Good Employment Charter leadership series – Leading Forward: Lessons from This Year, Priorities for the Next (Stockport)

Gillian is an experienced chair, non-executive director, advisor, and mentor, with a strong track record of supporting purpose-driven organisations that prioritise people and growth. Currently holding a number of NED role, Gillian serves as Chair of Back on Track, a Manchester-based charity, and as a Board Member of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter.

With extensive leadership experience in global retail, Gillian has held pivotal roles within IKEA Group across diverse international markets. She was CEO for IKEA in China, UK & Ireland, and more recently, led IKEA’s global consumer experience. Her career has been defined by a passion for making a meaningful difference to both people and businesses. She is known for driving business growth and sustained profitability by fostering inclusive organisational cultures and transforming business practices.

Gillian’s leadership at IKEA UK led to a significant milestone in 2017 when the company became the first large retailer to achieve accreditation as a Real Living Wage Employer. This achievement highlights her long-term commitment to humanistic values—believing that when employees receive fair compensation and positive working conditions, it not only boosts their well-being but also enhances customer experiences, driving long-term growth and success for the business.

An exiled Scotsman, Ian has spent his career working on environmental and public health issues – and the socioeconomic policies that underpin them – from community to international levels.

Starting his career as an environmental health officer with Carlisle City Council, he has worked in delivery, policy and leadership roles for Edinburgh City Council, the Health and Safety Executive, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, The World Health Organisation (Euro), the UK Public Health Association, Groundwork UK and The Growth Company.

Since March 2019, he has led the development and implementation of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, – an initiative established by the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham in his first term and now a major policy foundation to help address employment related inequalities and build economic and social resilience in his second.

Russell Harvey is The Resilience Coach: an executive coach, facilitator and speaker who has spent over 20 years helping leaders and organisations perform well in a world that refuses to sit still.

For seven years Russell’s personal purpose was to positively affect 100,000 people. He hit that target in August 2025. His new purpose is bigger: to champion businesses to be a force for good.

Russell has delivered over 6,000 hours of executive coaching to Board level and built the Resilience Wheel, a framework used by organisations including AB World Foods, Kerry Group, Novartis AG and the NHS to help leaders, teams and cultures spring forward with learning, rather than simply bounce back.

Claire is the Director of Wellbeing at Datesand Ltd, an award-winning supplier to the Biomedical sector. With a career spanning customer service, employee engagement and organisational development, and holding an MBA in Business, Claire is passionate about creating workplaces where people can thrive.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, Claire leads the company’s wellbeing, culture, engagement, and social impact agenda, working to ensure that people strategies support both employee experience and business performance. Claire is a passionate advocate for good employment practices and believes that when organisations invest in their people, both individuals and businesses succeed.