Karen Gooday

Biography

Karen Gooday is UAL’s Chief People Officer, bringing over 25 years of extensive experience in Human Resources to her role.

Karen joined UAL in 2023 as Director of HR. Karen has previously held the position of Head of Employment, Reward and Transformation at Haringey Council, Interim Head of People Operations at Optivo, as well as over 15 years at the University of Surrey, holding various senior HR roles, including Director of HR (Services).

As Chief People Officer, Karen leads the University's People Strategy. The Strategy supports a culture of accountability, fairness and collaboration, enabling the University to work towards its strategic vision through the collective talent of its staff.

Karen’s role involves:

• collaborating closely with trade unions and staff on key projects, change frameworks and evolving ways of working
• drive policy and process improvements with an emphasis on enhancing transparency, support and overall effectiveness in an inclusive environment
• supporting the development of job families, clear career pathways and opportunities for growth for all staff.

The department’s name change from HR to People and Culture better reflects UAL’s commitment to fostering an environment where staff and students can thrive and produce their best work. This department ensures UAL's talent has the right skills and experiences, deployed in the right roles, to meet its strategic objectives. The inclusion of Health and Safety in the Chief People Officer's portfolio enables the University to collaboratively address staff feedback on wellbeing and champion Health and Safety initiatives.