Rachel L P Billington
Guildford,Surrey, UK
Summary
- A multi-award-winning People & Culture Director recognised as ENEI’s 2023 D&I Influencer of the Year and named on the d&i Inspirational Leaders List 2024, with a distinctive combination of operational HR leadership, strategic people planning, and deep expertise in employee engagement, culture and inclusion
- Currently leading HR operations across Strategy and Growth for a global professional services consultancy, with responsibility for teams across Europe and India. Oversees strategic portfolios including People Strategy and Organisational Culture, ED&I, wellbeing, employee engagement
- Commercially savvy and highly adaptable, with a track record of senior leadership success across engineering, professional services, finance, and policing sectors. Brings a proven ability to deliver impact in complex, pressurised and scrutinised organisations across public and private sectors.
- An internationally recognised subject matter expert, keynote speaker, and chair, known for building influence and thought leadership within global networks. Chartered CIPD member, MBTI practitioner, certified 360 coach & ILM Level 7 Advanced Executive Coach
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
8027
8027
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Director, People & Culture, Europe and India
AECOM
06.2021 - 05.2025
- Director of People & Culture partnering with executive business lines leads. Accountability for regional HR strategy, strategic resourcing, pay & reward as well as design and delivery of ‘inclusion-led not initiative-led’ culture strategy for ED&I, Wellbeing and Employee Engagement.
- HR partner for strategy and growth, providing consultancy for people requirements at all stages of employee life cycle.
- Global culture portfolio with accountability for ED&I board targets for ESG programme, accountability for engagement survey, ED&I and Wellbeing strategies.
- Implemented first ED&I strategy mobilising delivery workstreams for TA, TM, policy and data including re-haul of recruitment processes, introduction of ED&I data and metrics framework and created 4 Employee Resource Groups.
- Business development of external ED&I and social value client advisory and consultancy.
- 2023 ENEI Winners for Inclusive Culture and D&I Influencer of the Year. Gold ED&I accreditation achieved in first two years.
- Highly regarded thought-leader with international profile. Keynotes include House of Lords, CIPD, Shell Amsterdam HQ
HR Diversity & Inclusion Lead
Metropolitan Police Service
05.2018 - 06.2021
- Reporting to HRD with dotted line to Commissioner’s Board and accountability for design and delivery of multi-million-pound budget D&I programmes for one the world’s largest police forces with unparalleled levels of public scrutiny.
- Designed and implemented innovative transformational programmes including first of its kind parenting Met Baby App and Women Returners scheme to increase gender diversity.
- Systemic re-design of disability adjustment processes and passports, leading million pound plus and commercial lead for outsourced delivery partners and contract management.
- European Diversity Awards (2019) HR Champion of the Year, shortlisted.
Diversity Manager
Surrey Police
Guildford
06.2014 - 05.2018
- Reporting to Deputy Chief Constable, accountable for D&I strategy including legislative compliance, staff networks and community partnership groups.
- Winners at HR Excellence awards (2018) and Personnel Today Awards finalists (2017) for D&I for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic pre-join mentoring scheme increasing ethnic diversity from 0% to 14% in Year 1.
- CIPD Best D&I initiative (2016) highly commended and showcased in CIPD research & Stonewall Champions Index Top 150 & Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers.
Deputy Head of Learning & Development
Surrey Police
Guildford
01.2005 - 06.2014
- Designed and led L&D strategy and costed business plan for 3k employees leading department of 100+ and deputising for Superintendent.
- Created internal change management consultancy specialising in organisational development support to senior leadership teams during restructures.
Strategic Planning Manager
Surrey Police
Guildford
01.2005 - 06.2014
- Project manager for high-profile change programme in Force Contact Centre. Deliverables included organisational design, career pathways and technology upgrade to meet 999 call handling targets.
- Delivered results included 5% increase in customer satisfaction targets and 10% reductions in sickness and attrition.
Customer Care Team Manager & Senior Trainer
Standard Life Healthcare
Guildford
01.1998 - 01.2005
- Led customer care team of thirty, managing performance to meet targets in fast paced call centre.
- Leadership development trainer implementing company wide coaching culture
Education
Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development - Human Resources
Reed Business School
Certificate of Professional Development in coaching - Performance Coaching
University of Strathclyde
BA (Hons) - English Language and Literature
University of Salford
Advanced Level 7 Certificate in Executive Coaching and Mentoring - Performance Coaching
Institute of Leadership & Management
UK06.2016
MBTI (Myers Briggs Type Indicator) practitioner accreditation -
Skills
- HR leadership, operational & COE
- C-suite Consultancy & advisory
- Strategic business partnering
- People strategy design & governance
- Organisational Development & Culture
- Employee engagement
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
- Talent management
- Leadership Development
- Succession Planning
- Wellbeing
- Budget management
- Employee Relations
- Workforce planning
Accomplishments
DEI Influencer of the Year (ENEI) 2023
Winners of Inclusive Culture (ENEI) 2024
d&i Inspirational Leaders List 2024
CIPD Awards (Highly Commended)
European Diversity Awards (Highly Commended)
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Director, People & Culture, Europe and India
AECOM
06.2021 - 05.2025
HR Diversity & Inclusion Lead
Metropolitan Police Service
05.2018 - 06.2021
Diversity Manager
Surrey Police
06.2014 - 05.2018
Deputy Head of Learning & Development
Surrey Police
01.2005 - 06.2014
Strategic Planning Manager
Surrey Police
01.2005 - 06.2014
Customer Care Team Manager & Senior Trainer
Standard Life Healthcare
01.1998 - 01.2005
Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development - Human Resources
Reed Business School
Certificate of Professional Development in coaching - Performance Coaching
University of Strathclyde
BA (Hons) - English Language and Literature
University of Salford
Advanced Level 7 Certificate in Executive Coaching and Mentoring - Performance Coaching
Institute of Leadership & Management
MBTI (Myers Briggs Type Indicator) practitioner accreditation -
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