About the HRBN.

The Human Resources Benchmarking Network (HRBN) is an evolving group of Canadian municipal government HR departments who complete an annual metrics and practices survey designed and organized by Colin Dawes, founder and leader of the Network and owner and operator of HRBN Enterprises, and a noted thought partner in the fields of HR measurement and benchmarking (see more about Colin at the bottom of this page.)​

Our Mandate

The HRBN mandate is simple: to facilitate benchmarking activities amongst its members.  Membership is available only to Human Resources departments in organizations;  membership is not available to private individuals or consulting organizations.    ​​​

Conducting surveys since ​1997

The HRBN's been doing this for a long time; really since before metrics and measuring the HR function became a "thing" in Canada.  During the course of its 20-plus year history, over 200 HR departments have participated in the survey, some of them for almost the full period of the Network's existence.​

What the HRBN can do for you

If you are an HR leader or are responsible for HR metrics or analytics in a Canadian municipal government sector specifically, the HRBN can help you directly. 

As an HRBN member, you will have access a like-minded group of HR professionals in your sector to discuss measurement concerns and benchmark numbers, policy and practice - a "Benchmarking Group".  You'll also be able to participate in the HRBN's Annual Benchmarking Survey, getting a comprehensive report pertinent to your sector, covering a wide range of HR and human capital metrics. 

The Report of the Annual Benchmarking Survey will bring additional context and meaning to your numbers, valuable not just for reporting purposes or certification initiatives (like the ISO 9001 or Excellence Canada), but also to acquire much needed resources for HR programming internally.  Fundamentally, it will help you understand/confirm any areas of HR or human capital function where your department or organization (depending on the metric) may be strong, and also areas of function where improvement might be indicated.  

Even if you're not from municipal government, Colin Dawes, the founder and leader of the HRBN, is always happy to help HR professionals from any sector with their measurement and benchmarking challenges.  Just reach out with your question, challenge or concern.  See below for more information about Colin.

About Colin Dawes

Colin Dawes is the founder, leader and operator of the HRBN. He's an experienced HR practitioner, entrepreneur and author, and a recognized Thought Partner in HR metrics, measurement and benchmarking.  He has a practitioner's perspective, holding executive positions in Human Resources through the majority of his 30-plus year career.  His experience spans the full gamut of HR function.

Colin has written extensively on the subject.  In 2000, he published a reference book, Best Practices: Human Resources Benchmarking, with Carswell, the final edition (the book is out of print as of January 2021) of which, at 400-plus pages, included one of the largest compendiums of HR metrics in North America, if not internationally.  
 
Colin's passion has always been to help other HR professionals with their measurement and benchmarking challenges.  In pursuit of this goal, he has spoken to and trained HR audiences in measurement and benchmarking both nationally and internationally.  The HRBN, and his HRBN Enterprises business, grew out of that passion, and are sustained today as much by his energy and expertise, as by the energy and commitment of the HRBN members who believe in the power of measurement as he does.