The HR Research Institute has announced the formation of its 2026 State of People Analytics Advisory Board, bringing together industry leaders and data experts to guide a major research initiative and virtual event centered on HR analytics in the workplace. As HR leaders face growing pressure to connect workforce strategy with measurable business outcomes, this advisory board will provide expert guidance on using people data to make more intelligent, equitable, and actionable decisions. The board comprises forward-thinking practitioners, analytics specialists, and HR veterans who will shape research and practical insights to help HR teams tackle challenges such as skills gaps, evolving technology, and complex organizational demands.
The advisory board's work will directly inform an upcoming study and virtual event designed to equip HR professionals with frameworks, tools, and strategies for integrating analytics into daily HR operations, organizational culture, and strategic planning. With a particular emphasis on AI-enabled solutions, the board aims to provide expertise that helps organizations harness data to drive results, enhance workforce performance, and support inclusive, evidence-based decision-making. The virtual event, HR.com's State of People Analytics 2026 Virtual Event, is scheduled for June 17, 2026.
The newly formed advisory board includes distinguished experts such as Ranjan Dutta, Ph.D., Founder and Managing Partner of ThothProAI; Helen Friedman, Partner and CEO of Merit Analytics Group LLC; Jeff Higgins, Founder and CEO of Lytiqs; Fiona Jamison, Ph.D., VP Research & People Analytics at People Results; Mike Kidwell, Executive Director and Senior Lead Analytics Consultant at Wells Fargo; Shane McGowan, Talent Analyst, People Data and Analytics at S&S Activewear; Viktor Mirovic, CEO of KeenCorp; Adam Murphy, Director, People Analytics & Systems at AMC Theatres; Miles Overholt, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Strategia Analytics; Lisa Perez, Founder of National Management Training Week, Keynote Speaker at HBL Resources; and Konstantin Tskhay, Founder and Managing Partner of Tskhay & Associates, Inc.
Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com, stated, "We're thrilled to unite HR and analytics experts to guide our upcoming research and virtual event. Their insights will empower the HR community to use data and AI-driven analytics to make smarter, fairer, and more effective workplace decisions." The HR Research Institute publishes annual "State of the Industry" reports across various HR topics, including the recent HR.com's State of People Analytics 2025-26 report. This and other free research reports and infographics are available for download at https://hr.com/researchinstitute.
