As recruitment technology evolves at a breakneck pace, HR.com’s HR Research Institute has announced the formation of its 2026 Recruitment Technology Advisory Board, a group of distinguished HR leaders and talent acquisition experts tasked with guiding new research and educational programming. The board will provide strategic insights to 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 advancing rapidly, creating new opportunities to improve hiring efficiency and the candidate experience,” said Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com. “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 delve into the current state of recruitment technologies, including the growing impact of AI, identify which solutions are being used most successfully, examine how employers measure recruiting performance through technology, highlight emerging best practices, and look ahead at the next generation of recruitment innovations. This initiative comes as organizations increasingly turn to automated tools to streamline hiring processes and enhance candidate engagement.
The newly formed 2026 Future of Recruitment Technologies Advisory Board features six experts: 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-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. Their collective experience spans various industries and recruitment functions, providing a broad perspective on the challenges and opportunities in modern talent acquisition.
The advisory board will help guide the HR Research Institute‘s upcoming study, which is part of the institute’s annual “State of the Industry” reports. Last year’s report on this topic, HR.com’s Future of Recruitment Technologies 2025-26, provided a comprehensive analysis of how organizations are adopting recruitment technologies. These free research reports and infographics are available for download at hr.com/researchinstitute.
The importance of this initiative lies in the rapid transformation of the recruitment landscape. With AI and automation becoming integral to hiring, organizations need reliable, data-driven insights to navigate the myriad of available tools. The advisory board’s work will help HR professionals understand which technologies deliver tangible results, how to measure their impact, and what innovations are on the horizon. This research is critical for companies seeking to stay competitive in attracting and retaining top talent.
HR.com’s HR Research Institute, powered by HR.com, identifies key trends and best practices to assist more than 2 million HR professionals and their organizations in making strategic decisions. The institute has published hundreds of high-quality reports across a wide array of HR topics, based on surveys developed with the assistance of advisory boards comprising thought leaders and industry experts. These resources are part of HR.com’s free membership, which offers access to over 300 exclusive primary research reports and infographics.
The upcoming virtual event, titled “Future of Recruitment Technologies 2026,” is scheduled for November 18, 2026, and registration is available for free. This event will provide a platform for HR professionals to learn about the latest trends and best practices in recruitment technology, directly informed by the advisory board’s insights.
