Judges

Our judging panels are made up of leading HR and business professionals from across the Yorkshire region and beyond. The judging process is integral to the nomination process, esuring credibility and transparency through out the process. If you’d like to understand more about the judging process please email us at info@yorkshirehrawards.co.uk

Andy Atha, Chief Revenue Officer, Latus Group

View Andy’s Biography

Darren Bambridge, Director of Human Resources for the Americas, Europe and Saudi Arabia, Tronox

View Darren’s Biography

Nick Beadle, Head of People, Marks & Spencer

View Nick’s Biography

 

Lindsay Beresford, HR Director, Leeds Bradford Airport

View Lindsay’s Biography

Rob Blomfield, Head of Global Business Services, Burberry

View Rob’s Biography

Samantha Brook, People & Culture Leader

View Samantha’s Biography

Amanda Burns, People Director, Haribo

View Amanda’s Biography

Matt Chapman, CEO, SBFM

View Matt’s Biography

 

Katie Craddock, HR Director, Natara Global

View Katie’s Biography

 

Joanna Dodd, Partner – Employment, Clarion

View Joanna’s Biography

Kelly Dolphin, Chief People Officer and transformational workplace specialist, SBFM 

View Kelly’s Biography

Anna Fairhurst, Senior Principal Consultant, Q5

View Anna’s Biography

 

Leanne Gregg, Group HR Director, Evo Group

View Leanne’s Biography

 

Caroline Hudson, Chief People Officer, Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

View Caroline’s Biography

 

Ellie Jobes, Group People Director, Bagnalls

View Ellie’s Biography

 

Geraldine Kemp-Klotz, Global People & Culture Leader, Leeds Building Society

View Geraldine’s Biography

 

Louise Kindon, Chief People and Culture Officer, Leeds University

View Louise’s Biography

Mandy Kirk-Smith, HR Director, Exec Coach, Transformation & Change Leader

View Mandy’s Biography

 

Sarnjit Kaur, Chief People Officer, International, Cox Automotive

View Sarnjit’s Biography

 

Jo Lyth, Head of Talent and Culture, Zigup

View Jo’s Biography

Michelle Lydon, President Human Resources, Croda International plc

 

View Michelle’s Biography

Matthew Moxon, Head of Talent Acquisition, Northern Trains

View Matthew’s Biography

Kathryn McLeod, Group Head of Human Resources, Bayford Group

View Kathryn’s Biography

Sue O’Donovan, Practice Lead – Executive HR Appointments, Nigel Wright Group

View Sue’s Biography

 

Charlotte Owen, Associate Director, Nigel Wright Group

View Charlotte’s Biography

 

Sonia Pawson, HR Director, West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

View Sonia’s Biography

Rachael Parr, Group HR Director, Associated British Ports (ABP)

View Rachael’s Biography

Amy Russell, HR Director & Board Member, Expect

View Amy’s Biography

Charlotte Sweeney OBE, Founder & CEO, Charlotte Sweeney Associates

View Charlotte’s Biography

 

Mark Simpson, Group Executive Director, Nigel Wright Group

View Mark’s Biography

Neil Thomas, Director of People, Quorn

View Neil’s Biography

 

Naomi Thompson, OD Consultant and Leadership Coach

View Naomi’s Biography

 

Sarah Tahamtani, Partner, Employment and Immigration Law, Clarion

View Sarah’s Biography

Annabel Tonge, Director, Q5

View Annabel’s Biography

Gareth Whalley, Founder & CEO, Big Bang People Solutions

View Gareth’s Biography

 

Ian Wright, Director of Human Resources, University of Sheffield

View Ian’s Biography

 

Deborah Warren, Partner, Clarion 

View Deborah’s Biography

 

Andy Atha, Chief Revenue Officer, Latus Group

Andy has worked across a number of high profile roles in the healthcare space before joining Latus Group three years ago. With a huge interest in all things relating to digital healthcare and wellbeing, Andy is excited to see the progress made by each organisation submitting their entries this year.

