Making HR simpler: real stories and practical tips 

Lucy Adams is the CEO of Disruptive HR, an agency dedicated to challenging conventional practices, reimagining HR strategies, and inspiring leaders and HR professionals to bring fresh vision and energy to their roles.

With a wealth of experience in senior HR positions, including serving as Director of HR at the BBC, Lucy has spent the past decade collaborating with HR teams and leaders from some of the world’s most renowned brands.

Lucy is not only one of the leading thinkers in HR, but also a bestselling author. Her acclaimed books, “HR Disrupted” and “The HR Change Toolkit,” provide practical guidance for innovating HR leadership practices in an ever-evolving world.

Claire McLean is the Founder and CEO of Realise HR, an award-winning HR, recruitment and training consultancy supporting organisations across the UK. With more than 20 years' experience in HR and organisational leadership, Claire has worked across multiple sectors including financial services, retail, healthcare, manufacturing and the third sector, helping businesses improve performance through people, culture and organisational effectiveness.

Having held senior HR leadership roles within national and international organisations before founding Realise HR in 2016, Claire has led large-scale transformation programmes, organisational redesign projects, HR technology implementations and strategic workforce initiatives that have delivered measurable business results.

Today, Claire advises SMEs, high-growth businesses, PE-backed organisations and large employers on how to use people strategy, technology and operational improvements to create more efficient, productive and engaged workplaces. She is particularly passionate about helping leaders embrace innovation while ensuring organisations retain the human connection that drives long-term success.

Claire is recognised as one of the UK's leading HR voices, ranked #11 in the HR Most Influential list in 2026, having been ranked #25 the previous year. She is a regular speaker, commentator and mentor, known for her practical, commercial and no-nonsense approach to solving complex people challenges.

Bharat is Breathe's VP of People and Culture, and he's hosting today's session. He's spent his career building people-first cultures, and he understands the reality of managing HR when things are moving fast. Bharat has a keen understanding of the role people play in driving organisational success and is dedicated to building a culture of excellence, even through periods of accelerated growth and change.