Angela O' Connor is the eighth president in the history of the HR Society. She is founder and CEO of the HR Lounge, a boutique consultancy that offers a unique blend of bespoke HR services to a wide variety of sectors. Angela previously held the posts of chief people officer at the NPIA, HR director at the CPS and head of HR at three London-based local authorities.
She was also the first civil service president of the PPMA (Public Sector People Managers' Association) in the organisation's history and is also president of the CIPD Police Forum.
Founded in the 1970s, the HR Society is aimed at professionals at the business edge of HR. It provides a unique forum for these senior HR professionals and aims to encourage debates, knowledge exchange and research amongst its members. The Society hosts a number of events every year with skilled and influential experts discussing and debating topical issues that affect HR in the UK. With membership covering many key companies across the UK, the HR Society is influential in ensuring that HR is at the core of topical business debates.
O'Connor said: "The HR Society has been influential over the past four decades in promoting the role of HR as a profession, something I am personally very passionate about. I am therefore very proud to be asked to take on such an important role and will continue the great work of the HR Society, building on the learning programmes the Society has developed over the past years.
"We all know there are more tough times ahead and our focus over the next 18 months at the HR Society will be to provide more strategic advice and support to members and improve their workforce productivity."
Outgoing President, Andrew Mayo, who held the position since 2006 said: "Over the past few years the HR Society team has gone from strength to strength creating a clear strategy for the Society, an attractive membership proposition and running many successful events.
"I think that the HR Society has a exciting future under the leadership of Angela O'Connor and my wish is that it will continue to establish itself as the voice and network for business-minded HR people."
