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Learn more about ODMT members, their role within the OD and the experience they bring to UCL.
As OD Director, my role is to lead the strategic direction of OD. I work with the team, the wider HR function, and senior stakeholders across UCL to ensure our initiatives are data-driven and aligned with UCL's strategy. This ensures we provide best-in-class development opportunities that meet the needs of UCL colleagues and grow our internal talent within the institution.
I started at UCL in 2019 and have held a few roles within the HR and OD teams. I also took a year of adoption leave before taking on the OD Director role in 2023.
Prior to UCL I headed up the OD function at the Commonwealth Secretariat and have worked in both the public and private sectors, living and working across four continents, with the majority of my time spent within the international development and humanitarian sector.
An initiative I’ve worked on that I am most proud of is the Midwifery Training School I helped to set up in Kunduz, North Afghanistan. At the time pregnant women were expected to travel for long journeys over rough terrain, often on donkeys, to reach the one local hospital in order for the baby to be delivered safely. The training school was able to train women from surrounding villages with the relevant skills and knowledge to help deliver babies at home which helped avoid unnecessary travel and ultimately reduce mortality rates.
Something I am working on now in OD is leading several institutional-wide projects that are supporting either the strategic plan or UCL's Priority Projects. But the one that is probably at the top of the to-do list for me is our Staff Experience survey. It’s important to me that all UCL colleagues feel they have a voice, and we can learn from their lived experiences. The survey is one element of the wider listening strategy we will be rolling out to ensure we have a better sense of what we are doing well and what areas we can improve. With regular and consistent data, we should be able to make more informed decisions and develop initiatives at both an institutional and local level that ultimately improve the working life of colleagues – and that’s an exciting challenge!
One thing that would surprise people to know about me is that I was a junior chess champion of a very small country when I was 10. And I have a rather unhealthy obsession with Simon Cowell.
I head up the Academic and Researcher Experience team in Organisational Development. I transitioned into my current role from VP-RIGE, with the ambition to better employee experience through cross-functional collaboration.
My team strive to create an environment which enables academics and researchers to thrive in the competitive R&I system and the dynamic labour market. My team also delivers a skilled research talent pipeline by providing equality of development opportunities to PGRs.
A few examples of our interventions include the Career Aspiration Programme for Early-Career Researchers, the Career Acceleration Programme for Mid-Career Academics, cross-institutional opportunities such as the Leadership in Action, community co-creation initiatives such as the Festival of Early Career Researchers, and the Researcher Development Programme.
Naheed Mirza, Associate Director (Learning and Leadership Development)
I joined as Associate Director of Organisational Development (Learning and Leadership Development) in April 2024. Prior to this, I headed up OD & Capability at the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). I’ve worked across a range of private and public sector organisations of different sizes in commercial business roles and OD roles and started my career in the world of recruitment advertising working with some well-known commercial brands and central government organisations. It’s this mix of experience, expertise and taking a non-traditional route into management and OD that I bring to UCL.
I have a responsibility to further develop and strengthen our Learning and Leadership through improving alignment to UCL’s wider strategy, continuing to provide excellent development initiatives and looking at how we can digitally enhance our approach.
My Learning and Leadership Development team delivers a wide range of activities and services which includes induction, professional development courses, leadership and management development programmes, coaching, staff digital training and learning systems which include mandatory training, team development and communities and networks which include Communities of Practice and our Leadership Alumni Networks.
Something that not many people know about me is that I once walked over hot coals – literally! All in the name of development of course. I learnt a lot about myself, the way that others may perceive you, and that you should always have courage of conviction.
Clemence Marest, Associate Director (Talent)
As Associate Director of Talent within Organisational Development (OD) at UCL, I bring over 10 years of cross-industry experience, specialising in attracting, retaining, and developing talent. I am passionate about translating strategy into actionable outcomes that drive organisational transformation and culture change.
Fostering positive employee engagement and experience has been a focal point for me throughout my career, believing that a successful organisation thrives when people are brought together on a shared journey. A key aspect of our work within the Talent team is building mechanisms for effective performance, talent and career development, while supporting leaders in articulating a clear vision for the skills and capabilities required both now and in the future. I also help shape a strong value proposition and employer brand that aligns with UCL’s ambition to be an employer of choice.
My background in Business Law, Business Administration, and HR Management has equipped me with a solid foundation as an organisational development practitioner, consistently grounded in values of collaboration, empowerment, and inclusivity.
Luca Ponzetta, Head of Operations
As the Head of Operations in Organisational Development at UCL, I have the privilege of leading a dynamic team of specialists, driving excellence across communications, data and insights, budget and finance, commercial contracting, recruitment, and processes. My role is centred on providing strategic oversight, aligning our diverse functions and ensuring that our operations are not only efficient but also forward-thinking. I’m also focused on cohesive teamwork and supporting the development of each team member.
Since joining UCL in late 2021, I've drawn on a broad range of experiences to drive transformative change. Prior to this role, I worked as a training manager for a not-for-profit organization and have also worked in industries such as video games, media, and local government. These experiences have equipped me with a unique perspective that I bring to my current leadership role.
One of my proudest achievements at UCL has been growing and transforming our team from a Learning and Development focus to a more comprehensive approach that aligns with our broader organisational goals, responsive to the needs of our institution. My current focus is on leading initiatives that embed continuous improvement into our operations and harnessing the power of data to inform decision-making as well as storytelling.
It might surprise you to know that I have an MA in Archaeology, with experience of working in Turkey, Egypt, Belgium and Ireland. I'm also a certified professional leadership coach and actively contribute to UCL’s leadership development initiatives through Coach at UCL.