HR Leaders Form Advisory Board to Address Evolving Compensation Challenges

The HR Research Institute has formed its 2026 Compensation and Total Rewards Advisory Board, bringing together senior HR leaders, compensation experts, and performance specialists to guide upcoming research and a virtual event on compensation and benefits. As organizations face pressure to improve pay transparency, link pay to performance, manage costs, and adapt to advances in AI and analytics, the board will help shape research on how compensation and total rewards can more directly support business strategy and talent outcomes. The board will guide the upcoming virtual event with research-backed insights on evolving total rewards strategies, helping HR leaders attract, retain, and motivate critical talent through more agile, data-driven, performance-aligned compensation approaches.

The newly formed advisory board features distinguished experts including Edelynne Austria-Gavino of Qualcomm, Lisa Barry of Cornerstone Compensation Partners, Mary Bissette-Clarke of Siemens Canada, Emily DuPont of NFI Industries, Chris Fusco of Salary.com, Gail Greenfield of Trusaic, Stephanie Martin of SpringWorks Therapeutics, Tom McMullen of Korn Ferry, Kim Taylor of USI Insurance Services, Eric Tuch of Octave, and Lauren Winans of Next Level Benefits. Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com, emphasized the strategic importance of this initiative, stating that compensation and total rewards are no longer just support functions but central to how organizations drive performance and compete for talent. This panel will ensure HR leaders have the insights they need to connect rewards strategy directly to business impact.

The advisory board's work builds upon existing research in the field, including last year's comprehensive report, HR.com's Future of Compensation and Total Rewards 2025-26, which covers similar topics. The HR Research Institute releases annual State of the Industry reports across various HR topic areas, providing valuable resources for professionals navigating complex compensation landscapes. These research initiatives come at a critical time as organizations worldwide grapple with balancing competitive compensation packages with financial sustainability while meeting increasing demands for transparency and equity in pay practices.

The virtual event scheduled for August 5, 2026, will serve as a platform for disseminating the advisory board's findings and recommendations. This gathering represents a significant opportunity for HR professionals to gain practical insights into implementing effective total rewards strategies that align with organizational goals. The formation of this expert panel reflects the growing recognition that compensation systems must evolve beyond traditional models to address contemporary workforce challenges, including the integration of artificial intelligence in compensation analytics and the need for more personalized rewards approaches that resonate with diverse employee populations across different generations and career stages.