The CIPD has appointed three new non-executive directors to help govern its strategic direction and ensure it continues to deliver on its charitable purpose to champion better work and working lives.

Following a unanimous vote by the CIPD Council, Valerie Hughes-D’Aeth joins as chair of the board, while Siobhán Sheridan CBE and Dr Sue Round both join as trustees.

The Council also re-elected Jonathan Ferrar for a second three-year term. All four are Chartered Fellows of the CIPD and bring a wealth of HR and people development experience from the private, public and voluntary sectors to the CIPD’s 12-strong board.

Valerie Hughes-D’Aeth replaces outgoing chair Louise Fisher, who served two three-year terms as chair in addition to a previous six years on the board as a trustee. Valerie has worked in HR and organisational development (OD) for more than 35 years, across a broad range of public and private sector international organisations, including Xansa, Amey and the BBC. She is now a non-executive director for the UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions as well as running her own consultancy business. She’s passionate about improving organisational capability and business value while enabling better work and working lives for everyone.

Commenting on her appointment, Valerie said: ‘I’m really honoured and delighted to take on the role of chair of the CIPD board having spent my career in the HR profession. Over the last year, the people agenda has been at the heart of business decision making and there have been many truly inspiring examples of the great impact HR teams have had. As we hopefully move forward out of the pandemic, we have a unique opportunity to recalibrate traditional approaches to work and influence the development of better work and working lives for everyone, while enabling good business outcomes. The CIPD is championing this change, influencing policy and practice by convincing decision makers that when you put people first, everyone stands to gain.’

Siobhán and Sue replace outgoing trustees Anne Sharpe CBE and Yetunde Hofmann, who’ve both completed two three-year terms on the board. Siobhán is chief people officer for the Financial Conduct Authority. She joined the HR profession nearly 30 years ago as a learning and development (L&D) specialist at NatWest Bank and has since developed her career across the private, public and third sectors. She’s an advocate for the importance of volunteering and describes herself as a life-long learner. 

Siobhán said: ‘Having personally experienced the importance of continuing professional development in my own career, I want to do all that I can to encourage and support other professionals and teams as they do the same. Supporting organisations in all sectors to think about the choices of the next few years requires deep skill and expertise from everyone in the fields of HR, L&D and OD. The work is not always easy, and it’s critical that as professionals we have a community that we can turn to for support and challenge.’

Sue brings more than 25 years’ experience in people development across multiple sectors and has led large, complex global teams with responsibility for learning, leadership development, talent management and diversity, equity and inclusion. She currently works for BP as HRVP talent, learning, diversity and leadership. 

Sue said: ‘There is going to be so much to do to reset the world of work as we emerge from the pandemic and now is such a great opportunity for the people profession. Many years ago, I looked to the CIPD to help me professionalise, and it’s an honour to play a part in helping others within the profession grow.’

The recruitment of the chair is overseen by the president, Professor Sir Cary Cooper CBE. This year the panel comprised the president, chief executive and an independent board effectiveness expert, Kieran Moynihan. The recruitment of trustees (non-executive directors) is run on behalf of the board by the Nominations Committee.  The CIPD advertises board vacancies online. Candidates are then shortlisted and interviewed by a panel, with final approval being a vote by Council.

Professor Sir Cary Cooper commented: ‘I’d like to thank Louise, Anne and Yetunde for their many years of service to the CIPD board. Like all CIPD board members, they’ve volunteered their valuable time and expertise to ensuring we deliver effectively and responsibly on our charitable purpose. Our chief executive, Peter Cheese, and I are grateful that Jonathan will continue to serve for a second term and we look forward to working with him, Valerie, Siobhán and Sue, as well as all our existing board members, to continue championing better work and working lives.’ 

CIPD board members govern the strategic direction of the CIPD and as charity trustees are entrusted with ensuring that it is well run, uses resources appropriately and delivers on its charitable purpose in compliance with charity law, as well as the CIPD’s charter and bye-laws.

The board is supported by the CIPD Council and three committees with delegated powers. The day-to-day operational management of the CIPD – and delivery of its strategy – is delegated to the chief executive, who is supported by the Senior Leadership Team.