“Reward and performance is all about understanding people.” says Jenny Craik. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by experienced HR leader Jenny Craik, who shares insights from her career in reward and performance at organisations...
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How can smart incentive design drive performance?
Well-designed incentives can transform organisational performance however, poorly designed ones can quietly undermine strategy, culture, and results. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast host Chris Howard and LACE reward specialists, Julie Elder and Mike...
How can CPOs build greater influence in the C-suite?
Great leadership does not start with a title. It starts with influence. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, we explore one critical question: how can today’s Chief People Officer (CPO) move from having a seat at the table to genuinely shaping business...
SWP Summit 2026 – all you need to know ahead of the conference
Strategic workforce planning (SWP) is no longer a future-focused concept; it’s a present-day business imperative. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by Douglas Leach, Founder of People Strategy Hub and the driving force behind...
The death of the job application: Is AI at fault?
AI is flooding hiring pipelines with polished look-alike applications, and recruiters are struggling to tell real capability from well-written automation. Inspired by an article in The Economist titled “Job applicants are winning the AI arms race against recruiters”....
What does M&A get wrong about people and how can it be fixed?
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals fail less because of spreadsheets and more because of people. Most M&A promise growth, scale, or capability. Many underdeliver because leaders underestimate the human side of change. In this episode of The People Agenda...
AI and ESG: Busting the myths
AI and ESG are no longer distant concepts or optional priorities, they are already transforming how organisations operate and compete. AI is driving more efficient and smarter decision-making and creating new opportunities for innovation. At the same time, ESG...
How is AI moving workforce decisions from insight to impact?
AI is no longer a future concept. It is already reshaping how organisations lead, plan, and compete. The real question is not whether AI will change the world of work, but who will lead that change. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, we unpack Visier’s...
What strategic disruptors will define HR in 2026?
HR leaders are being asked to deliver more strategic value at exactly the moment when uncertainty, cost pressure, and technology disruption are accelerating. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast host Chris Howard and fellow LACErs, Marcus Uzubalis, Gemma Ryall...
Rewired HR: Building an ecosystem for continuous change
Is it time to rewire HR? In this episode of The People Agenda podcast host Chris Howard talks to LACErs Kat Bernardes and Alice McCormack who are behind our latest campaign Rewired HR. This campaign explores our new HR operating model built to respond to rapid global...
What should payroll leaders know from the Reward Strategy Summit 2025?
In brief: How to build a strong business case for payroll investment. The real impact of AI on payroll roles and processes. Emerging trends in employee expectations and pay transparency. The Reward Strategy Summit is a UK event that brings together 200+...
How can organisations optimise UK pensions post-budget?
What changed in the UK Budget for pensions and salary sacrifice? From 2029, a £2,000 annual cap will be introduced on National Insurance (NI) savings through pension salary sacrifice. Any pension contributions made via salary sacrifice above this cap will become...
SWP Conference 2025: Key insights
What were the main conclusions from the SWP Conference? Strategic workforce planning (SWP) is no longer about spreadsheets and headcount forecasts. It’s about driving real business change. In this episode of the People Agenda podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by...
What is a CPO? With Danny Harmer
In brief The Chief People Officer (CPO) aligns people strategy with business goals, maximising organisational performance by maximising people performance. Effective CPOs are commercial, expert in HR levers, and future-focused—using data and insight to drive...
What is a CPO?
Welcome to the first episode of our new mini-series, What is a CPO? Hosted by Debbie Mitchell, Director at LACE Partners and lead of our CPO Network, this series explores the evolving role of the Chief People Officer (CPO). Through conversations with experienced CPOs,...















