College of Science & Engineering

Mhairi Docherty, Head of Human Resources (People & Organisational Development)

I joined the University of Glasgow in January 2020 and continue to say that every day feels like a school day for me. As Head of People and Organisational Development (P&OD) for the College, I’ve worked with my team to grapple with the many people-related challenges that arise, working alongside colleagues from our central teams, such as the Equality and Diversity Unit, Pay, Performance and Reward (PPR) and Organisational Development (OD), as well as with academic, technical and professional services colleagues in the College itself. With such a clear focus on achieving research and teaching excellence, living up to our ambition to be the World-Changing University is no mean feat. Our physical environment and infrastructure are hugely important but it’s our people who will ultimately deliver excellence and, with it, change.

My journey into the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) space from a professional point of view started when I worked as a Research Assistant at the University of Strathclyde on a project looking at the barriers facing women returning to work after having children and/or caring for dependents, way back in the early 1990s. So much and yet, somehow, so little has changed in the intervening 30 years since. The legal framework in terms of equalities has moved on and the quality of debate has too, if you choose to ignore X/Twitter! As a mother of three, my juggling skills are tested most days and I am always working on how to thrive, rather than just strive. I have been delighted to see improvements in support for parents and carers over the years, but it’s not lost on me that it took a pandemic to truly open our minds to the benefits of flexible working.

It feels a bit naff to talk about P&OD (or HR) strategy as being a journey rather than a destination, but it seems to sum up my sentiments well. I’ve worked in many different roles and organisations including in the public sector, transport and financial services and, although I have fought for improvements in the workplace in terms of diversity and inclusion, it always feels like we have such a long way to go, that we are only scratching the surface. It would be easy to feel disheartened, but I’d be in the wrong job. In CoSE, I can see so many positive things happening in the EDI space, innovations, great role models, articulate advocates for change and willingness to share lived experiences, despite the day-to-day pressures of delivery. Our new College EDI Committee is gaining momentum and has created the opportunity to share good practice more readily. Working closely with the University’s Equality and Diversity Unit, and colleagues in other Colleges, we can amplify work designed to deliver change somewhat faster than we ever could working in isolation. I count myself lucky to work with dedicated, inspirational people every day here and try to live by the wise words of Maya Angelou, Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.

Of course, I know that it’s no good hoping that things will get better, they won’t on their own.  It takes teamwork, commitment, and the courage to acknowledge that we won’t always get it right the first time. I am sure that my personal satnav has delivered me, after a few detours, to the right place to make a difference with you. I look forward to celebrating the wins with you, however marginal they may feel at the time, along the way.

---

First published: 29 August 2023