leadership journeys and contributions to the future of work.
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