Gemma Dawes

Senior HRIS and Workday leader with 15+ years' experience across HR systems, data, organisational design and global transformation. Deep Workday expertise spanning core HCM, data models, configuration governance, data migration, integrations and data quality. Experienced in leading complex change, making design decisions and translating technical constraints into clear, practical solutions for senior stakeholders.

Known for combining technical authority with structured, empathetic leadership to deliver scalable, controlled and user-focused HR technology solutions.

Solutions Manager, Core Data Steward at BP – P&C Core Solutions (2020-01 – Present)

Major Programmes & Projects: GTO Transformation & BTC ramp-up: Led Workday configuration readiness and end-to-end delivery planning for mass recruitment and onboarding, sequencing design, build, test, cutover and hypercare while managing dependencies, risks and stakeholder expectations. Mass integration & acquisition migration (Barista Retail, Thorntons, Archaea): Led the ETL data migration approach and associated activities for Barista (Retail), Thorntons and Archaea acquisitions. Served as a programme design authority, ensuring configuration changes remained aligned with global Workday design while protecting data quality, user experience and downstream integrations.

• Design Governance Forum decision owner: Evaluate and approve Workday configuration changes, assessing cross-functional and integration impacts and protecting end-to-end process integrity.
• Core data design lead: Translate Workday data design and behaviour into clear business guidance, helping stakeholders understand design constraints, downstream use and privacy obligations.
• Workday technical lead: Lead tenant refresh planning, data model design, configuration reviews, data-quality controls and cross-system impact assessments across HCM, worker attributes and eligibility logic.
• Senior stakeholder partner: Translate complex Workday design options into practical delivery choices, balancing technical feasibility, resource constraints, user experience and downstream risk.
• Team leadership: Set priorities, triage workload, resolve escalations and develop team capability through coaching, documentation and governance practices.
• Operational guidance: Provide operational guidance to Executive Reward and ODS teams on complex Workday data changes and associated cross-functional and integration impacts.

Senior Workday Foundational Analyst at BP – Global HR Services (2016-11 – 2020-01)

Key contributor to SAP HR → Workday implementation, designing a simplified global data model across all countries.

• Owned data model mapping and early tenant migration, ensuring accuracy and alignment with future‑state design.
• Led core HCM and organisational configuration with IBM and independent consultants.
• Redesigned the headcount model and worker attributes, enabling downstream teams to build eligibility rules and support business processes.
• Delivered change communications and stakeholder education to support adoption of new Workday designs.
• Strengthened integration knowledge through SAP HR & ISIM Concur implementation

HR Data Analyst, Exploration → Systems & Data Analyst at BP – Upstream HR (2012-02 – 2016-11)

Progressed from HR Data Analyst to Systems & Data Analyst, delivering HR data, systems and operational support across Exploration and wider Upstream HR.

• Coordinated BAU and project activity across BFHR, HRIS and Ops, supporting reorganisations, SAP OM changes, reporting, headcount controls and process improvements.
• Strengthened governance through data-quality improvements, access audits, privacy compliance, controlled headcount tracking and improved HR reporting for senior stakeholders.
• Supported core HR operations and system/process changes across hiring, transfers, separations, pay review, performance cycles, succession planning and SAP-related enhancements.

HR Service Centre Administrator → OM Process Lead → Mega Process Lead at Gallaher / JTI – Global HR Systems Projects (2009-03 – 2012-01)

Seconded to Global SAP HR integration project in Warsaw; responsible for OM design for 5,000+ employees across 25 countries.

• Led integration and training for 8 additional countries; managed external consultants; delivered system improvement prototypes.
• Delivered training in Malawi and supported UAT in South Africa.
• Promoted to Mega Process Lead, managing global rollout of new organisational structure design.
• Presented complex system concepts to senior stakeholders at Power User Conference in Dubai.
• Developed Regional Power Users concept and led global SAP HR access review (2,500 users).

Co-chair disability working group at Accessibility BRG

Advocating for accessibility and inclusion, raising awareness through clear, empathetic communication and providing support to individuals across the organization. Including presenting on a company wide webinar on invisible disabilities to raise awareness