Our Office Team

Gillian Bishop is Chief Executive at North West Employers, leading the organisation’s ambition, strategic direction and long-term sustainability. She works closely with members, the Executive Board and partners to ensure North West Employers continues to provide trusted people centred support and solutions to local government and the wider public sector.

With over 30 years’ experience across local government, public and charity sectors, Gillian brings deep expertise in strategic change, organisational leadership, corporate planning and transformation. She has extensive networks across the North West and nationally, and is highly experienced in building strategic collaborations, chairing boards and managing complex stakeholder relationships. As an Executive Coach, she is deeply committed to supporting leaders and organisations to maximise their full potential.

Gillian is passionate about the role of local government and the positive impact it has on communities and places across the North West. A strategic, visionary leader, she is known for her collaborative and inclusive approach, thriving on challenge and continually seeking opportunities to innovate, grow and strengthen organisations so they are resilient and fit for the future.

Outside of work, Gillian volunteers with local community sporting clubs and enjoys spending time with her family, staying active and making the most of the outdoors.

Sharon Senior is Executive Director at North West Employers, providing strategic leadership and working closely with members, partners, and the internal team to deliver the organisation’s vision and priorities. She helps shape strategy and ensures meaningful outcomes for members, always staying ahead of the latest developments. With over 30 years’ experience across private and public sectors—including leadership roles in local government—Sharon brings expertise in organisational development, learning and development, and executive coaching. She’s motivated by seeing others grow and navigate change, and loves the variety her role offers, from coaching senior leaders to facilitating groups. Outside of work, Sharon enjoys travelling and exploring new places.

Andrew Manson is an accomplished HR leader with more than 30 years of professional experience spanning the full spectrum of human resources, employee relations, and employment law. As Strategic Lead at North West Employers, Andrew provides expert guidance and insight to organisations navigating complex people-related challenges.

Throughout his career, Andrew has built a strong reputation for delivering balanced, pragmatic advice on HR and employment law matters. His experience includes leading on employee relations—ranging from everyday workforce issues to industrial action—alongside conducting sensitive and confidential investigations, and supporting organisations through job evaluation and pay review processes.

Rebecca Malpass is HR Business Partner at North West Employers, with 10 years of experience as a HR professional. Rebecca serves as the lead contact for HR and Workforce products and services, offering confidential, expert support to member organisations. She’s known for building strong, trusted relationships across the North West and creating an environment where colleagues feel reassured, informed, and well‑supported. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active outdoors.

Kevan Collier is the Strategic Lead for Learning and Organisational Development for North West Employers. He is an experienced people professional and recognised thought leader with deep expertise in behavioural and social science. With an academic background in behavioural psychology and social science, he brings a research-driven lens to understanding human behaviour at work. Kevan is also an executive coach and works with leaders and workforces across the region to help them achieve their potential.

Since joining the public sector in 2016, Kevan has supported local government organisations to develop their workforces using behavioural insights and evidence-based practice. He regularly contributes to industry events and conferences, including CIPD’s Behavioural Science in the Workplace conference, and his work has also featured in academic publications, such as the Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology.

Kevan is passionate about translating robust research into practical organisational strategies—helping leaders and teams better understand people, create environments where individuals thrive, and enable high performance.

With 43 years in the public sector, Pat, Business Development Manager, has dedicated her career to supporting local authorities and related organisations across the public sector, to nurture talent and develop their workforce. She thrives on working with a diverse range of people, from politicians, senior leaders, and other staff across the workforce. She is proud to be part of the local government family, helping organisations tackle challenges and deliver initiatives that make a real difference for both employees and residents.

Pat’s work spans HR, talent and workforce, systems and culture change, and leadership development. She also champions the North West voice, listening to local perspectives to shape shared goals and wider collaboration. Known for her pragmatic and empathetic approach, Pat prioritises customer needs with bespoke solutions, and is committed to delivering maximum value for membership organisations. Her approach has earned her long-standing, trusted relationships across the sector.

Now a part-time worker, Pat enjoys a flexible, remote role that allows her to spend time at her second home in Spain with her family, especially her grandson Sonny. Family,  social time, and reading, are her greatest joys.

As a Corporate Business Manager, I support the organisation across Finance, Workforce, Workspace, Governance and IT, helping to keep our operations running smoothly and sustainably. I’m known for being helpful, responsive, and a natural problem solver, with a focus on enabling growth, improving efficiency, and driving continuous improvement across the business.

I enjoy creating environments where people can do their best work, and I’m motivated by seeing meaningful improvements come to life — especially when they make someone’s day easier. Outside of work, you’ll usually find me baking, catching a good film at the cinema, or out on a walk with the dog.

Kate Leung is a Business Development Officer at North West Employers, supporting the internal team—particularly Business Development Managers—and providing responsive assistance to members’ queries. She enjoys the variety her role offers, from supporting different projects to connecting with colleagues across North West member organisations, and values contributing to the organisation’s growth. With over 10 years’ experience across private and public sectors—including roles in business support, finance, and administration—Kate has worked in diverse environments such as NHS England, where she contributed to workforce training and education for the medical workforce nationally. Outside work, she loves family time, cinema trips, exercising, and reading.