The HR2035 Ambassadors

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Donna Wray is CEO of D Wray Consulting Ltd and an HR2035 Foundation Ambassador, bringing over 15 years of HR expertise spanning IT, telecommunications, construction, energy, finance, retail and healthcare. Her career has centred on Learning & Organisational Development, specialising in performance coaching, career transition, and management development.

Donna has led initiatives including the design and management of a virtual global induction programme, creating supportive environments for new talent while promoting cultural awareness across diverse workforces. She coaches individuals navigating career change, promotion, or re-entry into the workforce after a break, tailoring strategies to each person’s motivations, strengths and learning style.

Her consultancy experience covers development coaching, corporate induction management, e-learning creation, and HRM SaaS implementation. She is skilled in mapping learning opportunities to role requirements, vendor management, and delivering engaging programmes to both virtual and in-person audiences.

As an HR2035 Ambassador, Donna contributes insights on how AI and digital solutions can transform workforce learning, organisational resilience, and employee well-being—helping shape ethical and human-centric HR practices for the decade ahead.

Focus areas: Career coaching, organisational development, L&D strategy, performance development, HR technology adoption.

Signature projects: Virtual induction design; SaaS learning system implementation; career transition coaching.

CTA: Invite Donna to collaborate on learning, coaching and workforce transformation initiatives.

Catherine Dock is an accomplished L&D leader with extensive experience in shaping learning strategies that enable organisational change. She has led programmes covering leadership capability, professional skills, and continuous learning culture, supporting organisations in adapting to technological disruption and workforce transformation. Catherine’s approach blends evidence-based practice with creativity, ensuring programmes are both engaging and effective.

As an HR2035 Ambassador, Catherine leads on continuous learning and development within the AI-Centric HR Operating Model, co-authoring guidance and toolkits for HR professionals. She brings practitioner insight into how AI and digital tools can enhance learning design, performance measurement, and capability frameworks—ensuring that HR stays ahead of workforce needs.

Focus areas: L&D strategy, leadership development, capability frameworks, digital learning, organisational change.

Signature projects: Leadership development design; AI-enhanced L&D models; continuous learning culture building.

CTA: Invite Catherine to collaborate on learning strategy, leadership and digital capability initiatives.

Vlad Centea is an AI and digital transformation specialist with a career spanning software engineering, SaaS entrepreneurship, and global IT leadership. He has piloted technology ventures from the ground up, secured significant grants and investments, and managed complex IT strategies for organisations such as IBM and Deutsche Bank. Vlad is known for his ability to simplify AI adoption—helping businesses move from theory to practice by implementing local AI models, automation, and practical product strategies.

As an HR2035 Ambassador, Vlad contributes his technical and systems expertise to support HR’s adoption of AI. He helps demystify AI-powered applications, ensuring that HR leaders and practitioners understand not only the strategic implications but also the technical realities of automation, model selection, and system design. His focus is on aligning emerging technology with the human and ethical priorities of the HR2035 vision.

Focus areas: AI solutions, automation, SaaS strategy, digital transformation, system architecture.

Signature projects: Designing AI solutions for HR; advising organisations on how to buy, adopt and manage AI; creating frameworks for ethical and effective AI integration.

CTA: Invite Vlad to collaborate on AI solution design, procurement strategies, and HR digital transformation.

Denis Barnard is an established thought leader in HR technology and system strategy, known internationally for his ability to simplify complex technology choices for HR and business leaders. Founder of HRmeansbusiness, Denis has delivered advisory work across industries and geographies, guiding organisations through HRIS, payroll and talent technology procurement, selection and implementation. His widely read book Selecting and Implementing HR & Payroll Software remains a practical guide for HR leaders and CIOs alike.

As an HR2035 Ambassador, Denis brings decades of grounded expertise in HR systems to the AI era—helping the Foundation explore how AI-enabled platforms can enhance decision-making, data quality and employee experience. He contributes critical thinking to ensure technology delivers value without losing human focus.

Focus areas: HR technology, HRIS selection, system optimisation, payroll, digital HR strategy.

Signature projects: HRIS selection frameworks; global HR technology implementations; author of Selecting and Implementing HR & Payroll Software.

CTA: Invite Denis to collaborate on HR technology, system selection and AI-enabled HR transformation.

Teresa Rose is a senior Organisational Development professional, board advisor, and Executive Coach whose career spans corporate leadership, global consulting, and HR transformation. Formerly Head of UK Sales in the EdTech sector and later Senior OD leader at E.ON, Teresa has pioneered digital learning transformation and skills-based workforce strategies at scale. She now works with boards and executive teams to embed resilience and readiness for the future of work.