Darren Bambridge, Director, Human Resources Americas, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Tronox

As Director of Human Resources for the Americas, Europe, and Saudi Arabia at Tronox, I lead people strategies that strengthen organisational capability and support a culture where people can do their best work. With experience across commercial, manufacturing, FMCG, logistics, and specialty chemicals, I am passionate about building workplaces where people feel valued and genuinely enjoy coming to work each day.

Nick Beadle, Head of People, Marks & Spencer

 

Lindsay Beresford, HR Director, Leeds Bradford Airport

Lindsay joined Leeds Bradford Airport as HR Director in 2022 after over 20 years at Royal Mail, initially in operational management roles but later working in senior Human Resources roles. Lindsay is an HR generalist but has also specialised in People Change Programmes, Industrial Relations, Organisational Design and Employee Experience over her 15 years in HR. Leeds Bradford Airport were the YHRA Private sector Team of the Year winners in 2025, where the team were highly praised by the judges for their integrated, people-first approach to communication and collaboration to support the major infrastructure upgrades under the airport’s ongoing LBA:REGEN programme.

 

Rob Blomfield, Head of Global Business Services, Burberry PLC

Rob is the Head of Global Business Services for Burberry PLC. He has direct responsibility for operational Finance, HR, and Procurement, whilst also working closely with IT and Customer services who are co-located in Leeds. Global Business Services are based across three primary locations; the UK, US and Hong Kong.

With a background in change and transformation, Rob joined Burberry in 2017 to lead the finance function as part of the establishment of Global Business Services and subsequently took over as the Head of Global services four years ago.

A qualified accountant, prior to Burberry, Rob worked in consultancy with PwC, EY and IBM and started he career with Marks and Spencer.

Outside of work he is married with two boys.

Samantha Brook, Group HR Director, Severfield

Samantha is a Group HRD with a passion to help organisations grow through supporting their people in realising their own potential. Her HR career spans over 25yrs in Manufacturing, Construction, Energy, Hospitality, Retail and Financial Services. The majority of her career has been spent in Yorkshire based businesses, she is currently the Group HR Director for Severfield Plc (the UK’s largest Structural Steel Specialist) and her previous HR leadership roles were in Drax Plc and the FTSE100 global chemical manufacturer Croda.

Samantha is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute or Personnel and Development.  She holds a Master’s Degree in Career Management from the University of London, and a Management Degree from Aston University.

Throughout her career Samantha has overseen all aspects of HR transformation from learning and development to reward, HR systems, diversity, engagement, talent and organisational design.

Amanda Burns, People Director, Haribo

As an experienced HR Director at HARIBO, I have a broad portfolio spanning shared service, employee relations, learning and development, culture, payroll, and reward. I am passionate about creating inclusive, high-performing workplaces where people can thrive. I take a pragmatic and people-focused approach, balancing commercial priorities with colleague wellbeing. I strongly believe in making a meaningful difference through HR, particularly by investing in early careers and supporting young adults to make informed, confident choices about their futures. By building strong foundations and fostering growth, I aim to develop talent, strengthen engagement, and drive sustainable organisational success.

Matthew Chapman, Co-CEO & Co-founder, Futured Careers

Matthew Chapman is a CEO and co-founder of Futured Careers, Futured connects organisations, talent and leaders through intelligence, insight and measurable pathways that unlock potential. Matt is one of the industry leads for social impact, and inclusivity, where he advises IWFM the industry's governing body.

Although the majority of his experience is within Facilities Management, his leadership goes beyond business development & operational excellence - championing a culture of fairness, respect, and opportunity. Where Matthew has incorporated learnings from his experience while working at Arsenal Football Club and the Guardian Media Group.

Holding an MBA from Cranfield University, an MA in Business Sustainability from Cambridge, and an LLB in Law, Matt combines commercial success with a clear purpose to create meaningful, positive change and inspire those around him

Katie Craddock, HR Director, Natara Global

Katie Craddock is HR Director at Natara Global, bringing over 25 years of HR and Operations leadership experience across the FMCG, Automotive, Construction, Legal, and Chemical sectors.

Katie values a truly collaborative approach, partnering closely with business leaders to deliver excellence in performance, employee engagement, and talent development. Known for her strategic mindset and people-focused leadership, she is passionate about building high-performing teams, creating an energising and inclusive culture, and supporting sustainable business growth.

