RetireAustralia’s Murray Humphrey named APAC Learning and Development Manager of the Year

RetireAustralia’s National Manager – Learning & Development, Murray Humphrey, has been named Learning & Development Manager of the Year at the Institute for Learning & Performance’s Asia Pacific Learning Impact Awards.

Notably, Murray’s achievement comes after competing against finalists from some of Australia’s largest national corporates, including 7-Eleven and Mirvac, making this recognition even more significant for RetireAustralia and the retirement living sector.

“We’re incredibly proud of the work we do in L&D, and it’s an honour to be recognised alongside so many inspiring organisations and individuals. I look forward to continuing to deliver excellent training outcomes for our RA teams.” said Humphrey.

RetireAustralia operates 29 retirement communities with over 5,000 residents across South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland—an environment in which the L&D function has become a strategic lever for service quality and workforce capability.

Humphrey’s win is a powerful endorsement of the work he leads at RetireAustralia, where he has integrated nationally recognised vocational education and training (VET) into the business, supporting more than 500 employees and ultimately enhancing resident outcomes.

He has established partnerships with RTOs that have enabled team members to attain nationally recognised qualifications from Certificate III to Diploma level. The coursework is enriched with industry-specific content, ensuring training is both accredited and aligned to real-world roles.

Performance metrics highlight the impact of this approach: over 90% of learners would recommend training to a colleague, satisfaction with L&D has reached a nine-year high, and resident satisfaction sits at 87%. These results demonstrate the tangible benefits of a robust learning and development strategy for both employees and residents.

Brett Robinson, RetireAustralia CEO, said “At RetireAustralia, our commitment to continuous learning is at the heart of everything we do. By embedding VET principles and partnering with RTOs, we’ve built a highly skilled, agile workforce that’s able to respond to change and deliver exceptional care. Murray’s leadership in Learning & Development has been instrumental in creating thriving communities where older Australians can live the life they choose in their own home. This award is a testament to the real difference our L&D team makes—not just to our people, but our residents too.”

The recognition capped a strong showing for RetireAustralia at the ILP awards, with Humphrey and L&D Advisor Chloe Smoothy also named finalists for L&D Team Excellence—a notable achievement for a two-person function supporting more than 500 employees nationwide.