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Bernadette Thompson
Transform organisational cultures with Bernadette Thompson OBE, speaker and diversity strategist. Bernadette works with public sector organisations to implement inclusive recruitment practices and develop effective diversity initiatives, delivering award-winning expertise recognised by the UK Civil Service.
Bernadette Thompson OBE is a pioneering HR leader who transforms organizational cultures through strategic diversity and inclusion initiatives. Her practical approach bridges policy development with meaningful workplace change across the UK's public sector.
As Associate Director of Inclusion at Barts Health NHS Trust, Bernadette oversees diversity strategies for 20,000 employees. Previously, she served as Deputy Director for Inclusion at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities, following a Civil Service career that began in 1998. Her work earned her the prestigious OBE and the Community Award from the Charity for Civil Servants.
Bernadette helps organizations navigate the complex challenges of building truly inclusive environments by identifying systemic barriers and implementing practical solutions. Her expertise in unconscious bias training, inclusive recruitment practices, and policy development enables institutions to create measurable improvements in workforce representation and employee engagement while meeting regulatory requirements.
Audiences gain actionable frameworks for embedding inclusion into organizational DNA, practical tools for measuring diversity initiative effectiveness, and strategies for cultivating leadership buy-in across all levels. Her presentations blend data-driven insights with compelling case studies from her extensive public sector experience.
Book Bernadette to equip your organization with proven strategies that transform diversity challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth.
Topics, sessions and talks
Examine the impact of unconscious biases in decision-making processes and explore strategies for mitigating bias to create a fair and inclusive workplace.
Address the issue of workplace bullying and foster a culture of respect, empathy, and support within organizations.
Bernadette Thompson OBE transforms organizational cultures through practical diversity strategies that bridge policy with meaningful workplace change, drawing from her extensive experience as an HR leader across the UK public sector. Book Bernadette to equip your team with proven frameworks that convert inclusion challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth.
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frequently asked questions
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To book Bernadette Thompson, email bernadette.thompson.obe@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Bernadette's availability and speaking fee. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and about your audience.
Bernadette Thompson draws on case studies from her public sector career — including work across the NHS and central government — to ground frameworks for unconscious bias mitigation and inclusive workplace culture in documented organisational contexts.
Bernadette Thompson OBE speaks on unconscious bias in decision-making, workplace bullying and respect, and diversity and inclusion strategy. She holds an OBE for her civil service work and serves as Associate Director of Inclusion at Barts Health NHS Trust, where she oversees diversity strategy for 20,000 employees.
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Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
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