After finishing a psychology degree at university I wanted to pursue a career that combined my interest in what makes people tick with how businesses can improve their performance. HR fitted the bill.

My first job was in the NHS. I was responsible for HR support in a trust that was transferring people with learning disabilities from a hospital into the community. After six years I decided I wanted a change in environment. Matra BAe Dynamics (which became MBDA) was an exciting private-sector organisation with an international dimension and a team that I could learn a lot from.