Ineke Powell

I like to get stuck in by rolling my sleeves up and working alongside people. It's the kind of collaborative partnership that motivates me more than anything else.

I feel good about the diverse personal and professional development opportunities that have come my way over the past 30 years and my present role allows me to fully utilise my experience. What I have learned is that the claim that business issues are "hard" and people issues are "soft" is a false dichotomy and both require art, science and a moral compass.

Over 30 years ago I came to the UK for 3 months to improve my English. I never went back home to Holland to live but- instead- embarked on my first career in mental health and psychotherapy.

I spent fifteen years in the NHS, took a degree, trained in psychotherapy and set up a staff counselling and support service, supporting NHS staff. I ended up a manager, running a business unit for a number of years.

By now my interest had broadened from the individual to the organisation and system. I also wanted to learn more about business so moved to the private sector and spent 6 happy years working for Motorola in an international organisational development role.

Joining OPDC some 9 years ago provided me with the opportunity to synthesise my public and private sector experience and I have landed on my feet! Business planning sessions, management, team and organisational development programmes, post merger integration planning and executive coaching are the hard currency of all sectors.

I continue to have a keen interest in the NHS and currently serve as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust.

Outside of work I can be found in the garden or walking by the River Thames and keeping up with family and friends over nice food and a good glass of wine.