Interim Chief Executive | Charity Sector | Dr Nia D Thomas
interim ceo
I am an Interim Charity Sector CEO who supports organisations to strengthen their strategy, systems, and culture in order to achieve measurable and sustainable impact.
I bring extensive experience from across health, local government, civil service, and the charitable sector, combining strategic and systems thinking with a people-centred approach. My leadership style is inclusive, practical, and forward-looking. grounded in human-centred planning and improvement that ensures organisations are effective, resilient, and built for the future. If you have an interim role or a project with which you need structured and accountable delivery, get in touch.
latest blog articles...
Navy Narnia: The Leadership Lessons Hiding in My Wardrobe
Over the last year, I’ve been gradually transitioning my wardrobe to navy. Plain navy, dark navy, light navy, stripy navy and ‘will go with navy’. What started as a practical decision slowly became a moment of reflection, one of those everyday choices that quietly...
Tenacity Beats Talent: What Really Gets You Through Big Work
You’ll remember that ‘tenacity’ is one of my watchwords for 2026. It’s made me think about the whole doctorate thing and what’s really happening when people are doing study through research. Join me in this week’s blog where I share my thoughts on why almost anyone can do a PhD or any Big Work, with a bit of tenacity and why I think it’s more about persevering than being a genius.
Wiring the Leadership Brain for 2026
Wiring Your Brain for Positivity It’s 2026 and the new year has begun in earnest. Time and tide waits for no man, but before we’ve really got going, we’re already telling ourselves stories about what this year will be like. Busy. Hard. Uncertain. Our new year’s...
Recognising Your Impact on the Blinds, Rationals, Shapeshifters and Haters
The Gods of analytics were clearly looking down on me the other day. An article from the British Medical Journal from 2022 – yes, ‘22 – appeared in my social media feed. Why that should have happened, I have no idea, but it was clearly the universe at work. So, rather than look a gift horse in the mouth, I grasped the opportunity to learn more. And do you know what? It made for very interesting reading. Join me in reflecting on the BMJ article all about Blinds, Rationals, Shapeshifters and Haters by Dr Partha Kar and how that links with my 3 layer definition of self-awareness and getting feedback from good people.
Red Flags and Rude Awakenings: Recruitment is a Two Way Street
Right now I’m looking for a new job and like lots of other people, finding the recruitment process brutal. The competition is fierce and the process feels like it’s lost its humanity. Today’s blog is inspired by Nick Thomas from Charisma Charity Recruitment who shares some great advice and puts a little bit of heart back into the process. Join me in sharing my experiences of recruitment and that reminder that actually, you’re checking them out in the same way they’re checking you out. And if you’re not, you should be!
Bullying: The Hidden Health Hazard in Your Workplace
After attending the United Against Workplace Bullying Conference 2025 last week and thinking about the powerful podcast conversations I’ve had on the topic, I wanted to share with you my worries about the rise and impact of bullying, harassment, incivility and disrespect at work. It’s a challenging subject, but an essential one, and as always, we’ll approach it through the lens of learning, curiosity and growth and work out what we, as managers and leaders can do in our daily work lives to make a positive impact.