Nic Johnston, Chief People Officer

Responsibilities

The Chief People Officer is responsible for shaping and leading the strategic direction of the Human Resources and Organisation Development Division, playing a key role in the development and delivery of the University strategy, in particular the underpinning People Strategy.

Professional background and expertise

Nic joined the Human Resources team at Durham in 2014, having previously worked as an employment lawyer at Pinsent Masons, and became Chief People Officer in October 2025.

Nic has significant experience of leadership, both of high-performing teams and of large, complex change programmes. As a qualified solicitor, Nic is skilled at explaining legal issues in an accessible way, providing robust and pragmatic commercial advice on all areas of employment law.

Education and qualifications

Nic has a Bachelor of Law degree from Newcastle University and a Master of Laws degree from Durham University.