Debbie Simister

Global Vice President - Talent Management at Accor

Speaker

Debbie Simister is a visionary, award-winning leadership architect with over 25 years of global experience shaping people, performance, and culture across the luxury hospitality and high-end consumer goods sectors. A seasoned Human Resources expert and catalyst for transformation, Debbie has held senior leadership roles across Europe, Australasia, Japan, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

In her current role Debbie is a global people leader for some of the world’s most stunning luxury hotels, including the iconic Sofitel Legend, Sofitel and boutique brands MGallery and Emblems Collection.

Based in Dubai, Debbie drives organisational success through her passion to create a distinctive employee-centric culture and an environment that empowers and enables leadership. Known for her bold thinking, emotional intelligence, and creative edge, she is responsible for partnering with business to shape the company’s future, providing strategic vision and forward-thinking best practices, developing and implementing planned interventions designed to increase organisation effectiveness and redefine a new reference for luxury.

A recognised talent management leader, Debbie was recently featured in the Women World Magazine as the ‘Most Influential Women in Talent Management 2024’. She also ranked #4 on Hotelier Middle East’s coveted ‘Women in Hospitality Top 50 Power List’ in 2019. She is an accredited coach with the Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership (IECL), holds a Master’s in Social and Organisational Leadership with Charles Sturt University, Diploma’s in both Hospitality and Human Resources, holds a Graduate Certificate in Organisational Coaching and Leadership and is a certified Gallup Strengths Coach.