Carol Bernard CBE
Biography
Carol has a rich and diverse career leading some of the most transformative public-sector change programmes of the last two decades. As Executive Director for Government People Group, Carol leads a cross-government programme on Line Management Capability for the Civil Service as well as being a Non Executive Director for the Government Property Agency. Previously, as Director of People & Places and Executive Committee member for the Cabinet Office, she spearheaded a significant reorganisation to achieve an unprecedented change to the geographical footprint.
Throughout her extensive career Carol has held the roles of Head of HR Strategy at the Ministry of Defence, and Head of Defence Security and Business Resilience. She has also served as Deputy Director of Integration and Readiness for the London 2012 Olympics, Head of Knowledge and Information Strategy at the Ministry of Justice, and Group Director of Corporate Management for the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Her early career was spent on policing, prisons and probation organisations. Carol was awarded a CBE in 2005 for Services to the National Probation Service.
Carol holds a Masters in Business Administration, an MA in Social Policy and is a qualified HR professional and social worker. Carol also holds an MA in International Security Strategy and is an alumna of the Royal College of Defence Studies. Carol was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Sheffield Hallam University in 2021.
Executive Director of Line Management Capability
The Line Management Capability Programme focuses on raising the profile and esteem of line management by developing and setting the standards and requirements for line managers across the Civil Service. This transformational programme will improve employee experience for employees and managers and will inform the evolution of line manager training and development. It will ensure the new standards are embedded across the Civil Service and integrated within the employee lifecycle.
Non-Executive Director
Carol Bernard joined the Government Property Agency in June 2022 as Non-Executive Director where she brings a wealth of change management and stakeholder engagement experience to the GPA Board.