London, United Kingdom, November 2025 — Design Council has announced the appointment of Ishbel Allotey as its new Head of People, marking a key milestone in her progressive journey with the organisation. In her new role, Ishbel will lead people strategy, culture, and organisational development, driving initiatives that empower teams to deliver on Design Council’s mission of creating happier, healthier, and safer lives through the power of design.
Ishbel has been an integral part of Design Council for more than four years, previously serving as HR Manager, where she played a pivotal role in shaping people policies, employee engagement frameworks, and diversity and inclusion strategies. Her leadership has been instrumental in creating a supportive and agile workplace culture that aligns with Design Council’s purpose-driven values.
Before joining Design Council, Ishbel worked at GWI as People and Culture Partner, where she supported talent engagement and organisational growth during a period of rapid scaling. Prior to that, she served as Human Resources Business Partner at Xodus Group, where she managed HR strategy across business functions, focusing on workforce planning and employee experience.
Earlier in her career, Ishbel held senior HR roles at Charityshare Limited, where she spent over four years strengthening people operations and employee relations for the non-profit sector. She also worked with prominent institutions such as the Office of Fair Trading, Commonwealth Secretariat, and Regent’s Park College, building a strong foundation in HR coordination, recruitment, and policy implementation.
Ishbel holds a Postgraduate Degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Westminster, which equipped her with the strategic and operational expertise that underpins her success as a people leader.
About Design Council
Founded in 1944, the Design Council is an independent charity and the UK Government’s advisor on design. Its mission is to improve lives through design by shaping better places, products, processes, and performance. Guided by the belief that design is a fundamental driver of value and wellbeing, the Design Council collaborates across sectors to promote innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability.
The organisation’s vision is a world where design enables people to live happier, healthier, and safer lives — harnessing creative and human-centered approaches to tackle some of society’s most pressing challenges.
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