Vanessa Robinson, Head of HR Practice Development, CIPD.

Vanessa has oversight responsibility for the research and dissemination undertaken by the HR Practice Development Team in the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). She has particular research interest in the areas of talent management, the future of the HR function and the impacts of technology on effective people management. The way new social technologies (for example Web 2.0) can contribute to higher organisational performance is a current area of research focus.

She holds a first degree in psychology and a masters degree in human resource management and is a Chartered member of the CIPD as well as a Chartered Accountant. Much of her earlier career was spent in various consulting roles.