HR.com's HR Research Institute has unveiled its 2026 Recruitment Technology Advisory Board, assembling a group of respected HR leaders and talent acquisition experts to guide new research and educational programming on the technologies transforming today's hiring process. The board will provide strategic insights that will shape the upcoming HR Research Institute study and a virtual event focused on how organizations are leveraging recruitment technology, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve hiring outcomes.
Recruitment technology is evolving at a rapid pace, creating new opportunities to enhance hiring efficiency and the candidate experience. Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com, emphasized the importance of the board's role: "Our Advisory Board will help ensure our research and events deliver practical, data-driven insights that enable HR professionals to make informed technology decisions."
The research and virtual event will explore the current state of recruitment technologies, including the growing impact of AI, identify which solutions organizations are using most successfully, examine how employers measure recruiting performance through technology, highlight emerging best practices, and look ahead at the next generation of recruitment innovations.
The newly formed 2026 Future of Recruitment Technologies Advisory Board features distinguished experts including Deb Andrucuk, VP Strategic Growth at Joveo; Brian Fink, Managing Partner at The ReWork Group; Susan Hanold, Ph.D., Vice President OD, People and Change at Plan Z Solutions; Joel Kirk, Director of Talent Engagement at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; Pete Radloff, Senior Technical Leadership Recruiter at DataDog; and Jason Vogel, Senior Manager, Catalyst Executive Recruiter at PWC.
This initiative is part of HR.com's broader effort to provide valuable resources to HR professionals. The HR Research Institute regularly releases annual "State of the Industry" reports across various HR topics, including last year's Future of Recruitment Technologies 2025-26 report. These and other free research reports and infographics can be downloaded at hr.com/researchinstitute.
The implications of this announcement are significant for HR leaders and organizations navigating the rapidly changing recruitment landscape. As AI and automation become more prevalent in hiring, the need for reliable, data-driven guidance has never been greater. The advisory board's expertise will help ensure that HR professionals have access to actionable insights that can improve their hiring processes, reduce bias, and enhance candidate experiences. By focusing on the successful implementation of recruitment technologies, this research aims to empower organizations to make strategic decisions that align with their talent acquisition goals.
The forthcoming virtual event, scheduled for November 18, 2026, will serve as a platform for discussing these findings and sharing best practices. HR professionals attending will gain a deeper understanding of how to leverage technology to stay competitive in the war for talent. As the future of work continues to evolve, the insights from this research will be crucial for organizations looking to optimize their recruitment strategies and harness the full potential of AI and automation.
