Carol Woodhams

Professor Carol Woodhams is a leading academic in Human Resource Management at the University of Surrey’s Surrey Business School, part of the Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences. Her research focuses on pay inequality, gender and ethnicity disparities in healthcare and academia, and intersectional disadvantage. Previously, she held roles at the University of Exeter, Plymouth, and Manchester Metropolitan University. She advises UK NHS Trusts and higher education institutions on pay equity strategies, notably leading the Department of Health’s landmark review on gender pay gaps in medicine. A Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and former chair of the European Academy of Management’s Gender and Diversity SIG, she bridges academic research with practical policy impact.

Research Interests: Her work explores pay gaps through quantitative analysis of organizational payroll data, intersectional discrimination in career advancement, and the role of cultural and managerial practices in perpetuating inequality. Key areas include NHS workforce equity, Russell Group university pay disparities, and migrant doctor career barriers. Her methodological contributions emphasize intersectionality and mixed-method approaches.

Scientific Contributions: Awarded the 2023 Most Influential Thinker recognition, her research has informed national policy on medical workforce equity. Over £200k grants include studies on NHS pay equity (NHS England) and career progression in medicine (British Academy/Leverhulme). Her findings have been adopted by institutions like Southside University Hospital Trust.

Professional Roles: External Moderator for CIPD professional standards, House of Commons evidence provider, and advisor to NHS initiatives. Her work integrates practitioner needs with rigorous academic analysis, emphasizing actionable strategies to close pay gaps.