 

Joanna Dodd, Partner - Employment, Clarion

Joanna is an experienced litigator and has defended a number of multi-party claims in the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal - including claims for unfair dismissal, discrimination and whistleblowing. Joanna excels in cutting through the detail to get to the heart of the legal issues and determining the appropriate strategy for the client efficiently and effectively.
Joanna also assists her clients with strategic HR planning - providing clear actionable advice and creative solutions.
Joanna often works alongside our Corporate and Commercial team, running the people aspect of business and share acquisitions and supporting clients with the integration of a new business into the existing model.

Kelly Dolphin, Chief People Officer and transformational workplace specialist, SBFM 

Kelly Dolphin is a Chief People Officer and transformational workplace specialist with extensive experience leading people, culture and organisational development strategies across large, diverse workforces. A passionate advocate for employee wellbeing, inclusion and social mobility, Kelly has led initiatives focused on talent development, engagement, leadership and workplace culture. She played a key role in developing the innovative and award-winning Evolve programme, helping create opportunities for individuals facing barriers to employment. As a judge, Kelly brings a practical and strategic perspective, with a keen eye for recognising innovation, measurable impact and excellence in people practices. 

Anna Fairhurst, Senior Principal Consultant, Q5

Anna Fairhurst is a Senior Principal Consultant at Q5, based in the Leeds office, where she specialises in growth strategy and operating model design. She works with clients across a range of sectors to design organisations that create sustainable, long-term strategic value, with expertise supporting VC and PE-backed businesses to accelerate organic and inorganic growth. During her time at Q5, Anna has partnered closely with clients to simplify complex organisational challenges, helping teams understand how they can work together more effectively to make their organisations work better.

Before joining Q5, Anna held operational and strategy roles in publicly listed businesses and in private equity, focusing particularly on supporting businesses with M&A value creation and post-merger integration. Anna has also worked with businesses in Germany and Spain to drive growth expansion into new markets. Anna has a first-class degree from Cambridge University, along with qualifications in Leadership & Management and Change Management.

Leanne Gregg, Group HR Director, evo Group

Leanne Gregg is Group HR Director at evo Group, a UK distribution, logistics and workplace supplies business with revenues exceeding £450 million and around 1,800 employees. Reporting to the CEO and serving on the Trading Board, she leads the Group’s people strategy and oversees HR Business Partnering, Payroll, Health & Safety and Talent Acquisition. With extensive experience in organisational transformation, leadership development and culture change, she works closely with senior leaders to drive performance and organisational effectiveness. Having spent a total of 14 years with evo Group across two periods, she brings strong commercial insight and strategic HR leadership to the judging panel.

Caroline Hudson, Chief People Officer, Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Ltd. 

Caroline has over 20 years’ experience in HR, across various industries within Fortune 200 Companies and Private Equity. She has regional and global level experience across EMEAI, US, APAC and LATAM regions with key focuses on businesses in growth, scalable HR solutions, M&A integration, organisational design, change and talent management.

 

Ellie Jobes, Group People Director, Bagnalls

Ellie Jobes is Group People Director at Bagnalls, the national painting contractor established in 1875.

Ellie has worked at Bagnalls for 15 years, having had previous voluntary sector experience.  She is responsible for Bagnalls’ People Strategy, including the apprenticeship and Management Trainee programmes.  She is also the Director responsible for Health and Safety.

Bagnalls has won numerous national awards for its apprenticeship programme and was named at number 63 in the Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2026.

Ellie is a Chartered Director, a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, and was named on CIPD’s HR30 list in 2026.

 

Geraldine Kemp-Klotz, Global Culture and People Leader, Leeds Building Society

Geraldine is a global Culture and People Leader. She joined Leeds Building Society in September 2024, to enable the purposeful ambitions to support members generations after generations through transformation and sustainable growth.

A versatile leader with over 20 years’ global experience in the institutional and consumer financial service industry, who has worked in Africa, the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. Prior to joining Leeds Building Society, she spent over ten years at Barclays Bank PLC. and worked in both London and New York in various global leadership roles.

