Good Employment Charter leadership series: Leading Through Change & Uncertainty

Gillian Drakeford MBE is an experienced chair, non executive director and advisor with a strong track record of leading organisations through cultural transformation and purpose led growth. She currently serves as Chair of Back on Track and holds NED roles with One Manchester Housing and the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, alongside her work as an executive coach and mentor.

With more than 30 years in global retail, Gillian held senior international leadership roles across Hong Kong, China and the UK, including CEO for IKEA China and CEO for IKEA UK & Ireland. She later led IKEA’s global consumer experience, shaping inclusive cultures, strengthening e commerce capability and driving customer centric innovation across diverse markets.

Gillian has been a key contributor to the business transformation of IKEA — one of the world’s most recognisable heritage retail brands — helping evolve its omnichannel retail system and modernise the customer experience while protecting the values at the heart of the brand. She now brings this blend of global retail expertise, cultural stewardship and strategic clarity to boards and leadership teams committed to building organisations where people and performance thrive together.

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.

Deborah Walker has enjoyed what she describes as a “squiggly career”, spanning banking, higher education, homelessness services and inward investment. Having worked within Greater Manchester over the past three decades, she has developed a deep understanding of the city region’s strengths, opportunities and ambitions, alongside the challenges facing its people and communities.

Having once declared she would never return to financial services, Deborah now finds herself at Manchester Building Society, affectionately known as “the oldest start-up in town”, where she leads the growth of the brand and branch network across Greater Manchester.

Manchester Building Society is a trading name of Newcastle Building Society, a proud, purpose-driven mutual serving more than 360,000 members. Rooted in place and committed to making a difference, the Society exists to connect communities with a better financial future.

It was this community-first ethos that drew Deborah back to the sector. A passionate advocate for social and financial inclusion, she believes financial services can play a vital role in creating stronger, fairer communities. The Society’s purpose-led approach provides a clear focus in a challenging operating environment, enabling the team to support members, revitalise high streets and champion the enduring value of local branches in an increasingly digital world.

Aliya Rajah is an Executive Presence and Public Speaking Coach who partners with organisations to develop confident, influential leaders. She works both one-to-one with senior executives and with leadership teams through workshops and training programmes, helping professionals communicate with confidence, clarity, and impact. Her work enables ambitious leaders to command the room, increase their visibility, and maximise their influence.

Aliya advises CEOs, public figures, entrepreneurs, educators, legal professionals, and high-profile personalities across a range of sectors. Having expanded her business internationally, she spent seven years living and working in Dubai, where she partnered with leading organisations to deliver executive presence, communication, and leadership development programmes. Her clients include Amazon, DP World, ADNOC, Dubai Health Authority, Add People, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Mashreq and Emirates NBD.

With an academic background in Biomedical Science and a Master’s in Public Health from the UK, Aliya climbed the corporate ladder before recognising that her chosen career didn’t offer a true sense of fulfilment. While working in London, she pursued formal qualifications in Personal Performance Coaching and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), eventually transitioning into coaching full-time in 2017. Today, she works internationally across the UK and the UAE, helping leaders build executive presence, communicate with confidence, and lead with greater impact.

Carol has spent the majority of her career working on post 16 education and skills issues within the public sector.  Roles included the planning and funding of provision within colleges and independent training providers and have been delivered at both an operational and leadership level. Carol has worked within government funding agencies, namely Cambridge Training and Enterprise Council and Cambridgeshire Learning and Skills Council before returning home to Greater Manchester to work at Greater Manchester Learning and Skills Council and Wigan Council.

Before joining the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter Unit, Carol was Chief Executive of ProCo NW Ltd, a training provider based in Wigan.