Her advisory work covers a wide range of sectors, including financial services, healthcare, energy, and international development. Teresa has partnered with organisations such as HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Rolls-Royce, the NHS, European Bank, and the World Bank, guiding initiatives on workforce governance, transformation, and leadership capability. Recognised with awards from Brandon Hall and Learning Technologies, Teresa brings both thought leadership and practical results.

As an HR2035 Ambassador, Teresa contributes expertise in strategic workforce planning and organisational development for the AI-driven future, ensuring HR leaders are prepared to navigate disruption while embedding ethical and evidence-based practice.

Focus areas: Organisational development, workforce transformation, governance, leadership capability, digital learning.

Signature projects: Digital learning transformation at E.ON; global workforce transformation advisory for HSBC and the World Bank; executive coaching and leadership development.

CTA: Invite Teresa to collaborate on workforce strategy, governance, and future-ready organisational design.

Long bio

Terry Simmons is a highly experienced HR and OD professional with expertise in people transformation and HR technology adoption. He has led complex change programmes that bring together systems, processes, and people to deliver sustainable workforce outcomes. Terry is known for his ability to engage stakeholders, simplify complexity, and ensure digital change translates into practical business impact.

As an HR2035 Ambassador, Terry plays a key role in workforce strategy and digital HR transformation, contributing to research, toolkits, and roundtables that help HR practitioners adapt to the AI-driven future. He brings practical expertise in aligning technology with culture and workforce design, ensuring AI adoption creates long-term value.

Focus areas: Organisational development, HR systems, change management, workforce planning, digital HR.

Signature projects: HR digitalisation programmes; organisational development strategy; workforce agility frameworks.

CTA: Invite Terry to collaborate on workforce transformation and digital HR adoption.

Dr. Souad Slyman is a respected academic and researcher whose career bridges science, education, and workforce development. With a PhD in health sciences and extensive teaching and leadership experience, she has advanced research in applied sciences and digital learning, while championing diversity and inclusion in technology careers.

Souad is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and has taught and supervised undergraduate and postgraduate courses across business computing, data analytics, and applied sciences. Her expertise includes AI in education, quantitative and qualitative research methods, marketing analytics, and digital transformation. She has also played a leading role in curriculum design, STEM engagement, and graduate employability.

Souad is also the founder and leader of AWEiSE (Empowering Women in Intelligent Digital Entrepreneurship), a mentoring and training initiative that equips women with the confidence, digital skills, and entrepreneurial mindset to succeed in AI and data-driven industries.

As an HR2035 Ambassador, Souad contributes expertise on the intersection of STEM, education and AI, supporting initiatives that expand access to future-ready skills. She is passionate about enabling women and minority groups to succeed in data and AI-related fields, ensuring that the HR2035 vision reflects diverse talent pipelines and equitable outcomes.

Focus areas: STEM education, digital learning, diversity in tech, women in AI, applied health sciences.

Signature projects: Founder of AWEiSE – Empowering Women in Intelligent Digital Entrepreneurship; STEM curriculum design; women in data and AI initiatives; applied health research.

CTA: Invite Souad to collaborate on education, diversity and workforce transformation projects.

Imogen Hull is a data scientist and writer focused on building ethical, inclusive AI systems. With an MSc in Data Science and Analytics, she brings expertise in Python, R, SQL, and applied machine learning, alongside experience in workflow automation and financial audit (CIPFA-qualified). Her career combines technical skills with a strong focus on ethical design, inclusion, and the social impact of AI.

Imogen is an advocate for age-inclusive AI, highlighting how age is often overlooked in bias and fairness debates. Through her research, writing, and public speaking, she promotes cross-disciplinary dialogue that links data science with ethical frameworks. She publishes Beyond the Average on Substack, where she writes about data, AI, and inclusion with a focus on practical solutions that create better outcomes for society.

As an HR2035 Ambassador, Imogen contributes expertise on AI ethics, fairness, and inclusion, ensuring that HR’s adoption of AI does not reinforce systemic biases but instead broadens opportunity across all groups.

Focus areas: AI ethics, bias and fairness, age inclusion, data science, human-centred AI.

Signature projects: Beyond the Average Substack; research on age inclusion in AI; applied machine learning and ethical AI frameworks.

CTA: Invite Imogen to collaborate on AI ethics, fairness, and inclusive workforce transformation.