She has diversified strategic capabilities, combining deep industry knowledge and expertise in people and culture. Geraldine is a strong advocate of healthy and inclusive workplaces, empowering colleagues to build and manage their careers, which she champions across Financial Services through her role on the UK FSSC Board.

Geraldine is passionate about supporting underserved communities and in early 2024 joined the AI4 Good strategic advisory team, focused on empowering NGOs to improve the quality of education through AI. She also coaches Executive Leaders across the third sector.

Louise Kindon, Chief People and Culture Officer, University of Leeds

As Chief People and Culture Officer at University of Leeds, Louise Kindon contributes significantly to the University’s strategy by leading the development and implementation of people and organisational initiatives at Leeds.  Louise is primarily responsible for Human Resources (HR) and Organisational Development and Professional Learning (ODPL), as well as employee-related change management and projects. She also works in close partnership with Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Wellbeing, Safety and Health.

Louise has more than 35 years of wide-ranging HR and change management experience across a variety of sectors. Prior to her appointment at the University of Leeds, Louise worked as Deputy Director of HR at the University of Birmingham. She has also worked at the University of Warwick and in the finance and utilities sectors.

Mandy Kirk-Smith, HR Director, Exec Coach, Transformation & Change Leader

Mandy is a commercially driven People Leader with over 25 years’ experience in creating and leading people strategies, org design & development, business change & transformation and experienced in M&A and TUPE transactions.  She has led and implemented various people, business and leadership strategies including performance management, culture and engagement whilst coaching and influencing at Exco / Board level creating a strong people engagement culture that delivers results working in a wide range of industries and sectors mostly in the Private Sector.

Outside of work her time is spent with her husband, dogs and horses as they own a smallholding in Yorkshire and spend most weekends battling this lovely British weather…..

Sarnjit Kaur, Chief People Officer – International, Cox Automotive

CPO & Business Partner to the president, Sarnjit’s key accountabilities include the implementation and delivery of a people centric strategy, which ultimately enables the delivery of the strategic business plan across Cox Automotive International markets covering c3000 team members.

As part of her International remit,  Sarnjt’s remit is to also share best practice people strategies across all international markets, to ensure we continue to attract, recruit and retain the best and top talent across all the markets and communities in which we operate. With a tenure of 7 years with CA, Sarnjit started her career as Head of HR for Manheim, then moved  into a HRD role for Europe, following the transition to her and current role as CPO, reporting globally to the Exec team in the US.

Sarnjit has a passion for all things people development and coaching and partners with a number of external organisations and professional bodies from a mentoring capacity,  including the CIPD (Chartered Institute for personnel and Development) Global BT mentoring programmes and supports a number of external companies. Her passion to support the next generation of HR talent has been recognized through external accolade received by her recent Inspiring Women,  Automotive 30% club award, and Northern Power Women’s awards UK.

Prior to joining CA, Sarnjit has spent over 20 years' experience in financial services (Santander) where she has conducted multiple operational roles across retail and the branch network, coupled with HR leadership  roles across all the 5 key divisions of Santander UK, including Global business markets and the CEO office.

Residing in Lincolnshire,  Sarnjit enjoys running, travel and reading and spending time with her two teenage boys, Aran and Kam, and husband Nim.

 

Jo Lyth, Head of Talent and Culture, Zigup

Jo is Group Head of Talent and Culture at ZIGUP, leading talent, succession, culture, inclusion and engagement across the organisation. Her remit spans CEO and executive succession planning through to building diverse talent pipelines and creating a culture where people can thrive. With more than 20 years’ experience across major multinational brands, Jo is recognised for delivering people strategies that drive performance, opportunity and long-term business success. A passionate advocate for social mobility, she has helped deliver award-winning initiatives, including programmes recognised with the King’s Award for Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity. Jo brings both strategic expertise and practical insight to the judging panel.

 

Michelle Lydon, President Human Resources, Croda International plc

Michelle is a seasoned HR professional with extensive experience serving as Chief People Officer for various renowned, international companies and has held the position of President for Human Resources at Croda International since January 2023. Prior to this, Michelle was Chief People Officer for British Airways and before that QinetiQ plc. She holds a Master's degree in Employment Studies and HR Management and for seven years was a trustee on the board of the UK’s leading charity for building a more integrated society; supporting young people for future success in the workplace and their communities. Michelle is passionate about creating a high performance and inclusive culture, demonstrating care and compassion for people and leading with purpose and
integrity. Creating an environment where we can all thrive is important to Michelle and leads by example as a business coach and mental health champion. In her personal time, Michelle enjoys spending time with her two very active children who are both a challenge and a joy!

