The Unit and project will be directed by Professor Jim Stewart, Running Stream Professor in Human Resource Development. Jim designed and developed the Doctorate in Business Administration at Leeds Business School. He is an internationally renowned researcher and writer who has authored and co-edited 13 books and conducted research projects on HRD and talent management funded by the UK Government, the European Union, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Chartered Institute of Personal Development and many employers in the private and public sectors. Jim is Chair of the University Forum for HRD, an international network of universities, and holds three appointed national roles with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Professor Jeff Gold is a member of the Unit and will provide a leading contribution to the project. Jeff is Professor of Organisational Learning at Leeds Business School and like Jim he is a prolific researcher and writer. He works closely with a number of large employers on leadership development, talent management and coaching interventions and is the co-author with Alan Mumford and Richard Thorpe of Management Development; Strategies for Action and co-editor with Alan Mumford and Richard Thorpe of Gower Handbook of Leadership and Management Development. Jeff was a founding member and currently a Fellow of the Northern Leadership Academy.

Vicky Harte is Research Officer of the Unit and was formerly Research Officer of the Leeds Metropolitan University Institute for Enterprise. Vicky has extensive experience of designing and conducting research studies in enterprise, entrepreneurialism and education including longitudinal projects. Her work on design of evaluation studies has been published across Europe.

Dr Rick Holden is a member of the Unit and will contribute his expertise to the project. Rick is Principle Lecturer (Research) in Leeds Business School and a former Director of an earlier HRDL Research Unit in the school. He is editor of the Journal Education and Training. Rick has researched extensively on the graduate labour market, education and training methods, lifelong learning and SME growth and development.

Other members of the Unit and contributors to the project will be drawn from the HRM Subject Group in the Business School. Members of the Group include experienced and skilled researchers who also have extensive experience of professional practice and working with employers. They include but are not limited to the following.

Dr Crystal Zhang
Dr Niki Kyriakidou
Dr Julia Claxton
Dr Helen Rodgers
Vivienne Griggs
Catherine Glaister

The HRDL Unit will have close links with the Leeds Metropolitan University Centre for Diversity in the Professions led by Professor Hilary Sommerlad and will call on the expertise of Hilary and other members of the Centre in examining the diversity implications of leadership development and talent management.