Watson Martin - Meet the team

Position: Managing Partner
Experience: Before she created Watson Martin Partnership with Melanie Martin, Heather spent 5 years in consultancy roles specialising in new business development and projects involving occupational psychology tools. Prior to the design and delivery of CIPD approved programmes, Heather developed her own HR expertise within the manufacturing, retail and finance sectors.  A CIPD Chartered Fellow with a MSC in Strategic HR, Heather has gained both academic and senior practitioner insight and knowledge. 
Interests / Hobbies:  Heather has been an active member for the CIPD for many years, as Branch Vice Chair, Chair and for the last 8 years as a National Upgrading Assessor.  Heather is currently on a level 7 qualification in coaching, to enhance her personal and professional development.  Aside from that Heather spends her off work time at the gym, watching and reading crime thrillers, sampling delicious wines and trying to keep up with her two very active children.
Quirky fact: She has done 120 parachute jumps
LinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/heatherwatson1

Position: Before she created Watson Martin Partnership with Heather Watson, Melanie spent 7 years successfully running her own consultancy business specialising in reward strategy and pay benchmarking. She also worked part time developing and delivering CIPD PAC programmes. Melanie's earlier HR career included local government and NHS experience and more than 10 years with Singapore Airlines. She has been a CIPD Chartered Fellow since 1994.
Interests / Hobbies: Melanie has been actively involved with the CIPD for many years and spent 3 years as a member of the Membership and Education Committee, contributing to the development of the CIPD Professional Standards, Qualifications Strategy and the new HR Profession Map. Melanie's leisure interests include anything to do with Italy, fine food and wine, watching films, swimming, walking and keeping fit.
Quirky Fact: In her spare time she is writing a book about Amsterdam's World War 2 history.
LinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/melaniemartin

Position: Centre Manager
Experience: Before joining Watson Martin Partnership in 2006, Leanne developed her HR background at Williams Lea Corporate Information Solutions, where she worked in their Head Office as a member of the Employee Services Department and also in roles on their client sites, which included Pricewaterhouse Coopers. As an aspiring HR professional and advocate of excellence in customer service, Leanne is dedicated to providing advice and guidance for individuals wanting to further their career and develop their knowledge of the HR/L&D profession by undertaking CIPD qualifications and routes to CIPD membership. As an Associate member of the CIPD having successfully passed the exams, Leanne also supports Foundation level candidates to achieve their Associate status.
Hobbies / Interests: In her spare time Leanne enjoys playing the piano, reading books, cooking, eating out at fine dining restaurants, as well as country walking with her husband and 9 year old son.
Quirky Fact: Leanne once sang at a concert in front of 200 people!
LinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/leannebucknor

Position: Centre Coordinator
Experience: Rosie joined Watson Martin Partnership in November 2009, having just completed a BA in English Literature and Theatre Studies. Rosie has worked in various customer service roles in a range of industries, having experience in organising and co-ordinating business activities and events. Rosie is keen to develop her HR knowledge and is currently undertaking a Foundation Certificate in HR Practice with a hope to one day deliver CIPD programmes herself.
Interests / Hobbies:  Rosie's outside interests include reading, the theatre and experimenting in the kitchen! To combat this passion for baking Rosie is also a fitness enthusiast. Rosie has a keen cultural interest and is gradually working her way through the main European cities. Her interest in travel stems from her gap year experiences in Asia and New Zealand.
Quirky Fact: Rosie volunteers as an Usher at the Gate theatre in Notting Hill, an arrangement which allows her to see emerging theatre on a bi-monthly basis whilst supporting the arts during the huge cuts to their funding. 

Position: Programme Coordinator
Experience: Having worked in Sales Management within retail, leisure and telecommunications and following this with three years in recruitment, Iain developed a passion for People Resourcing, Learning & Development, Talent and Performance Management.  He is currently studying towards his CIPD Advanced Diploma to further develop his HR knowledge and gain a formal qualification.  Since joining Watson Martin Partnership at the start of 2011 Iain has been responsible for developing the Experience Assessment  process and advising on all other programmes, nurturing candidate relations and driving sales.
Hobbies / Interests: Iain is a keen and able Rugby player and an equally keen but less able Cricketer.  He can often be found trying to show off in the kitchen and enjoying the scenery and distilleries of Scotland. 
Quirky Fact: A teenage Iain once trained with the All Blacks and had a foot race with Jonah Lomu (which he lost)

