14 April 2022

Five minutes with… Kerri-Ann O’Neill, our People and Transformation Director

Kerri-Ann O'Neill

Every now and then we like to give an insight into the people who do some of the work that makes Ofcom tick. We’re a diverse organisation and our people work across a wide range of areas. We want to know what they enjoy about working at Ofcom and what brought them here, as well as taking a peek into their background.

Here we talk to Kerri-Ann O’Neill, Ofcom’s people and transformation director.

What’s your career background?

I’ve been in human resources since the early 2000s and my first task was to help colleagues understand the power of the internet in their role – at a major insurance company. We’ve come a long way since those days! I’ve worked all over the world including in Singapore and across the Asian markets and my experience spans financial services, retail and regulation of the communications sector.

What brought you to Ofcom?

The extraordinary mission Ofcom has. Shaping the growth story, the people at Ofcom, its independence and how it approaches regulation of industry through the lens of the people who use the products and services that we regulate.

What does your job involve?

I lead our people and transformation function at Ofcom and am a member of the senior management team – it’s my job to power Ofcom to be the best possible place to work for our amazing talent and ensure everyone can achieve their potential by making sure the right people are in the right jobs at the right time!

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I love it when we do something bold and make a change for the better. I also love seeing someone do something amazing.

"The best thing about working for Ofcom? The challenge and opportunity and the incredibly strong sense of purpose which runs through Ofcom."

Do you have any favourite achievements from your work at Ofcom?

Lots, I don’t know where to start! Our Thrive wellbeing strategy, family-friendly and workplace adjustment policies, our response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Rise programme, our emerging work on social mobility – and helping to establish our online safety work and team has also been hugely rewarding.

What do you think the future holds for the sectors we regulate?

The key word is disruption. We can expect a huge amount of change and innovation to come through and land which means we need to able to change ourselves to keep pace. I also think topics such as ethics, human rights and sustainability will grow and grow as board room themes.

What would you say to encourage people to pursue a career like yours?

Knowing what you want to achieve in the next six months and three years helps you to filter out any unhelpful noise and be kind. It’s a small world.

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