HR tech is changing fast. New tools, especially AI, are reshaping how teams hire, plan, and support employees. It’s hard to keep up. That's why we need to follow the right voices in the HR industry. The best HR tech speakers aren’t just sharing ideas. They’re working through these changes in real teams and bringing back what actually works.
In this guide, we’ve highlighted 15 HR tech speakers to follow in 2026. Whether you’re an HR professional seeking trusted insights or an HR team planning a webinar or event, these speakers are worth your attention. They are organized by what they are known for.
#
Speaker
Role
Company
Known For
1
Josh Bersin
Founder
Josh Bersin Academy
HR tech research, AI in HR, corporate learning
2
Q Hamirani
Chief People Officer
HighLevel
Future of work, AI in HR, work culture in hypergrowth companies
3
Lucy Adams
CEO
Disruptive HR
Rethinking traditional HR, HR Disrupted book
4
Wolfgang Brickwede
Director
Institute for Competitive Recruiting
Recruiting benchmarks, AI in talent acquisition
5
Ben Eubanks
Chief Research Officer
Lighthouse Research & Advisory
AI in HR, Artificial Intelligence for HR book
6
Manjuri Sinha
VP HR
Miro
Skills-based hiring, scaling talent in tech companies
7
Theo Smith
Founder
Neurodiversity at Work
Neuroinclusive hiring, DEI, Neurodiversity at Work book
8
Nickle LaMoreaux
CHRO
IBM
AI-powered HR at enterprise scale, skills-based talent strategy
Not every HR influencer makes a great speaker. The ones who consistently deliver at webinars and events tend to share a few qualities.
Storytelling and Authenticity
They use personal anecdotes and real-world scenarios to create emotional connections and make complex information memorable.
Empathy and Human-Centricity
They understand employee experiences, addressing the "human" side of human resources to boost morale rather than just focusing on policies.
Active Listening and Engagement
They foster a two-way dialogue, encouraging interaction and actively listening to their audience rather than just presenting to them.
Practitioner Experience, Not Just Theory
The best HR tech speakers have done the work. They've led talent functions, built recruiting teams, navigated workforce change, or built tools for the industry. That lived experience shows in how they answer questions and handle pushback.
Discover and book vetted speakers in HR tech on Find-a-speaker.
The Top 15 HR Tech Speakers in 2026
Industry Influencers and Keynote Speakers
Established voices with broad reach and deep expertise across HR strategy, technology, and the future of work.
1. Josh Bersin
Global HR industry analyst and founder of the Josh Bersin Academy
Josh Bersin is one of the most recognized names in HR technology. He founded Bersin & Associates in 2001 before selling to Deloitte, and has spent over two decades researching and advising on HR tech, talent management, and corporate learning. He now leads the Josh Bersin Academy, a development platform for HR professionals, and publishes widely-followed research on AI's impact on HR.
What he speaks about:
AI and automation in HR and talent management
The future of corporate learning and skills development
HR technology market trends and vendor landscapes
Building a human-centered, data-driven HR function
Why HR teams should book him: Josh brings research-backed insights to complex topics and translates them into practical implications for HR leaders. His name alone drives registrations.
Q Hamirani is a Chief People Officer, executive coach, and public speaker with experience scaling people functions at some of the world's fastest-growing companies, including Airbnb, where he served as Global Head of People Operations. He is currently CPO at HighLevel, a remote-first SaaS platform where he added 1,000 hires in a single year.
What he speaks about:
AI and emerging technology in HR and people functions
Scaling culture and people strategy in hypergrowth environments
HR operating model redesign for the AI era
Building trust between people leaders and AI tools
Why HR teams should book him: Q brings rare practitioner depth, scaling HR at Airbnb through an IPO, then rebuilding people functions at hypergrowth startups, combined with a real point of view on what AI-first HR actually looks like in practice.
Lucy Adams is the founder of Disruptive HR, a consultancy and community challenging traditional HR thinking. A former BBC HR Director, she is the author of HR Disrupted, which is one of the most widely-read books in the HR practitioner community. She also hosts a podcast that has built a significant following among forward-thinking people professionals.
