Bill Manson

Prior to joining the Management and Leadership Network (MLN) in April 2002, Bill had been heavily involved in Human Resources team in Bombardier Aerospace Shorts. He had been fully involved in establishing the management development department in 1986 as part of the organisation development initiatives associated with the privatisation process and played a key role in implementing key initiatives as part of the strategic change process.

Highlights
As Development Programmes Manager from 1987, Bill was responsible for the Expo Programme which won both a Regional and National Training Award in 1990 for its collaborative innovation between Shorts, the Irish Management Institute (IMI) and the University of Ulster.

From 1990, as Management Development Manager, he was heavily involved in the enhancement of the Bombardier Performance Management Programme (PMP) and supported the introduction of PMP into Bombardier’s Aerospace, Transportation and Recreational Products Divisions in Canada, UK, Europe and the Middle East.

As Management Development and Succession Planning Manager, he played a lead role in the introduction of a global Succession Planning process throughout the Bombardier Aerospace Group from 1991 - 1996. During this period he was also involved in the design and implementation of the inaugural series of the Bombardier Inc, International Seminars.

In 1997 - Bill moved to general HR management as Human Resources Advisor Aerospace Engineering & Organisational Development and was involved in the development of the Belfast engineering team and its full integration into the Bombardier Aerospace Group along with Canadair, Learjet and Dehaviland. Subsequent to this in 2000 he also had HR responsibility for Methods, Programmes & Contracts, Customer Support, MIS and Work & Material Planning functions.

Other Key Management and Organisational Development Activities

Bill was involved in the design and delivery of a series of Strategic Management Development & Total Quality programmes for the Ministry of Defence in Oman as part of the Shorts (Airwork) Support Services contract.
He was Shorts representative on the Warwick University steering group for the management and development of the Integrated Management Development Scheme.
Bill project managed the design and introduction of the Post Graduate Diploma in Operations Management, in collaboration with IMI and accredited through University of Ulster.
He has spoken on management and organisational development at various conferences in Northern Ireland, Dublin, London, Brussels and Paris.
He has provided support to many SME organisations as part of Shorts community and supplier development initiatives. He has carried out specific assignments in Thales (previously Shorts Missile Systems) and in 2000/2001 he was asked to provide support to the Maydown Precision Engineering Company on HR/OD issues in their turnaround strategy.

The Management & Leadership Network 2002

Bill joined the (then) Northern Ireland Management Council in April 2002 as Chief Executive. Since then he has guided the organisation through a re-branding strategy (Oct 2002) and has established MLN as a pivotal organisation in driving the development of management and leadership capabilities amongst NI’s SME sector.

With a small team Bill has introduced key developments such as an award winning website (uk-online), building a substantial network of support organisations within the ‘supply side’ and connecting with the owner / manager population on the ‘demand side’. This has been achieved through - creating a PR Profile within the local media, promoting the website, publication of the Leadership Link, publication of research findings, a series of successful Roadshows and Conferences plus a significant level of personal networking.

MLN was awarded Investors in People in September 2003 and retained in 2006. MLN introduced the Management Month initiative in 2006 and now with over 50 events and 2200 participants has become the focal point for promoting greater engagement and investment in building management and leadership capabilities. MLN has spearheaded the creation of a Management and Leadership Development Strategy which is a significant priority within the Skills Strategy for NI driven by the Department for Employment and Learning.

Bill has also played a role in advising FE and HE in establishing employer led programmes and curriculum content in the area of management and leadership development. He has also contributed to the production of The Next Level television series with Sassi Productions for BBC NI which has now been embedded into the new curriculum through CCEA.

Representative and Advisory Roles
- Member of the National Steering Committee for the revision of The National Management Standards
- Member of the National Steering Committee of the Management, Leadership and Enterprise Sector Qualifications Strategy
- Panel Member and Judge – National Training Awards
- Member of the Learning Advisory Council for the PSNI
- Recognition Panel Member – Investors in People
- Member of the NI City & Guilds Advisory Panel

Qualifications & Professional Membership
- HNC Business Studies (University of Ulster at Jordanstown)
- Certificate in Personnel Management (University of Ulster at Jordanstown)
- MSSc in Organisation & Management (Queens University Belfast)
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development
- Member of the Institute of Directors
- Member of CO3 (Chief Officers 3rd Sector)
- Member American Society for Training & Development