Prof Maria Kordowicz

Professor Maria Kordowicz is a Chartered Psychologist, researcher, and executive leader specialising in the future of work, leadership, organisational culture, workplace wellbeing, and organisational change. With over 20 years of experience spanning higher education, the NHS, the public sector, charities, and private industry, she combines rigorous academic research with extensive board-level and executive leadership experience to deliver engaging, evidence-based insights with immediate practical relevance.

Maria is Professor of Organisational Psychology and Director of Psychology and Research Programmes at Regent's University London. She is an internationally recognised researcher whose work explores topics including organisational identity, leadership, compassion at work, burnout, employee wellbeing, healthcare improvement, and the changing nature of work. Her recent scholarship examines issues such as the hypernormalisation of redundancy in higher education, humanistic management, ethical leadership, AI in organisations, and the psychological consequences of contemporary organisational life.

An accomplished keynote speaker, Maria is known for translating complex psychological theory into accessible, thought-provoking, and actionable ideas. She has presented nationally and internationally to academic, healthcare, public sector, and commercial audiences, drawing on real-world examples and the latest research to inspire critical thinking and meaningful organisational change.

Alongside her academic career, Maria has held senior executive and consultancy roles across healthcare and organisational development, leading strategic transformation programmes, securing multi-million-pound research and consultancy funding, and advising organisations on leadership, culture, evaluation, and workforce development. She is also co-author of 'The Absurd Workplace' and 'Quality Improvement in Healthcare: A Guide for Students and Practitioners' and 50+ peer reviewed articles.

Popular speaking topics include:

* Leadership psychology and high-performing organisations
* The future of work and organisational transformation
* Workplace wellbeing, burnout, and resilience
* Organisational culture and identity
* Human-centred and ethical leadership
* Artificial intelligence and the psychology of work
* Psychological safety and compassionate workplaces
* Higher education leadership and the changing academic workforce
* Evidence-based organisational change
* Research impact and translating evidence into practice

Maria's presentations are recognised for their intellectual depth, practical relevance, and engaging delivery, leaving audiences with fresh perspectives and tangible strategies they can apply within their own organisations.