Meet Our HR Stars Awards Judges
We take the judging process of HR Stars Awards seriously, and that is why we have gathered a team of industry experts to evaluate the entries and select the winners. Our judges come from diverse backgrounds in human resources, with extensive experience and knowledge in various areas of the field. They bring a wealth of expertise to the table and are committed to maintaining the highest standards of fairness, impartiality, and transparency in the judging process. Get to know our esteemed panel of judges below.
For judging opportunities, please email
Ross P., Projects and Partnerships Director,
at hrstarsawards@chiefofstaff.asia
Blaise Habgood
Executive Vice President, Business Development (APAC) - Randstad Enterprise
Blaise is a seasoned business and talent solutions leader currently serving as Executive Vice President for Business Development in the Asia Pacific region at Randstad Enterprise. He spearheads growth strategies, partnerships, and innovation across APAC, helping organizations tackle evolving workforce challenges through integrated talent solutions.
With deep expertise in Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), blended workforce models, and talent supply chain optimization, Blaise has led initiatives that support scalable, high-impact recruiting and contingent workforce programs across multiple markets. His leadership is informed by a regional perspective and an ability to translate global best practices into locally relevant solutions.
Known for his strategic vision, commercial acumen, and drive for excellence, Blaise is a respected voice in the talent services space. As a judge for HR Stars Awards, he brings a discerning eye for innovative talent practices, fairness in evaluation, and a commitment to recognizing HR initiatives that deliver real business impact across geographies.
Nitin Goil is a global leadership advisor with more than 25 years of experience working with multinational organizations in the United States, Singapore and throughout Asia. His expertise is in the area of culture transformation, talent development and employee engagement. He is also a sought-after keynote speaker who has spoken and facilitated sessions at several regional and global conferences across Asia and North America.
Nitin’s mission is to make workplaces more compassionate and human and is a passionate thought leader, especially around topics of culture, well-being and employee engagement. He recently authored the book ‘The Restored Organization’ which talks about ‘Humanizing workplaces and Transforming Results’. He is also the co-founder and CEO of Restoration Labs, where he helps organizations transform their people and performance through courage and make workplace cultures great for all.
Nitin has a Master degree in Education & Administration and a Bachelor degree in Psychology both from the United States where he also lived and worked for 15 years before moving to Singapore in 2010. He also holds a certification in Neuroscience and is a certified ICF executive coach.
Eddie Lee is a transformational strategist and HR thought leader who founded the Future of Talent Economy (FOTE) Network to pioneer cohesive and learning organizations through forward-thinking Human Capital strategies. With deep domain expertise spanning business & people strategy, predictive analytics, organizational development, change management, and total rewards, Eddie bridges the gap between people-centric insight and sustainable enterprise impact.
He has advised multiple organizations, contributes to global HR forums, and led impactful sessions such as his keynote “Blockchain Could Shake Up the World of Work. Is HR Ready Or Will You Be Left Behind?” at HR TechFest Asia 2022, exploring how technology reshapes talent ecosystems and employee experience. Recognized as a disruptor, mentor, and speaker, his work empowers HR professionals to envision future-forward solutions that are both human and digital-first.
As a judge, Eddie brings a balance of bold innovation, strategic clarity, and inclusive perspective—identifying HR practices that aren’t just effective today, but are sustainable and transformative for tomorrow.
Sid Bhasin is an award-winning HR leader, Executive Coach, and Team Coach with nearly two decades of global HR experience. With a distinguished career at Google, Standard Chartered, Ocwen, and Aon, Sid has been instrumental in shaping HR strategy, driving transformation, managing change, and developing leaders across diverse industries and cultures.
Currently serving as Strategy & Business Operations Lead in People Experience team in the region, Sid focuses HR strategy, Business operations, and Transformation. Beyond his corporate role, Sid holds the prestigious Professional Certified Coach (PCC) designation from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). He is renowned for his expertise in leadership development, team dynamics, and organizational change, empowering senior leaders and teams to achieve their full potential.
Sid’s dedication to advancing HR practices has earned him multiple accolades, including the Chief of Staff Asia’s HR Stars Awards: Best Up & Coming HR Leader (2023), Best Career Coach (2021), and People Matters HR Leader Award (2016).
K Thivenathan, or Thivi, is a seasoned HR Leader with an illustrious career spanning multiple decades. With extensive experience working with world-renowned companies such as Coca-Cola, Honeywell, Epson, Eli Lilly, and UTAC, Thivi has established himself as a trusted advisor and expert in his field.
Thivi’s expertise lies in his ability to facilitate cross-border culture transformation and M&A initiatives, thanks to his talent for identifying pain areas of business and implementing simple yet engaging people practices to address them. Throughout his career, Thivi has won multiple industry awards and accolades, including the HR Leader Award (Malaysia, 2006), being a finalist for the Best HR Leader Award (Singapore, 2011), and winning Asia’s Best HR Team Award for Change Management (HRM Asia, 2017)
In the mid-2010s, Thivi was a member of the distinguished judging panel of Aon Hewitt Best Employer Award in Indonesia and Singapore. Over the years, Thivi has also written and contributed to numerous articles for HR magazines in the region.
