Bio

David Blackburn is one of the most awarded HR professionals working in the UK today and the HR Brilliance Awards HR Professional of the Year 2021. He is listed as one the top 100 HR Directors in the World in the HRD Global 100 2021 and is a Chartered Companion of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). This is the highest accolade and level of membership awarded by the CIPD professional body and the selection of individuals to enter this group is made directly by the CIPD Board.

With almost 25 years’ experience in leading all aspects of Human Resources, David is currently the Chief People Officer of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), recognised as the 4th Most Inclusive Employer in the UK and a Times Top 50 Employer for Women. Prior to his current role he worked across both the private and not-for-profit sectors. David is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen and the London Business School; a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce; the Institute of Leadership and Management and a Member of the Guild of HR Professionals. He speaks regularly at events in the UK and beyond.

In 2020 David Blackburn was the Investors in People (IiP) Leader of the Year; MEMCOM Excellence Awards HR Leader of the Year, Personnel Today Awards HR Director of the Year and HR Excellence HR Team of the Year. He is also the inaugural Financial Times FT Adviser Diversity Champion of the Year. David’s work has been recognised in multiple National Awards including: Brilliance in Internal Communication; Business in the Community (BITC) Responsible Business; CIPD People Management; Employee Benefits; Engage Awards; Financial Adviser Diversity in Finance; Financial Innovation; Housing Heroes; HR Brilliance, HR Distinction; HR Excellence; Investors in People; Personnel Today; and the UK Customer Experience Awards.