Dr Neil Wooding CBE

Dr. Neil wooding CBE

Chair

Neil has spent his career as a senior public servant, working predominantly in Wales within local, regional and central government, the NHS and the voluntary sector. His domain of expertise lies within people development, organisational change and human diversity. He was the architect of the Wales Leadership Academy and spent many years developing the skills of public service managers before eventually joining the Ministry of Justice as the Chief People Officer. Neil has recently retired from the Cabinet Office where he led the reform programme for government and was responsible for people services across the Civil Service. 

Internationally recognised for his work, he has advised on public policy, social justice and human rights in the Far East, sub-Saharan Africa, the European Commission, Scandinavia and North America. Neil is a non executive Director for the Scottish Government. 

Since the age of 17, Neil has worked in the voluntary sector and is fundamentally committed to using his time and energy in the service of others. In a broader context, between 2001 and 2009, he served as a Commissioner for Equality and Human Rights for Wales and led a number of UK Inquiries into Part-Time and Migrant labour and Human Rights. During the same period, he was a Trustee of Stonewall UK. Neil stepped down from his trustee position with the Lloyds Bank Foundation Trust in December 2022 after six years on the Board. 

He is a companion of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and was awarded a CBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours list for his outstanding work in the field of equality and social justice. 

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