What she speaks about:
Rethinking traditional HR models and practices
Building HR functions that treat employees as adults, consumers, and contributors
HR's strategic role in modern organizations
Leadership and culture change
Why HR teams should book her: Lucy brings a refreshingly direct and often contrarian take to HR topics. Her sessions generate strong discussion and are especially effective for audiences ready to challenge the status quo.
Wolfgang Brickwedde is the founder and director of the Institute for Competitive Recruiting, which runs proprietary annual research with up to 1,000 companies and produces Germany's most-referenced recruiting benchmarks. Before the ICR, he held senior roles at SAP and Philips in employer branding and recruitment across Europe. He organizes the Future of Recruiting Summit and the ICR Recruiting Trends Conference, each attracting up to 3,000 participants.
What he speaks about:
Recruiting performance management and benchmarking
AI and technology in talent acquisition
Employer branding and sourcing strategies
Data-driven recruiting and HR tech adoption
Why HR teams should book him: Wolfgang combines real research with practitioner experience, making him a strong choice for evidence-based sessions on recruiting strategy and HR technology trends.
Ben Eubanks leads research at Lighthouse Research & Advisory, where he studies how HR technology is reshaping talent acquisition, learning, and workforce management. He is the author of Artificial Intelligence for HR, one of the most practical books written on AI's role in people functions, and hosts the We're Only Human podcast focused on the intersection of technology and people.
What he speaks about:
AI in HR — practical applications and what actually works
HR technology adoption and implementation challenges
Talent acquisition technology and recruiting innovation
Learning and development in the age of AI
Why HR teams should book him: Ben translates research into actionable advice without the hype, making him a practical and credible voice for HR teams actively evaluating technology.
Manjuri Sinha has over 20 years of international HR experience spanning talent acquisition, talent management, DEI, and HR business partnering across tech, e-commerce, and consulting. She is recognized on the Talent100 Global Power List and has spoken at LinkedIn Talent Connect New York, Unleash World Paris, HR Core Lab Barcelona, and dozens of other global conferences.
What she speaks about:
Building and scaling talent acquisition functions in tech companies
Skills-based hiring and talent architecture
DEI strategy and inclusive hiring practices
AI as a teammate — reshaping leadership and team dynamics
Why HR teams should book her: Manjuri speaks from genuine practitioner experience at high-growth tech companies and brings a data-informed perspective to talent topics that HR leaders can immediately apply.
Theo Smith is a leading neurodiversity advocate, talent acquisition leader, and co-author of the award-winning book Neurodiversity at Work. He has worked with global organizations including EY, LinkedIn, Zalando, and the NHS to build neuroinclusive hiring frameworks and train hiring managers. He hosts the Neurodiversity with Theo Smith podcast and has trained 50,000+ professionals across 25+ countries.
What he speaks about:
Neurodiversity in the workplace — practical frameworks, not just awareness
Neuroinclusive hiring and talent acquisition strategies
DEI and inclusive HR practices from a lived-experience perspective
Future of work and unlocking neurodivergent talent
Why HR teams should book him: Theo brings lived experience and practitioner depth to a topic that most HR teams are still figuring out. His sessions consistently generate the highest Q&A engagement of any panel or event.
Nickle LaMoreaux is IBM's CHRO, overseeing people strategy for a 275,000-person global workforce. She was named HR Executive of the Year in 2024 and keynoted HR Tech 2025 in Las Vegas, where she shared insights from IBM's AI transformation journey, including how AI agents are reshaping employee experience and HR operations at scale. She is one of the most credible voices on what AI-powered HR actually looks like in practice at enterprise scale.
What she speaks about:
AI implementation in HR at enterprise scale
Skills-based talent strategy and workforce planning
Employee experience in large, distributed organizations
HR's strategic role in driving business transformation
Why HR teams should book her: Nickle speaks from the experience of running one of the world's largest people functions through a major AI transformation. She shares insights that are directly applicable to enterprise HR teams navigating the same shift.
