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...
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.
From Blockchain to the Boardroom: Decentralised Governance is Inclusion by Design!
The more I’ve read about ‘decentralised governance’, the more I’ve found myself drawing parallels with the idea of ‘inclusive decision making’, which was something that came through in my research, as a mitigator against strategic level disconnect. They might sound like they belong in different worlds, one in the realm of blockchain and the other in the boardroom, but at their core, they’re both about the same thing: trust, inclusion and the courage to share power. This week’s blog is about how decentralised governance centralises communities and has inclusion built in by design.
Creating Rituals, Establishing Connections, Building Teams.
Have you ever noticed how the smallest routines can quietly hold a team together? A shared coffee break, a standing Friday chat, even a run to the local chippy. These simple moments aren’t just habits, they’re rituals that create rhythm, connection, and belonging. This week, “Chippy Tuesday” got me thinking about the power of these everyday behaviours, how they shape culture, build trust, and keep us feeling part of something bigger, even when we’re working apart. Grab a coffee (or a bag of chips!) and join me in exploring how rituals, big and small, can help us build stronger, more human teams.
When There’s No Strategy, Any Path Looks Like Progress
I naively thought all organisations had strategies. Peter Drucker was talking about objectives and purpose back in 1954 so I thought that by now, all organisations would have some sort of document in place, bringing together objectives, purpose, vision, mission and values. But it turns out, that’s not the case. Sitting at the back of my mind for a few weeks has been the question, ‘what happens when organisations don’t have strategies?’. I was spurred on by a chance encounter with Randy Silver to blog it all out. So, read on for this week’s musings – all about strategy, or the lack of it.