Welcome! Croeso!
With over 30 years’ experience across private, public and not-for-profit organisations, I bring insight, expertise and pragmatic solutions to every HR challenge. Whether you’re an employer or an employee, I can help you navigate complex situations, manage change, and develop people strategies that drive results.
My HR career began in professional services, working in-house for several well-known accountancy and legal firms. In 1996 – driven by the belief that effective people management sits at the heart of every successful organisation – I founded Lesley Richards Limited, offering independent HR consultancy and interim management.
A decade later, I returned in-house with one of Wales’ leading marketing and communication consultancies, working along the Board through a period of rapid change – including mergers, acquisitions and an AIM flotation.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (the membership body for people professionals) lived up to its promise as a career partner, so it was an honour to be appointed into the newly-created role of Head of the CIPD in Wales, where I built the organisation’s profile and presence across Wales, developing its voice in Wales and for Wales.
2024 marked both professional (10 years of the CIPD in Wales) and personal (big birthday!) milestones – the perfect time to hand over the baton and refocus Lesley Richards Limited. Today I continue to support new and existing clients while extending my services to include C-suite support and specialist networking for senior professionals. Alongside this, I created HR in Wales – a collaborative venture designed to complement the many excellent HR events taking place across the country.
My work spans a wide range of industries – from manufacturing, local government and education, to transport, telecoms, professional services, retail, housing, charity and childcare. I work with both employers and individuals, offering practical solutions rooted in real-world experience.
Career highlights include:
- Recruiting for an £80m manufacturing investment
- Advising on strategic restructuring in public and private sectors
- Managing staff integration during multiple acquisitions
- And of course – having the privilege of leading my own professional body in Wales!
As I move into a new chapter in both my personal and professional life, I'm excited to have refocused Lesley Richards Limited, drawing on a long career in HR, a varied portfolio as an independent consultant, and the unique experience of leading my professional body in Wales.