Stacy Donovan Zapar has over 20 years of experience in talent acquisition, including roles at Amazon, Netflix, and Zappos. She founded The Talent Agency, a boutique consultancy specializing in talent attraction, sourcing, and executive search. She is a sought-after keynote speaker on modern recruiting practices, employer branding, and candidate experience, and has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, and The Washington Post.
What she speaks about:
Modern talent attraction and candidate experience
Social recruiting and employer branding
Building and scaling high-performing recruiting teams
Diversity sourcing and inclusive hiring practices
Why HR teams should book her: Stacy combines deep practitioner experience with an approachable, practical speaking style. Her sessions on candidate experience and modern recruiting practices are relevant to any HR team actively hiring.
Katrina Kibben founded Three Ears Media after starting their career as Monster.com's first social media hire. They specialize in helping organizations write better job postings and build more human-centered hiring strategies. Their workshops have helped recruiting teams at Fortune 100 companies transform how they attract and connect with candidates.
What they speak about:
Writing job postings that attract the right candidates
Human-centered hiring strategy
Candidate communication and employer voice
Inclusive language in recruiting
Why HR teams should book them: Katrina covers a topic every HR team deals with, which is "how to write about open roles."
Dr. Anastasia Dedyukhina is a globally recognized expert on digital wellbeing and the founder of Consciously Digital, an international network of 130+ digital wellbeing coaches. A two-time TEDx speaker and bestselling author of Homo Distractus, she has delivered over 1,000 keynotes worldwide for clients including Microsoft, Google, HSBC, and Lush. Her work explores how technology use affects focus, trust, cognitive performance, and employee wellbeing in the AI age.
What she speaks about:
Digital wellbeing and tech-life balance at work
The impact of AI on human attention, creativity, and mental health
Building organizational cultures ready for the future of work
Neuroscience of distraction and how to manage it
Why HR teams should book her: Anastasia addresses one of the most urgent and underserved challenges in HR – employee wellbeing in an always-on, AI-saturated work environment with research-backed insights and a compelling personal story.
David Timis is a keynote speaker focused on the impact of AI on the future of work. A Global Shaper at the World Economic Forum, he has delivered keynotes and workshops for Google, the European Commission, Coca-Cola, KPMG, Cambridge University, and TEDx.
What he speaks about:
The impact of AI on jobs, skills, and the future of work
AI literacy and prompt engineering for professionals and organizations
Skills-based hiring in the age of automation
Career coaching and navigating the changing job market
Why HR teams should book him: David is one of the most active voices on AI and the future of work, with a broad range of formats from keynotes to interactive workshops.
David Green is a globally recognized expert in people analytics and data-driven HR. As Executive Director at Insight222, he works with global organizations to use employee data ethically and strategically. He previously served as Global Director of People Analytics at IBM Watson Talent, and hosts the Digital HR Leaders podcast, one of the most widely followed shows in the HR tech space.
What he speaks about:
AI's role in HR decision-making and workforce planning
People analytics strategy and implementation
The ethical use of employee data
Measuring HR's business impact through data
Why HR teams should book him: David is the most credible and accessible voice on people analytics, which is a topic HR teams increasingly need to understand but often struggle to act on.
Jacob Morgan is a five-time bestselling author whose books include The Future Leader, The Employee Experience Advantage, and The Future of Work. He founded the Future of Work Leaders community, which is a global network of C-level people leaders. He also hosts the Future Ready Leadership podcast. He has spoken for hundreds of organizations including Cisco, Gartner, and SAP.
What he speaks about:
The future of work and leadership in a changing world
How AI is reshaping the workplace and the powerful new role humans play
Building future-ready leaders and organizations
Why leading with vulnerability wins in the age of AI
Why HR teams should book him: Jacob consistently translates big-picture future of work trends into actionable leadership and HR strategies, making him effective for executive and HR leadership audiences.