Position: Senior Consultant
Region: South West
Experience:  Dawn is a Fellow of the CIPD and prior to joining Watson Martin Partnership was Director of HR in an NHS Foundation Trust.  She has a broad range of HR experience spanning both the private and public sectors and has a particular interest in values-based leadership and employee engagement.  Following Dawn's leadership of a long-term change programme, her last employer was featured as one of only 5 NHS organisations nationally in a Department of Health promotional DVD on values-led organisations.  She is a qualified Adviser, Assessor, Internal Verifier and is the programme lead for the Advanced qualifications.
Interests / Hobbies: Dawn is a governor of her local high school and takes regular coastal and moorland walks with her crazy rescue dog, Billy.  She will occasionally rise to a more physically demanding challenge and has completed a 60 mile bike ride, 26 mile 'moon walk' and a 10k run, all to raise funds for charity
Quirky fact: Dawn joined the Royal Air Force at age 17, following a challenging letter send to the force some months earlier requesting an explanation as to why the minimum age at recruitment was different for boys and girls - an early sign of the career to come maybe....

Position: Consultant
Experience: Before she joined Watson Martin Partnership in January 2011 as a qualified advisor and assessor, Carole had a varied and interesting career in a range of senior management positions in both the public and private sectors, working in large multinationals as well as within the SME sector and occupying both generalist and specialist roles,  Carole has extensive experience of HR strategy, management development, graduate programmes, organisational change and transition, resourcing and employee relations in climates of both growth and recession. 
Interests / Hobbies:  Carole is currently completing her dissertation for a level 7 qualification in Learning and Development, looking at the benefits of social media to learning.  Aside from that Carole spends her off work time with her family taking her Westie, Archie, on long walks, creating knitted toys for children and baking - the Great British Bake off beckons!
Quirky fact: Carole was once escorted to a plane by 6 French Fireman!

Position: Consultant
Experience: Dee has been a part time consultant with the Centre since November 2009 and she is a licensed and qualified Adviser, Assessor and Internal Verifier.  She has tutored part time on CIPD programmes since 2004 whilst also working as an independent HR consultant providing outplacement services, facilitating on assessment and development centres, providing HR advice to SMEs and implementing a variety of learning and development initiatives. She is Level B BPS qualified. Her earlier HR career spanned a variety of sectors including multinational, pharmaceutical, insurance and finance. Her special interests are in employee engagement, strategy, and how HR can add value to the business.
Interests/Hobbies:  Dee is an avid golfer and gardener and has an allotment full of vegetables and fruit, along with 3 chickens called Hettie, Winnie and Rosie.
Quirky fact: In 2009 Dee had 2 hole in ones within 2 months of each other

Position: Consultant
Experience: Alec joined the Watson Martin Partnership in 2006 as a part-time consultant.  A qualified Advisor, he also assesses candidate’s work and supports them with their Management Research Reports. He has an MBA and is Chartered FCIPD.  In addition to working as an External Moderator / Verifier with the CIPD, Alec teaches at under and post-graduate levels on topics including leadership, innovation and change. Running his own consultancy, Alec’s other interests include leadership development, change management and career counselling.  He also works in recruitment and selection and provides outplacement support to organisations and individuals.  Alec has considerable experience of both the public and private sectors (including local government, finance and telecoms) and frequently works at senior management levels.
Hobbies / Interests: Alec enjoys Japanese poetry and also kumihimo (a form of Japanese braidmaking).
Quirky fact: Alec has a license to tie people up and throw them out of trees (although some say it lets me operate a zip wire)

Position: Consultant
Experience: Before joining Watson Martin Partnership in July 2008, Fiona spent seven years designing and delivering CIPD Certificate programmes in the UK and Middle East.  She also has extensive experience in management development and coaching, creating bespoke development programmes in areas such as training skills and performance management. 
Hobbies / Interests: Fiona is an avid learner and has recently achieved her Masters in HR Management and is now exploring and developing her writing skills with the help of personal coaches, as well as working towards her Internal Verifier award.  She also spends a lot of time with Ollie her gundog, jogging around the countryside with him almost every day. Along with the gym several times a week, gardening and an active social life with friends and family, life is very busy!
Quirky Fact: Fiona has a collection of 100+ science fiction books and is a bit of a trekkie!

Position: Consultant
Experience: Jan is a consultant Occupational Psychologist with over 20 years experience in management development and has worked as an Adviser, Assessor and Internal Verifier with Watson Martin Partnership since March 2007. She delivers CIPD programmes, runs workshops and supports candidates to achieve their Management Research Reports.  Along with her role in this Centre Jan’s areas of expertise are in developing organisations and individuals through a range of interventions, including academic and work based programmes.  She teaches on a range of postgraduate management programmes, facilitates assessment and development Centres and is an executive coach.
Jan's career has spanned the civil service, local authority, telecommunications and construction.  She has an MA in Training and Development and an MSc in Occupational Psychology
Hobbies / Interests: Jan is currently pursuing a PhD in Educational Research and is working towards Chartered Occupational Psychologist status
Quirky fact: Jan is imminently moving into an eco-village to reflect her keen interest in the environment.

