Being named among the HR30 is an honour for me, one which provides the opportunity to reflect on the important work of the people profession. For me, this recognition is not solely a personal milestone; it is a testament to the dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment of my fellow directors and the wider workforce at Autism Together.

I am inspired every day by the incredible staff team right across our charity; individuals who show empathy, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to the people we support. Their willingness to contribute new ideas, and embrace positive change is what makes our work possible. I feel this recognition reflects their contribution just as much as my own.

The HR30 matters to our profession because it showcases the impact of people and cultural leadership in a manner which is collaborative, strategic, and grounded in purpose. It reminds the sector that HR is not just an operational necessity but a catalyst for change, a guardian of culture, and a champion of workforce wellbeing.

I was thrilled to be recognised by the people profession and included in CIPD's inaugural HR30. As well as the personal pride, my team and organisation were really pleased with the kudos it provided. As I am shortly moving to a new Director of People & Culture role, it helped to add the recognition of HR30 in my CV and application and provided an additional external endorsement. As Chair of Charities HR Network, it was also useful in promoting the network by giving further validation to the calibre of people involved.

Being named to the HR30 in 2025 was a proud moment that shone a light on the impact great people practice has on public service. For me, it has meant two things: gratitude and responsibility, gratitude for the talented people I’m lucky to work with every day, and responsibility to keep pushing for the best experience we can give our colleagues and line managers.

The recognition hasn’t changed our direction, but it has given us momentum to be even more practical, more data‑driven and more collaborative in how we deliver. On a personal level, HR30 encouraged me to keep investing in the parts of the job that matter most to me: building a confident profession, improving the services people rely on, and making inclusion real in day‑to‑day practice. 

It has strengthened partnerships across government and the wider HR community and helped spotlight work, like our push on professional development and inclusive programmes. Recognition in HR30 has affirmed that public service HR can be both innovative and practical. HR30 matters because it highlights people leaders who turn strategy into outcomes that colleagues feel and citizens benefit from.

Being listed on the CIPD HR30 has been a humbling, defining career moment, raising my profile and recognising the impact of heart‑led people leadership. It has given me a stronger platform outside of the NHS to champion compassionate people policies and to positively support, inspire and open doors for aspiring professionals, especially girls and women, to lead with confidence and purpose.