Kate O’Connell

I joined the Leeds Health and Care Academy in September 2020, attracted by the strong and exciting ambition of developing the city’s health and social care workforce collaboratively with partner organisations. I hold a unique post across the health and care sector in Leeds, a partnership role providing leadership for the city’s One Workforce agenda whilst also guiding the work of the Leeds Health and Care Academy to bring our ambition to life. Our aim is for Leeds to be the best place to learn and work whatever your age. Working together, we are providing opportunities for skills, jobs and healthier lives, engaging and recruiting those in our most disadvantaged communities and inspiring the next generation health and social care workforce. This will ensure that Leeds is equipped with the highly diverse, skilled workforce needed now, and in the future. A Fellow of the CIPD, I hold qualifications in Strategic Management, Leadership Coaching, and Civil Mediation, and have a strong interest in systems development and organisational psychology. I have led significant transformation agendas during my career in the health and education sectors, focusing on developing and connecting aspirations, skills and opportunities for students, and workforce and communities.