Further showcasing his thought leadership, Thivi authored and published AppliedHR – Sense & Simplicity in 2023 (Singapore). The book was translated into Thai in 2025, with an extended Indonesian edition currently in the pipeline for release in 2026. (Use the buttons on the left to check it out.).
Post retirement, Thivi served as the Council Member of Institute of Adult Learning (Singapore University of Social Science) until early 2022, while continuing advisory roles for several organizations in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
This year, Thivi returns as a distinguished judge for the HR Stars Awards, bringing with him his wealth of experience and passion for advancing HR excellence across the region.
Kevin Chua is the Chief Human Resources Officer of the United World College South East Asia, a mission-led international school widely recognised as a global leader in International Education. He was also previously the Chief People Officer of the National University of Singapore, which has been consistently ranked the top three Universities in the Asia Pacific.
Prior to the Education sector, Kevin has worked in global and APAC HR roles in Fortune 500 companies in industries as diverse as Medical Technology, Pharmaceutical and Energy; as well as with premium organisations in the Singapore Public Service.
Kevin serves as a Board Director and Chairman of the HR Committee of a Nursing Home; and on the HR Committee of a Mental Health charity. He regularly speaks at HR Conferences on Leadership Development, Executive Coaching and Corporate Governance; and has been a Judge for HR Awards.
Kevin began his HR career in Learning & Development and Talent Management, and continues to be passionate about developing people to help them achieve their potential. This has led him to become a certified Executive Coach, where he has provided leadership coaching to Board Directors; and Business, Finance and HR leaders across the Asia Pacific, and across diverse industries.
As a judge at the Singapore National HR Stars Awards, Kevin’s contributions will undoubtedly enrich the selection process, ensuring the recognition of outstanding HR practices and professionals.
Jennie Lim brings over 20 years of HR leadership experience, uniting her expertise in people strategy with a forward-looking approach to technology. In 2025, she is recognized as a trailblazer in redefining HR through data analytics, generative AI and advanced HR technologies.
At the forefront of HR innovation, Jennie has embedded AI into critical functions such as talent management, workforce analytics, employee engagement, and learning & development. Her pioneering work shows how generative AI can accelerate onboarding, enhance engagement, reduce manual HR tasks such as emails, and enable employees to shape personalized career development journeys. By merging human connection with digital innovation, she empowers organizations to achieve smarter, people-centric decisions while elevating performance and employee experience.
Widely respected as a thought leader, Jennie champions AI literacy and advocates for its ethical, responsible adoption in HR. Her influence helps organizations embrace digital transformation with confidence, ensuring that technology strengthens rather than replaces the human element of work.
As a returning judge for the HR Stars Awards Singapore 2025, Jennie brings strategic insight and a visionary perspective in evaluating excellence and innovation. Her role enables her to celebrate impact, spotlight forward-thinking practices, and inspire the HR community to reimagine the future of work.
What sets Jennie apart is her ability to connect hearts, minds, and intelligent systems—balancing empathy-driven leadership with the transformative power of AI and data analytics. Her journey continues to inspire HR leaders across Asia, cementing her as both mentor and pioneer in shaping future-ready, human-centric workplaces.
Paul Howell is one of Asia’s most experienced business journalists covering workplaces and the HR profession in the region. With a media career spanning more than 20 years, and bases in Melbourne, Dhaka, Singapore, and Hong Kong, he is adept at building large-scale professional communities and empowering them with news, insights, and relevant analysis.
After leading the US-owned HRM Magazine in Singapore for more than 10 years, he launched Chief of Staff Asia in September 2021. This professional trade media brand for the digital age combines both online (website, socials, video) and offline (printed magazine, awards and live events) platforms to bring all of Southeast Asia’s HR professionals and best practice case studies together in one community.
Allison Moore is a highly accomplished professional currently serving as the Tech Editor at Chief of Staff Asia. With a genuine passion for human resources in Southeast Asia, Allison brings a unique perspective and extensive experience to her work.
A recent graduate with a double bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a diverse background in digital marketing, Allison possesses exceptional skills in copywriting, content creation, and search engine optimization. She is eager to explore the dynamic world of HR technology and use her expertise to create informative and engaging content.
As an accomplished author, Allison has published a travel guide showcasing her deep connection to her home, Bali. Her perceptiveness and strong research skills enable her to deliver insightful and thought-provoking content.
Allison’s creativity extends beyond her professional endeavours and into her free time where she pursues her artistic hobbies through painting, designing clothes, and immersing herself in captivating novels. Her well-rounded approach to life and work allows her to bring a fresh and innovative perspective to her role as a judge in the HR Stars Awards.
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