Learn how Accelagen’s new Head of People & Culture, Ano Chinogurei, is shaping a people-first culture, and leveraging tech to drive growth & engagement

As Accelagen continues its exciting growth trajectory, we’re thrilled to welcome Ano Chinogurei as our new People & Culture Lead. 

This is a major milestone for Accelagen—one that marks the creation of a dedicated People & Culture function to ensure our culture scales as we do, and our people continue to thrive. Recently, we sat down with Ano to get her take on where the HR industry is headed and what she’s excited about in her new role at Accelagen.

A career driven by purpose

With a strong background in HR leadership, counselling, and culture-building, Ano’s vast experience spans hydrogen fuel technology, social services, and corporate HR. But for her, career choices have always been driven by a commitment to purpose.

“With everywhere I work, I’m drawn to the ‘why’—the core purpose the organisation exists,” Ano shares. “Accelagen’s focus on accelerating human wellness really spoke to me. It aligns with my own values, and I could see how I could contribute to something bigger.”

Building People & Culture from the ground up

This is a newly created role, which means Ano is stepping into a blank canvas—something she finds both exciting and rewarding. 

“My role is a balance between daily operations and thinking ahead on strategy. I’m focused on making People & Culture a function that truly supports everyone—helping them see how it can enhance their roles, careers, and overall employee experience.”

One of the things that struck Ano immediately was Accelagen’s unique culture—despite its rapid growth, it has retained a strong, small-business feel, where leadership and growth opportunities are accessible and people feel genuinely valued.

“The culture is what makes this such a great place to work. Even as we grow, we’ve kept that sense of being a close-knit, supportive team. Our CEO still meets with every employee one-on-one, which shows a deep commitment to connection and development. Internal career growth is constant—there are so many opportunities and pathways to progress.”

Leveraging data to strengthen culture & engagement

Being able to make data-informed people decisions and use AI to drive performance at scale is core to Ano’s approach. The goal—she shares—isn’t to replace people, but to create more meaningful, impactful human interactions in the workplace and maximise impact in a cost-effective way. 

Being able to build employee self-service portals and automate things like engagement surveys and exit feedback can help to identify patterns and opportunities for improvement. Recently interviewed by Digital Nation about the state of HR Tech, Ano outlines how platforms like CultureAmp and AI-powered Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) play a big role in understanding employee sentiment. 

“HR isn’t just about policies—it’s about understanding people. With AI and tools like CultureAmp, we can actually see what’s working, where we can do better, and how to create an environment where people feel valued and engaged.”

An eye to the future

Since joining the team in July 2024, Ano has hit the ground running, focusing on immediate improvements while laying the foundation for long-term success. 

Looking further ahead, Ano hopes to focus on scaling Accelagen’s culture—so that even as we grow, we stay true to our people-first approach. She is also hoping to continue expanding the use of HR technology in everyday operations—ensuring seamless, efficient people processes that enhance not only the employee journey but deliver benefits for Accelagen’s innovative global clients too.

“There’s so many exciting opportunities and initiatives that we are trying to implement, and that just makes the role very exciting and dynamic. Every day is different and it’s a lot of fun.”

Join our growing team

Ano’s arrival is just one of the many exciting developments happening at Accelagen. As we continue to expand, we’re looking for passionate, talented individuals who share our mission to accelerate human health. 

Interested in joining us? Explore our Careers page to see current opportunities.