 

 

 

Matthew Moxon, Head Talent Acquisition, Northern Trains

With over 16 years in Talent Acquisition, Matthew brings curiosity and a disruptive aproach to how organisations attract and hire talent. His experience spans rail, manufacturing, construction, financial services and healthcare, where he has consistently challenged traditional approaches. Currently Head of Talent Acquisition at Northern Trains, he leads large-scale hiring focused on innovation, employer brand, early careers, and smarter, more cost-effective solutions. A strong advocate for inclusive hiring, he’s passionate about building high-performing teams and reshaping talent strategies. As a judge and proud Yorkshireman, he’s excited to celebrate the creativity and impact of his peers over the past year.

Kathryn McLeod, Group Head of Human Resources, Bayford Group

Kathryn is the Group Head of Human Resources at Bayford Group, where she leads the people agenda across a diverse mix of businesses. With 20 years’ experience in HR, spanning energy, utilities and hospitality, she’s built a strong generalist background and enjoys working closely with leaders to find practical, people-focused solutions.

She’s passionate about creating workplaces where people feel supported, engaged and able to do their best work, while helping organisations balance commercial priorities with a genuine people focus.

Sue O'Donovan, Practice Lead – Executive HR Appointments, Nigel Wright Group

Sue O’Donovan leads the HR Practice at Nigel Wright Group across the North, specialising in senior and executive-level appointments.  With over 20 years of experience, Sue has cultivated deep, long-standing relationships with clients and is recognised as a trusted advisor to executive teams navigating transformational change, restructuring, and growth.

A driving force behind the creation and success of the Yorkshire HR Awards in 2024, Sue continues to champion excellence in the HR profession through her leadership of high profile industry events and thought leadership initiatives.  In her role, Sue is personally responsible for delivering high quality talent solutions across permanent, interim, and contract roles, including executive search mandates.  Her strategic insight and commitment to quality make her an indispensable partner to organisations seeking to build high performing leadership teams.

Charlotte Owen, Associate Director, Nigel Wright Group

Charlotte leads the Public & Third Sector, Interim, and Business Support teams across the North of England, overseeing operations in Newcastle, Wynyard, Leeds and Manchester
With a strong focus on leadership recruitment within the Public & Third Sector, Charlotte brings extensive experience in delivering expert consultancy and tailored resourcing solutions. Her track record spans interim appointments, permanent placements, and executive search campaigns, consistently supporting organisations through periods of transformation and growth.
Charlotte is also the driving force behind several high-impact leadership networks, including NED events, FD suppers, and HRD dinners. These forums not only strengthen her connections across public and private sectors but also enable her to match the right leaders with the right opportunities—particularly in areas such as business transformation, shared services, and organisational change.

 

Sonia Pawson, Director of People and Culture, West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

Sonia Pawson, currently Director of People and Culture for West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service and Deputy Lead Officer for People for the National Fire Chiefs Council is a Chartered Psychologist/Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and Chartered Fellow of the CIPD. Previously Sonia worked for the UK government, most recently as Director of Government Skills and Head of the Civil Service Fast Stream in the Cabinet Office. Here she delivered a radical vision and case for change for the prestigious Civil Service Fast Stream and led the development of the Civil Service 2022-2025 Apprenticeship Strategy. She provided strategic leadership and management of training across the Civil Service, including leading the Curriculum and Campus for Government skills to provide a clear, coherent learning and development offer for all Civil Servants. Sonia served as Government Head of Profession for Occupational Psychology for six years. In the role she drove forward the strategic agenda to ensure occupational psychology was thriving and impacting all corners of the Civil Service. Sonia has extensive experience and a strong track record of delivering end-to-end people solutions in complex, regulated environments. She is an advocate for evidence-based practice and sits on the British Psychological Society Division of Occupational Psychology Committee.

