AIR COMMODORE WENDY ROTHERY BA (Hons) MBA MA MSc FCMI FCIPD MCIPR RAF
Air Commodore Wendy Rothery is Head of UK Defence Diversity and Inclusion. A specialist Human Resources officer by background, she is qualified and experienced in all aspects of People strategy, policy and delivery, from recruitment and selection to career management, welfare policy and infrastructure delivery. She also served as Military Assistant to Chief of Defence People and managed media activity across all joint overseas operational theatres at the UK Permanent Joint Headquarters, from 2012-2014, culminating in directing national media coverage of the UK drawdown and redeployment throughout 2014.
As Head of Defence Welfare, she led the development and implementation of welfare policy for the Armed Forces Community, including producing the first Families Strategy. She then commanded Recruiting and Selection for the Royal Air Force, opening the ground close combat role to women and delivering the most diverse recruitment the Service had seen as it approached its centenary. Air Commodore Rothery is committed to driving the cultural change needed to achieve cognitive diversity, and a more inclusive workplace in order to enhance operational capability and improve the lived experience for all Defence people. She is proud to be part of an organisation where individuals can fulfil their potential and where talent is recognised and celebrated.
In her spare time, she is Trustee for the Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund, Chair of the Association of RAF Women Officers, and Historian of the 57 and 630 Squadrons Association, maintaining the links with her grandfather’s service during the Second World War.