Position: Consultant
Experience:  Linda has been a senior associate with Watson Martin Partnership since November 2004. She is qualified as an Adviser, Assessor and Internal Verifier and is the Centre’s representative in the East Anglia region.  Linda also holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration. She is an experienced HR practitioner having worked at senior management level for many years in the Airline industry. In recent years, Linda has been involved with the CIPD as an External Moderator / External Verifier, ensuring that candidates’ work is assessed consistently within and across Centres, and meets the relevant Professional Standards.
Interests / Hobbies: Linda enjoys long distance running (marathons), Ballroom / Latin American dancing, music, including playing the clarinet, as well as taking part in charity fund raising challenges.
Quirky Fact: She has completed 99 hot air balloon flights.

Position: Consultant
Experience: Louise joined the Watson Martin Partnership in December 2010. She is a qualified adviser and assessor, with an MSc in Organisational Psychology and PhD in Experimental Psychology. Louise also works as an independent consultant specialising in behavioural skills development. Prior to joining us Louise worked for several years in a learning and development consultancy for large private and public clients across a range of industries, managing projects and developing and delivering bespoke, innovative learning solutions for leadership development and organisational change.
Hobbies / Interests: Louise is a member of the Division of Occupational Psychology of the British Psychological Society, is qualified in the use of psychometric tests and is passionate about using the MBTI in personal and team development. In her spare time she enjoys reading, film, tennis and enjoying the outdoors with her young daughter.
Quirky fact: She took a day crew to Richard Branson's house to film his speech welcoming new employees.

Position: Consultant
Experience: Melinda joined the centre on a part-time basis in January 2010 and is responsible for supporting and delivering Employment Law and Foundation level workshops. Melinda specialises in the provision of employment law and HR advice across many business sectors. As a Consultant Melinda also has ongoing support roles, as an HR business partner, for a number of organisations in the not-for-profit sector. Melinda has provided training and is a tutor on a Masters programme for the National School for Government and across the public sector.  Her employed experience was in financial services running a consultancy team and providing employment tribunal services and HR advice.
Hobbies / Interests: Melinda likes to sail, walk, read and loves to cook for friends and family.
Quirky fact:  Melinda holds a licence to drive power boats.

Position: Consultant
Experience: Morag joined the centre in July 2011 and prior to this had been working in HR for twenty years with her experience drawn mainly from the NHS. She has had a range of roles and responsibilities from Personnel Officer to Deputy Director of HR, including Development Manager for the local introduction of the NHS Knowledge Skills Framework. In conjunction with her new role with Watson Martin Partnership she is also working part time for a central NHS Board in Scotland and part time freelance HR Tutor/Lecturer and HR Consultant  She has been recently developing her  skills to provide OD internal consulting to support NHS quality improvements, including leadership skills, staff engagement, IIP and culture / change management.  
Hobbies/Interests: Morag enjoys cooking, Pilates and is learning to play golf.

Position: Consultant
Experience:  With over 20 years strategic and operational experience, Sarah joined Watson Martin Partnership in 2010. Her earlier HR experience and expertise was gained in the public sector before she established her own consultancy providing support to clients from diverse range of businesses.  A Chartered Fellow of the CIPD with an MA in Human Resource Management, Sarah is also an experienced and qualified adviser, assessor and internal verifier and has provided support on CIPD programmes for a number of years.
Interests / Hobbies: Sarah continues to be actively involved with the CIPD, and since 1993 and has held a number of roles within the Branch including Chair, Vice Chair, Membership and CPD Adviser.  Nationally she has been a Non-Executive Director and an elected member of the Membership and Education Committee, and involved in Membership Upgrading for over 10 years.  Sarah is a keen horsewoman and regularly competes at County level. She also enjoys fine wine and dining out.
Quirky fact: In 2009 Sarah was awarded the CIPD Distinguished Badge of Merit

Position: Consultant
Experience: when joined having successfully completed his PAC. In excess of 30 years as an HR Generalist, 17 of which at Director level, for manufacturing multi-nationals. Worked across Europe, North America, the Middle East and India.  Developed and implemented a number of successful strategic change programmes including in performance management and management development, employee relations, and health and safety. As a very experienced HR professional, Stan believes in  the essential role HR makes to organisation success and is committed to supporting other HR professionals develop excellent technical and practical skills and  to receive proper recognition for their crucial contribution. Based in Cardiff well placed to deliver programmes in South Wales covering Cardiff, Bath and Bristol he is an expert in SKYPE programme delivery.
Hobbies / Interests: In his spare time Stan enjoys walking and reading.