 

Rachael Parr, Group HR Director, Associated British Ports (ABP)

Rachael Parr is Group HR Director at Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK’s largest and leading port operator.

Prior to joining ABP, Rachael worked at Electricity North West, the electricity network operator for the North West of England, where she served as People and Corporate Services Director. Earlier in her career, Rachael held a range of Human Resources roles across the business and financial services sectors.

 

Amy Russell, HR Director & Board Member, Expect

Amy is HR Director and a Board Member at Expect, with over 15 years’ experience in Human Resources, primarily within the logistics sector.

She joined the business in February 2024, bringing senior-level experience from global HR roles across large, complex organisations, including GXO and XPO Logistics. Her career has focused on leading both operational and strategic HR in multi-site environments, partnering with major client brands such as M&S.

Promoted to HR Director and appointed to the Board in January 2026, at a time when the business entered an exciting phase of nationwide expansion through organic growth and targeted acquisitions, Amy leads the group people strategy, with a focus on organisational performance, culture and leadership capability.

Amy holds a degree in Enterprise Development and is a qualified Chartered Member of the CIPD and Institute of Marketing - bringing a unique blend of expertise in both employer branding and experience.

 

Charlotte Sweeney OBE, Founder & CEO, Charlotte Sweeney Associates

Charlotte Sweeney OBE has specialised in leadership, cultural transformation and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) for over 25 years. Inspired by her global corporate career in the Financial Services sector, she launched Charlotte Sweeney Associates in 2012.

As a Chartered Management Consultant, she thrives on empowering business leaders and organisations to create inclusive workplaces. She works, and influences at the C-Suite and Board level in the private sector as well as advised Senior Leaders and Ministers within Governments. She has held several Non-Executive Director roles, including 4 years as a Deputy Chair of an NHS Acute Trust with responsibility of over £500m annual spend. She is currently a board member of the Industry Body ‘Management Consultancies Association (MCA)’.

In 2014 she authored an independent review for the UK Government Secretary of State Dr. Vince Cable on Women on Boards and Executive Search Firms and is the co-author of the Financial Times published book ‘Inclusive Leadership – the definitive guide to developing and executing an impactful Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, locally and globally’, which was shortlisted for Management Book of the Year by The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) in 2018.

In 2025, she won the MCA Inclusion Award and was Finalist for The Times Management Consultant of the Year Award. Judges commented that she had ‘an amazing record of impact with clients, a laser focus on delivering results and changing the way organisations think’.

She was recognised in the New Year Honours 2017 list with Officers of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to Women and Equalities.

 

Mark Simpson, Group Executive Director, Nigel Wright Group

Mark is a member of the Executive Board and responsible for the growth of our Regional Business with offices across the North.  He also oversees Marketing, and Consultants / Management L&D across the Group. Prior to joining Nigel Wright in 2000, he trained as an engineer and undertook operational roles in industry.  Mark has developed unique experience in both the recruitment industry and the market it serves, particularly across the north of England.

 

Neil Thomas, Director of People, Quorn

Currently Director of People at Quorn Foods, I’ve over 20 years of generalist HR experience across numerous sectors. Starting as an HR grad in the steel industry, I’ve worked in senior roles across manufacturing, consultancy, food and nutrition businesses in European and beyond, working with some fantastic brands and incredible people. From Corus (then Tata Steel), PepsiCo (Walkers Foods), Glanbia Performance Nutrition (World’s largest sports nutrition brand family), and the last 4 years at Quorn Foods.
Outside of work, I have three children and a Labrador, and spend much of my free time coaching two junior football teams!

Naomi Thompson, OD Consultant and Leadership Coach

Naomi Thompson is an experienced senior OD consultant and leadership coach, and the founder of two businesses: Odel Solutions, specialising in organisational development and executive coaching, and Discover Teams, where she co-created The Leadership Code and DISCOVER: The Conversation Code™ a neuroscience-backed framework for honest, effective leadership conversations. Naomi’s work is rooted in organisational effectiveness and culture transformation in today’s complex, hybrid workplace. Now in her second year as a judge for the Yorkshire HR Awards, she’s excited to once again be inspired by the innovation, impact, and energy of the North’s HR powerhouse.

