For years, HR projects have often been evaluated through employee satisfaction, internal perception, or the appeal of individual initiatives. The new Adriatic HR Awards seeks to shift the focus toward something else entirely: tangible business impact.
The award, which will be presented for the first time as part of HR.Weekend from September 24–27 in Rovinj, is open to projects from Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina that demonstrate how human resources can directly contribute to achieving business objectives.
The award framework has been developed by an organising committee comprising Ana Đidara, Executive Director of Human Resources at Hrvatska poštanska banka, Tome Barić, Human Resources Director at INA Group, and Bruna Kostelac Košir, Head of Talent at Invera Equity Partners.
According to Ana Đidara, the goal is not only to recognise outstanding projects but also to establish clearer professional standards.
“Adriatic HR Awards aims to set clear standards of excellence in HR and ensure that best practices are not only recognised internally within organisations but also publicly acknowledged. The emphasis is placed on strategy, execution, and results to highlight that HR initiatives must create value for organisational development,” she said.
A similar perspective is shared by Bruna Kostelac Košir, who emphasises the importance of linking HR functions with business performance and encouraging knowledge exchange across the region.
“Our vision is to raise awareness of the impact strategic HR has on business results and the ways it enables the implementation of business strategy, while also encouraging the sharing of experiences within and across regional markets,” she noted.
Tome Barić adds that the award was designed as a departure from recognition that does not reflect real outcomes.
“We wanted an award that genuinely recognises HR practices that support business performance and are not an end in themselves. We want to move away from ‘participation awards’ and focus on modern, sustainable HR practices that are business-oriented,” he said.
One of the central ideas behind the Adriatic HR Awards is positioning HR as a function that contributes directly to business outcomes rather than focusing solely on culture and internal processes.
For that reason, projects will be evaluated based on their alignment with business strategy, quality of execution, and measurable results. “This shifts the focus from the perception of HR as a ‘soft function’ to its actual role as a strategic partner influencing business outcomes,” explained Ana Đidara.
While innovation remains important, the organisers stress that it is not a goal in itself.
In their view, the strongest HR projects are not necessarily the most visible or unconventional ones, but those that address specific organisational challenges, are grounded in clear business logic, and can demonstrate their impact.
The awards ceremony will take place on September 25 as part of HR.Weekend, which has established itself as one of the leading gatherings of HR professionals in the region.
Entries for the Adriatic HR Awards are open until June 22, with the winners to be announced during the festival programme in Rovinj.
