As we are a membership association, we take governance and our structure seriously. We are a diverse, inclusive, passionate community of professionals and we want to make sure that our structure reflects that and allows everyone to make a contribution. We are better as an association when everyone who wants to contribute, can.
Our new structure – allows us to:
- Maintain a strategic focus on our objectives
- Ensure that we are able to manage day to day business proactively and effectively, but always be able to respond to emerging opportunities
- Enable our younger and more experienced professionals to contribute to our leadership team
- Provide meaningful opportunities for our partners and sponsors to contribute to our work
- Better develop a future talent pipeline of people who will become future leaders of the association
- Give opportunities to people who don’t have much time but who want to support a particular PPMA issue to do so.
Senior Management Board (SMB)
Our Senior Management Board (SMB), led by our President, and leads the day to day work of the association. It comprises our President, Treasure & Honorary Secretary, Vice Presidents, Talent Programmes and Awards Manager, Sponsorship Manager, Finance Director and Business & Marketing Coordinator.

Gordon McFarlane
PPMA President 2022/2024
Assistant Director – Corporate Services, Leicestershire County Council

Steve Davies
PPMA Treasurer & Honorary Secretary, Past PPMA President 2020/2022
Head of London Regional Employers’ Organisation

Sam Betts
PPMA VP
Assistant Director Human Resources & Organisational Development, Salford City Council

Andy Dodman

Sonia Grewal

Pam Parkes
FCIPD – Executive Director, Essex County Council

Julie Biggs
PPMA Talent Programmes and Awards Manager

Barry Pirie
PPMA Sponsorships Manager

Kim McInery
PPMA Finance Director

Grace Ogden
Business & Marketing Coordinator
Management Board
Our Extended Board meets twice a year, but talks much more regularly. This group comprises of our SMB members and our management board.

James Bird
Employee Relations Lead Human Resources, Gloucestershire County Council

Swati Bisht-Rawat
Head of Talent, Performance and Innovation, Westminster City Council & PPMA Peer into the Future winner 2021

Tracy Brennand

Natasha Brown
Director of Human Resources, London Borough of Waltham Forest

Graham Charsley
Interim Head of People Management (Engagement) People Management, St Helens Borough Council

Leanne Furnell
Director of Workforce, NHS North East and North Cumbira

Claire Kirke
HR Business Partner, Corporate Core, Finance & BGI, Bury Council

Rebecca Lea
Senior HR & OD Business Partner, Salford City Council

Victoria Lee
Assistant Director of HR and Organisational Development, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Clive Mallon
Organisational Development Manager at Somerset County Council

Nichola Mann
Acting Joint Director for People & Governance for Brentwood Borough Council and Rochford District Council

Marie Mettam
PPMA Peer into the Future Winner 2023
Strategic HR Business Partner, Lincolnshire County Council

Nimisha Patel
Senior HR Consultant – Policy & Projects

Mark Porter
Head of HR Operations at OneSource

Neisha Porter
Head of Organisational Development, London Borough of Sutton

Fiona Thompson

Sue Williams
Independent HR Consultant, Organisational Change Specialist, Mediator & Coach, People Street Ltd

Tracey Connage
PPMA Ambassador
Chief People Officer, London North West Healthcare NHS Trust

Caroline Nugent
PPMA Ambassador
Senior Executive Human Resources
Past PPMA President 2017 – 2018
Our Challenge and Innovation Forum meets twice a year and is Chaired by our President. This group includes our Extended Board, representatives from Partner organisations and Platinum sponsors. This group enables us to share our upcoming plans, receive feedback and also talk about some of the developing issues, solutions and products likely to impact the profession in coming years.
Last but by no means least, we have a fantastic community of Past Presidents that we can tap into when we need an experienced perspective.
If you would like more information on our structure or how you can become a part of our board, please contact [email protected]