Hung Lee is the curator of Recruiting Brainfood, one of the most widely-read talent industry newsletters globally, and the host of Brainfood Live, a weekly live show covering the latest developments in recruiting and HR tech. A former CEO of Workshape.io, Hung has become one of the most connected and respected community builders in the talent acquisition space.
What he speaks about:
Recruiting trends and the evolving talent market
AI's impact on talent acquisition and sourcing
Building and engaging talent communities
The changing role of the recruiter in an AI-first world
Why HR teams should book him: Hung has his finger on the pulse of the global recruiting community more than almost anyone. His sessions feel current, direct, and grounded in what's actually happening in the market right now.
How to Choose the Right HR Tech Speaker for Your Webinar or Event
Match the Speaker to the Topic, Not Just the Name
A well-known speaker covering the wrong topic won't deliver. Before reaching out, be clear on what your audience needs to hear. Do you need a practical talent acquisition advice, a challenge to rethink traditional HR, or a data-driven take on AI adoption? Then find the speaker whose specific expertise matches that need.
Consider Their Audience Overlap With Yours
The best speakers bring their own audience. When evaluating a speaker, look at their LinkedIn following, newsletter, and community presence, not just their credentials. A speaker with an active, relevant audience in the HR space will drive more registrations than a famous name with a passive following.
Check How They Perform in Live, Interactive Formats
Speaking on a stage and performing well in a webinar or panel are different skills. Look for evidence of how a speaker handles live Q&A, audience interaction, and unscripted moments. Testimonials from event organizers, video clips from past webinars, and podcast appearances are the fastest way to assess this.
How to Book HR Tech Speakers for Your Webinar or Event
Booking the right HR tech speaker doesn't have to take weeks. Here's how to find and secure the right person for your event.
The Easiest Way: Use Find a Speaker
Find a Speaker is a free marketplace that connects HR teams and event organizers with verified speakers across HR and other industries without the back-and-forth of cold outreach.
Booking a speaker through Find-a-Speaker is easy and only takes three steps:
Use the category filter and choose “HR.”
Check out the speaker profiles and watch their previous sessions.
Send them a message directly through their preferred contact method.
Reach Out With a Clear, Specific Ask
Speakers receive a lot of vague outreach. A clear, specific ask gets a much faster response than a generic inquiry. Include:
What's in it for them: audience access, replay distribution, exposure
Offer Audience Exposure and Distribution
Many speakers, especially practitioners who aren't full-time public speakers, are motivated by audience reach more than fees. If your webinar reaches an HR audience they want to be in front of, lead with that.
Highlight your audience demographics, not just the size
Mention any newsletter, social promotion, or community distribution that comes with the event
Find Speakers Through HR Communities and Events
The best HR tech speakers are active in the communities they serve. Start by looking at speaker lineups from:
HR tech speakers typically cover talent acquisition and recruiting technology, AI's impact on HR and the future of work, people analytics, employee experience, DEI, digital wellbeing, skills-based hiring, and workforce planning. The best speakers connect these topics to practical, organization-level implications rather than staying at the trend level.
How do I find the right HR speaker for my webinar?
Start with what your audience needs to hear, not who is most famous. Identify two or three specific topics your HR audience is actively trying to solve, then find speakers with real knowledge in those areas. Check how they perform in live formats. Tools like Find a Speaker can also surface relevant options you might not already know.
How much does it cost to book an HR tech speaker?
Speaker fees vary widely. Industry analysts and authors with large followings typically charge $10,000–$30,000+ for keynotes. Mid-level practitioners and community voices may speak for significantly less or in exchange for audience exposure. For webinars specifically, many practitioners will speak for free if the audience is relevant to them.
Conclusion
The HR tech space has no shortage of opinions. What it does have a shortage of is speakers who combine genuine practitioner experience with the ability to make complex topics accessible and actionable for a live audience.
The 15 speakers on this list represent a range of perspectives from global industry analysts and seasoned CHRO practitioners to neurodiversity advocates and AI-focused future of work experts. Whether you're building a webinar series, planning an HR event, or simply looking for voices worth following in 2026, this list is a strong starting point.
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