Helen graduated from Reading University in 1979 with a First Class Honours degree in History. She has been doing HR work since the 1980s, has held senior strategic positions in HR since 1994 and has carried out a wide range of consultancy briefs across sectors, setting up Real People in 2005.

Helen is a former Personnel Today HR Director of the Year and was awarded an MBE in 2008. 

She has had many articles and opinions published in national, HR and housing press. Her particular areas of interest are the promotion of high standards of leadership and employee engagement, and advocacy of reform of employment regulation and the Employment Tribunals system to best serve the interests of both employees and employers.  

Helen is a regular columnist for Inside Housing and the HR member of their Expert Panel and a resident blogger for HR Magazine. She is a member of Kogan Page’s Editorial Board for HR publications. She has featured on HR Magazine’s Most Influential HR Practitioners annual list every year since it began in 2006.

Helen’s qualifications include: Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel & Development (FCIPD); Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE); Certifications in Psychometric Testing (Levels A & B); Mediation Practitioner’s Certificate.


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