Sarah Tahamtani, Partner Partner, Employment and Immigration Law, Clarion

Head of the Employment team, Sarah advises a diverse range of organisations and businesses, providing commercial and pragmatic advice on people issues. Described in Legal 500 as 'passionate, driven and determined', Sarah goes over and above for her clients applying her practical, solutions-oriented mindset to every situation.  Delivered in a straight talking, honest and direct manner, Sarah advises senior HR professionals, boards and business owners on all elements of their employment strategy with particular experience in supporting evolving organisations facing change either in terms of scaling up or down their workforce or changing how they do business.  Sarah’s skill is in identifying business threats and issues and providing a holistic, pragmatic solution (which may comprise of multiple disciplines) to achieve clients’ commercial objectives and manages the implementation of her recommendations, focusing on adding value and being proactive wherever possible.

“To make a difference and add value, I always make sure I clearly understand my clients’ business aims and motivators, only then can I give advice that will fully support the HR and overall business goals. I have extensive experience in strategic workforce issues such as collective redundancies/restructures, TUPE transfers and dealing with employment disputes."

Annabel Tonge, Director Q5

Annabel joined Q5 in 2018 to establish the company’s Leeds office and later set up and led Q5’s Global Brand and Marketing team. In 2025, she transitioned to the role of Global Foundation Director, leading the Q5 Foundation, the cultural heart of Q5, which in 2024 alone contributed £1 million worth of consulting time to charities, non-profits and social enterprises.

Annabel brings over 30 years of senior leadership experience across a variety of sectors, geographies and functions. Her career uniquely combines commercial expertise, creativity and a passion for charitable initiatives. In 2009, she supported Applegreen’s Founders in establishing the Applegreen Charitable Foundation, which she chaired for five years. She has also served as a voluntary Trustee and NED for over a decade and played a pivotal role in helping Q5’s Founders launch Q5 Pop-Up Consulting in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gareth Whalley, Founder & CEO, Big Bang People Solutions

Gareth Whalley is the Founder and CEO of Big Bang People Solutions, a global HR consultancy focused on helping organisations to help their people have a better time at work. He has over 20 years of generalist and specialist HR leadership experience in multinational organisations including Procter & Gamble, IBM, The Coca-Cola Company, and Levi Strauss & Co.

For many years, he focused his efforts on enhancing employee experiences through reward and recognition, and on driving meaningful culture change in diversity, equity, and inclusion. He now consults with clients across industry sectors to help increase DEI maturity and impact as part of Big Bang’s broader offering, which also includes reward, change management, and harnessing energy for impact.

Gareth is principled and values-driven, a wellbeing advocate, and finds great joy in connecting people. He lives on the North East coast with his two lurchers, Heidi and Ludo.

Ian Wright, Director of Human Resources, University of Sheffield

As Director of HR at the University of Sheffield Ian has strategic responsibility for all aspects of the people agenda, supporting a workforce of c8,000 staff. He also has executive responsibility for Occupational Health & Safety at the University.

Ian's career in HR spans nearly 30 years and prior to joining the University he worked in a wide range of private and public sector employers ranging from the software industry, a local authority, professional services and retail/catering organisations. Ian is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and is a Trustee of the University’s Pension Scheme.

Deborah Warren, Partner, Clarion

Deborah has substantial expertise advising on and managing multifaceted re-organisation, restructure and redundancy projects, involving both individual and collective consultation. Described in Legal 500 as “excellent with clients”, Deborah is outstanding in delivering large-scale projects, working closing with clients to meet their deadlines and commercial objectives.

Deborah is a skilled litigator dealing with complex litigation, including claims involving numerous strands of discrimination, multiple respondents, insolvent respondents, and collective consultation (brought by trade unions). She has specialist expertise in the employment aspects of downsizing, distressed purchases and the application of TUPE to insolvent businesses and regularly assists the Business Restructuring and Insolvency team with fast paced and highly commercial transactions, which is a unique skill set.

Her sophisticated technical knowledge coupled with her personal approach and excellent communication skills wins her significant loyalty from her clients and contacts. She is an accomplished public speaker, designing and delivering training sessions and seminars, frequently, to support the development of the Clarion HR community.