Kara Smith lands Recruitment Leader of the Year final

Kara Smith of Talent New Zealand has been named a finalist for Recruitment Leader of the Year at the SEEK Annual Recruitment Awards New Zealand. Talent New Zealand is also a finalist in two other categories.

Smith, Managing Director of Talent New Zealand, was recognised for leading the business through a weak recruitment market while expanding beyond traditional agency hiring. The business now spans recruitment, consulting, AI workforce augmentation through sister company Avec, leadership development, and social impact work.

That shift was accompanied by sharp financial changes in the latest financial year. Talent New Zealand said management profit rose 3,691% between FY25 and FY26, while consulting revenue increased 89% and margin from new clients climbed 202%.

The figures suggest the business has become less reliant on traditional recruitment fees at a time when many firms in the sector have faced slower hiring demand. While much of the industry pulled back during the downturn, Talent New Zealand said it continued to invest in staff, new services, and community programmes.

Business shift

Smith has more than 20 years of recruitment experience and more than a decade in leadership roles. Under her leadership, Talent New Zealand has pursued a broader workforce services model combining recruitment with consulting and technology-related services.

One of those newer areas is AI workforce augmentation through Avec, a sister company within the wider group. Talent Group describes itself as a multi-brand organisation operating across Australia, New Zealand, and the US, spanning recruitment, consulting, project delivery, workforce augmentation, and social impact initiatives.

The New Zealand operation's internal metrics also formed part of the case for Smith's nomination. Talent New Zealand said its Culture Amp engagement score reached 91%, which it said was 25% above the industry benchmark, while the Auckland office recorded 97%.

According to the company, management and leadership scores across the business rose from 86% in 2024 to 94% in 2026. Candidate satisfaction also improved, with Auckland's candidate net promoter score rising from +70 to +81 and Wellington's increasing from +44 to +58.

People measures

The company also highlighted SPRINT, a leadership development programme that selects emerging talent based on potential rather than job title. It said the programme achieved a 100% engagement score and a participant net promoter score of +98.

Another part of Smith's role has been serving as Executive Sponsor of Rise by Talent, a programme aimed at creating technology career pathways for Māori and Pasifika rangatahi. Talent New Zealand said Rise has created 129 careers in New Zealand, achieved a 100% programme completion rate, and seen 80% of participants move into sustainable employment.

Those results helped Talent New Zealand secure a second finalist place in the Outstanding Progress in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion category. Its third finalist place is in the Large Recruitment Agency of the Year category.

The combination of financial recovery, diversification, and social programmes comes as recruitment companies adapt to changing employer demand and the growing use of automation and AI in workforce planning. For firms heavily exposed to permanent hiring, pressure to find new revenue lines has intensified in slower market conditions.

Smith said the recognition reflected the wider organisation rather than one individual. "This is a huge honour, and it belongs to the whole Talent NZ team. The last couple of years have tested everyone in our industry. Our choice was to keep investing in our people, our clients and our community, rather than pulling back," said Smith, Managing Director, Talent New Zealand.

She also linked the company's commercial performance with its social programmes. "I've never seen commercial performance and social impact as competing priorities. Through Rise, we're creating talent, not just competing for it, and making sure Māori and Pasifika rangatahi aren't left behind as AI reshapes the world of work," said Smith.

Mark Nielsen, Global Chief Executive Officer of Talent International, said Smith had reshaped the New Zealand business during a difficult period. "Kara is the kind of leader who changes the trajectory of a business and the people within it. She has successfully transformed Talent New Zealand into a more diversified, future-focused organisation while maintaining an unwavering commitment to candidates, clients and community impact," said Nielsen.