HR.com's HR Research Institute has announced the members of its 2027 Future of Human Experience Advisory Board, a panel of experienced HR professionals tasked with guiding research and industry insights on the evolving role of human experience in the workplace. For vendors selling into HR and talent management, the board's formation signals where buyer attention and research-backed priorities are likely to concentrate over the next year.
The board will steer research into key indicators of employee experience, their impact on performance, retention and engagement, and strategies for improvement. It will also examine how HR practices, programs, workplace culture, tools and technologies can foster more positive, productive and engaging employee experiences. That scope places technology squarely inside the research agenda, an opening for vendors whose products touch engagement, culture and the frontline worker experience.
"Employee experience significantly impacts people and business outcomes," said Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com. "With the contributions of our new advisory board members, we're thrilled to explore this important topic and help HR build more engaged, productive and successful workplaces."
The newly formed advisory board includes JD Dillon, Frontline Workforce Enablement & Performance Advisor, Speaker, and Techie; Amy Freshman, Senior Director, Global HR at ADP; Angela Jenifer, Global Head of Human Resources at Techwave; Anna Lekomtseva, HR Director at Drofa Comms; Mark Monaghan, VP of Organizational Development at iQor; Necco Stevens, Mortgage Business Analyst and Chief Experience Officer at TRI Pointe Connect; Paul Vagadori, Chief People Officer at Alom Technologies; Jonathan Villaire, Founder of The HR Accountability Project; and Hannah Yardley, Chief People and Culture Officer at Achievers. The mix of practitioners spans global HR leadership, organizational development and frontline workforce enablement, giving the research a practitioner-grounded footing rather than an academic one.
The findings from this research will be presented at a free virtual event in the new year, offering HR professionals actionable insights and best practices to enhance employee experience, engagement and organizational success. The event, Future of Human Experience 2027 Virtual Event March 17, 2027, is open for registration. Vendors should note that a free, research-backed event of this kind typically shapes the language HR buyers use when evaluating engagement and experience platforms.
The formation of this board matters because employee experience is increasingly tied to critical business outcomes such as retention, engagement and productivity. As organizations navigate shifting workforce expectations, having a panel of seasoned practitioners to guide research ensures that the insights are grounded in real-world challenges and practical solutions. The board's work will help HR leaders make informed decisions about programs and technologies that shape workplace culture and employee well-being, which in turn influences which vendors make the shortlist.
The HR Research Institute releases annual "State of the Industry" reports across a variety of HR topic areas, including the most recent report on this topic, HR.com's Future of Human Experience 2026. These and other free research reports and infographics can be downloaded at hr.com/researchinstitute. HR professionals interested in contributing to future research can join the HR research influencer panel to participate in surveys, share insights and earn rewards. For vendors, the panel offers a channel to understand the questions shaping HR purchasing decisions before they harden into formal requirements.
