Perry Timms is a globally recognised keynote speaker on HR, workplace culture and organisational transformation, widely respected for his progressive thinking and practical insight. As Founder & Chief Energy Officer of PTHR, he has built a reputation as a leading voice on the future of work, with his standout achievement being named Number 1 Most Influential Thinker in HR (2022) and later inducted into the HR Most Influential Hall of Fame (2023).
Perry’s career began in public service, where he spent 14 years as an Administrative and Higher Executive Officer at Northampton County Court, gaining valuable experience in organisational systems and governance. He later became a Stakeholder Manager at the Department for Constitutional Affairs, where he developed a strong understanding of policy, engagement and workforce dynamics. These early roles shaped Perry’s grounded and human-centred approach to organisational change. His transition into HR and workforce development saw him take on roles such as Workforce Development Consultant and eventually Head of HR at the Big Lottery Fund, building a solid foundation in large-scale transformation and people strategy.
Over the years, Perry has built an impressive portfolio of achievements and positions that highlight his influence across the HR profession. He is currently Adjunct Professor at Hult International Business School, Visiting Fellow at Cranfield School of Management, and has taken on an Advisory Board role at UCL School of Management. As an author, Perry has published ‘’Transformational HR’’ and ‘’The Energised Workplace’’, with the latter shortlisted for UK Business Book of the Year (2021). He is also a 2x TEDx Speaker, with 'The Edge - People Powered Design & 'The Future of Work'. In 2024, Perry received the WorldBlu Lifetime Achievement Award for Freedom-Centred Workplaces and the Global Culture Icon Award from the People & Culture Association, reinforcing his reputation as a pioneer in democratic, self-managed organisational systems.
Perry is a compelling and insightful speaker who helps organisations rethink how work is designed, led and experienced. His keynote topics include transformational HR, the future of work, organisational design, agile and autonomous working, and future skills, all of which are critical in a time of rapid technological change and evolving workforce expectations. Event organisers value Perry for his clarity, depth of expertise and engaging delivery, making him an excellent choice for conferences and leadership events focused on building more effective, human-centred organisations.
Books
Transformational HR
The Energised Workplace
The HR Operating Model
Perry Timms' official speaker topics are listed below:
Transforming HR
Perry Timms brings over two decades of experience in reshaping HR into a more agile, adaptive and business-critical function. This keynote explores his HR 3.0 framework, helping organisations rethink structure, talent strategy and performance. Audiences gain practical insight into building people-powered change, using data effectively, and creating modern HR models that drive better working experiences and measurable organisational impact.
The Polymorphic Organisation
This session introduces a radically new way of structuring organisations to thrive in constant change. Perry explores polymorphic operating models where work flows dynamically across teams, rather than rigid hierarchies. He breaks down how leadership, culture, systems and roles evolve in this model, offering a clear path for organisations to become more responsive, resilient and aligned with fast-moving business environments.
Organisation Design, Development and Effectiveness
Drawing on 20 years of hands-on experience, Perry delivers a practical guide to redesigning organisations for performance and sustainability. He focuses on diagnosis, dialogue and design, helping leaders rethink structures, roles and systems. The session blends systems thinking with real-world application, showing how to build organisations that adapt quickly while maintaining clarity, purpose and long-term effectiveness.
Skills of the Future
Perry explores how workforce capability is shifting in response to technology, automation and changing business needs. This keynote goes beyond theory, combining research, behavioural science and real organisational insight to identify emerging skills and talent priorities. For example, he highlights how companies are redesigning roles around AI collaboration, helping leaders prepare their people for what’s next, not just what’s now.
Agile, Autonomous Self-Managed Ways of Working
This keynote focuses on building organisations where autonomy, trust and accountability replace traditional hierarchy. Perry shares practical frameworks for implementing self-managed teams, agile delivery models and democratic workplaces. Backed by his work with B Corps and global organisations, he shows how these approaches improve engagement, innovation and performance across different sectors and organisational sizes.
- 2025 - Publication of ‘The HR Operating Model’
- 2024 - WorldBlu Lifetime Achievement Award for Freedom-Centred Workplaces
- 2024 - Global Culture Icon Award, People & Culture Association
- 2023 - Inducted into HR Most Influential Hall of Fame
- 2022 - Ranked Number 1 Most Influential Thinker in HR
- 2021 - ‘The Energised Workplace’ shortlisted for UK Business Book of the Year
- 2020 - Published ‘The Energised Workplace’
- 2019 - Visiting Fellow, Cranfield School of Management
- 2018 - Adjunct Professor, Hult International Business School
- 2017 - Published “Transformational HR”
- 2016 - Certified Consultant & Coach, WorldBlu
- 2015 - Learning & Development Advisory Group Member, CIPD
- 2008 - Head of HR, Big Lottery Fund
- 2006 - Workforce Development Consultant, Big Lottery Fund
How to hire Perry Timms
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Perry Timms for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
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