CV

Personal profile
A passionate, enthusiastic and extremely well networked diversity professional with an outstanding reputation for inspiring others and influencing policy and practice. Familiar with all aspects of diversity & inclusion with considerable experience of linking across diversity strands in order to engage employers. A strategic thinker with a proven track record of delivering business focused diversity projects and achieving good practice solutions. In-depth knowledge of the latest aspects of discrimination legislation. Looking to improve business performance through a thorough understanding of HR, diversity issues and current business drivers.

Able to deliver
• Internal consultancy, audit and review of attitude, process and policy to deliver strategic guidance
• A holistic approach to engagement, employer branding, flexible working and diversity – so that clients can gain maximum benefit from investment in these areas
• Risk and impact assessment of HR and diversity policies as well as other functions such as tendering and procurement – able to lead clients through internal audit and policy proofing
• Joined-up approach to recruitment, employer branding and talent management - so that clients can gain maximum benefit from investment in these areas

Experience and skills
Diversity expertise
• Recently delivered ‘Employee survey’ guidance for Diversity Works for London ‘Gold Standard’ website
• Developed new CIPD tool on customising the internal case for diversity – initial feedback very positive
• Jointly led CIPD response to Government consultation on flexible working regulations and consultation on flexible retirement & pensions
• Contributed to policy development at the Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on flexible working, parental rights – recent paper on diversity quoted by Trevor Phillips in May 2008

Influencing and engagement
• Launched highly successful expert CIPD Senior Diversity Network (2008) and created parallel virtual network in response to demand
• Responsible for recruiting Core and many other members to the Employers Forum on Age (EFA) and for managing and sustaining highly effective relationship with senior HR and diversity managers and strategic partners
• Extensive experience of engagement with senior management in many blue chip and other high profile organisations, resulting in commitment to and engagement with diversity issues
• Influenced both policy and practice of many major UK employers – as evidenced by their use of EFA materials, Age Aware logo etc

Communication
• Very experienced public speaker regularly invited to chair, be ‘keynote speaker’, or run workshops both in the UK and abroad – consistently receiving ‘excellent’ feedback
• Considerable training expertise having developed and delivered popular series of Masterclasses and workshops
• Delivered many well received guides, reports and other diversity-based products, including the ‘Insider Guide to Age Laws’ – seen by employment lawyers as ‘required reading’ and the groundbreaking ‘Bias free application form’. Frequently asked to write on diversity and HR issues
• Considerable media experience and used to working on high profile broadcast and press activity

Consulting
• Currently working with the Professional Associations Research Network (PARN) and Equally Professional on development of new guidance
• Delivered consultancy style report on diversity at CIPD which led to a review of practice
• Developed and delivered well-received customised in-house consultancy and diversity training for a wide variety of both public and private sector employers
• Lead a team of expert HR and diversity consultants in order to diagnose and deliver practical solutions to employment relations issues and in implementing diversity policies / programmes

Project management
• Managed major CIPD project and delivered research report and employer guidance materials to support Singapore Government in policy and practice development on older workers
• Conceived and delivered numerous employer-focussed diversity resources including ‘Being Age Aware’ training resource – used by many employers – and the widely acclaimed EFA ‘Policy Review Toolkit’ used by 250+ employers

Results driven
• Used to identifying and diagnosing possible areas of business risk and developing solutions and to identifying new opportunities for innovative partnership and product development
• Used to working to tight financial and other performance targets – responsible for income generation from membership growth at the EFA

Research
• Responsible for commissioning and leading diversity and other research projects both at CIPD and EFA
• Broad range of experience – from designing questionnaires / surveys to running focus groups
• Used to analysing quantitative and qualitative evidence - for instance to support employer in understanding ‘employment patterns’

Advisory & other roles
• Represented CIPD on Professional Association’s Research Network
• Represented CIPD on ‘Equally Professional’ EHRC campaign
• Adviser to academic research projects
Previously on many other advisory bodies and panels including:
• Member Office of Commissioner of Public Appointments special AGEnda working party
• Member of PPMA equality & diversity group
• Independent reviewer of employer HR policies, including those of a leading Government departments and blue chip employers

Most recent post
Diversity Adviser, Research & Policy team, CIPD Aug 2007 – July 2008
Maternity cover working alongside Dianah Worman OBE

Previous relevant employment
Head of Employer Relations, the Employers Forum on Age (EFA). [The EFA is an ‘employer-led’ diversity campaign, recognised as the UK’s leading authority on age & employment issues.] 2003 - 2007

Employer Relations & Strategy Manager, EFA 2001 - 2003

Membership Development Manager, EFA
Overall responsibility for recruiting members of the EFA – including all founder members and subsequently building membership to over 250 organisations 1995 - 2001

Previous paid employment & voluntary work
Numerous roles within the local community – both voluntary and paid – many of which involved providing support & counselling to isolated young mothers from diverse ethnic backgrounds; building confidence and teaching parenting skills; liaising with local community groups and Local Authority. 1989 -1994
Education
• Ongoing CPD including project management and media training
• FCIPD equivalent status
• Pre-foundation Art & BTec Art – Croydon College 1993 - 1995
• Degree and Post-graduate qualifications – Universities of Newcastle and Strathclyde

Interests
• Active member of local church; recently led successful major fund-raising campaign
• Classical music, art, entertaining and walking