Jennifer Gillespie

HR Director | Driving People and Culture Initiatives

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

About

As a seasoned human resources professional with extensive experience spanning over multiple regions, I focus on delivering comprehensive HR lifecycle strategies that foster organizational growth. Currently serving as a Senior HR Business Partner at Clifford Chance, I bring expertise in recruiting, business administration, and people and culture, with a strong commitment to aligning HR initiatives with business objectives. Throughout my career, I have contributed to talent transformation, diversity and inclusion, and employee engagement strategies. My work emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and the implementation of analytics-driven approaches to enhance organizational effectiveness and employee satisfaction. My passion lies in creating impactful cultural change and empowering organizations through strategic HR solutions.

Experience

  • Clifford Chance (9 mos)
    • Global Talent & Performance Strategic Projects Lead
      Apr 2026 - Present · 4 mos

      • Spearheaded the employee lifecycle projects aimed at enhancing the overall employee experience across the firm. • Collaborated with stakeholders to ensure buy-in and alignment on strategic initiatives. • Led cross-functional teams to deliver impactful HR solutions within a global framework.

    • Senior Human Resources Business Partner (mat cover)
      Nov 2025 - Apr 2026 · 6 mos

  • Culture Catalyst Consulting at Founder and CEO
    Mar 2025 - Present · 1 yr 5 mos

    Providing end to end HR lifecycle support to organisations. Designed and delivered AI gamified immersive learning experience

  • Chief People Officer at Ecolog International
    Sep 2024 - Mar 2025 · 7 mos

    • Led talent transformation initiatives at Ecolog International, driving strategy, business development, and digitization efforts. • Spearhead recruitment, employee lifecycle management, and talent succession programs to enhance organizational effectiveness. • Implement analytics-driven approaches to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion, resulting in improved employee engagement and retention.

  • Xylem Inc. (4 yrs 6 mos)
    • Human Resources Director Middle East & Turkiye
      Sep 2021 - Jun 2024 · 2 yrs 10 mos

    • Human Resources Director, Xylem, South East Asia (SEA)
      Jan 2020 - Sep 2021 · 1 yr 9 mos

      In this role, I lead the development and implementation of people-centred operational strategies and talent programmes in close collaboration with the Managing Director and business executives. Some notable outcomes in this role includes: • Increasing employee engagement significantly through effectively managing transformation activities. • Enhancing staff volunteering rates across CSR initiatives in the capacity of community ambassador. • Reducing attrition in South East Asia through focusing on engagement, development and talent retention programmes. • Boosting leadership opportunities for female employees by advocating for gender neutral job descriptions.

  • Hr Business Transformation & Change Consultant at IBM
    Mar 2019 - Jan 2020 · 11 mos

    In this role, I directed day-to-day functions of talent and transformation teams across Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Korea, Japan and Vietnam. Some notable outcomes in this role includes: • Generating revenue and driving diversity and inclusion initiatives through growing a talent and transformation team. • Developing a digital change management service from the ground up including agile response functions, online surveys, and a competency gap identification tool.