Yvon Poland Chartered FCIPD, MIoD

Organisation Effectiveness | Org Design | Board Development | Team Effectiveness | Cultural Change & Transformation | CIPD Co-chair Merseyside & North Cheshire

United Kingdom

About

As a Senior global Workforce & OD leader, I excel in managing complex People functions, including HR and Organisational Development (OD). I have led transformative initiatives in the NHS, such as the Nightingale programme and a values refresh programme, both recognised nationally. My expertise includes deep knowledge of culture and organisation transformation, leveraging People strategies to enhance capacity, capability, and cultural alignment to deliver organisational effectiveness. My board advisor leadership development experience enables me to navigate organisational complexities and foster high-performance cultures. Beyond the NHS, I have applied industry best practices to tailor strategic People management solutions in various sectors, including at Centrica/British Gas, where I directed global talent and performance, pioneering the implementation of Workday for learning. At Aviva, I developed graduate schemes and led recruitment teams, contributing to the long-term talent strategy. Laterally, I have worked as a strategic advisor to board leaders across private and public sector organisations to drive cultural transformation that enables organisational effectiveness, through design thinking and co-production for maximum impact.

Experience

  • Group Organisation Effectiveness Lead at MAG (Airports Group)
    Dec 2025 - Present · 7 mos

    Strategic advisor working at system level to grow and sustain Organisation Effectiveness (OE) capability.  Accountable for driving MAG towards OE metrics that reduce complexity, drive collaboration and support innovation and growth.

  • Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (7 yrs 4 mos)
    • Director of OD & Inclusion (Interim)
      Oct 2024 - Dec 2025 · 1 yr 3 mos

      Serve as a trusted culture and transformation advisor to the Board. As a key member of the HR senior leadership team, I oversee the organisational development, engagement, culture & behaviours, change & organisation Design, leadership & management and equality, diversity & inclusion teams.

    • Head of Organisation Development
      Nov 2019 - Oct 2024 · 5 yrs

    • Head of Leadership & Employee Engagement
      Sep 2018 - Nov 2019 · 1 yr 3 mos

      Responsible for leading the development and Improvement of Leadership development programmes; Coaching & Mentoring service and Employee Engagement strategic initiatives, for group and hospital senior leadership teams, across MFT.

  • Leadership & Management Academy manager at Centrica
    Sep 2016 - Sep 2018 · 2 yrs 1 mo

    Leading the development of the Centrica Leadership & Management Academy, through responsibility for the design and development of the Global learning portfolio. Key accountabilities • Ownership of the strategic direction of the Management & Leadership Academy learning portfolio • Ownership of assessment methodologies and approaches for portfolio • Partnership with L&D Directors to identify business requirements and ensure Academy content meets business needs for target audience • Provide group facilitation and individual coaching support across the business, where relevant and required

  • Learning & Development Business Partner at British Gas at British Gas
    Jun 2014 - Sep 2016 · 2 yrs 4 mos

    Leading the learning strategy for Central Heating Installations (CHI) and Dyno. Supporting Residential Services and ultimately British Gas wide key learning initiatives to drive the people capability agenda.

  • Leadership & Talent Consultant at The Co-op
    Sep 2012 - Jun 2014 · 1 yr 10 mos

    *Responsible for defining and implementing a Management Development learning programme for Leaders across the Bank. *Responsible for design and creation of a framework to support senor hire onboarding programmes up to CEO level. *Experience of implementing learning solutions for Approved Persons working in a regulated environment.