Sandra Hamovic – from Principal to Partner

I joined Berwick Partners in June 2016 as Principal Consultant within the Not-for-Profit Practice. I’d spent the previous 15 years specialising in charity sector recruitment so was brought on board to develop the health and social care charity market for the business.  Within that I was given the opportunity to establish myself as the market leader for senior leadership roles in the hospice sector. I have worked with the most high-profile hospices including Royal Trinity (the oldest hospice in the country), Acorns (the biggest children’s hospice in the UK) and ultimately the membership organisation, Hospice UK, recruiting its CEO. 

When I joined, I initiated an annual dinner for hospice CEOs. Since I started, it has grown to become a key event in the hospice CEO event calendar. Last year’s event replaced Hospice UK’s own conference dinner, and the CEO of Hospice UK attended as our guest of honour.  

Outside of the hospice sector, I have worked with organisations such as Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and National Childbirth Trust (NCT). 

I was lucky enough to be part of the 2019 cohort on the Principal Development Programme, which was an incredible opportunity for growth and one of the most defining moments of my time at Berwick Partners. The business was committed to helping me develop; I was grateful for the opportunity to experience a year-long course, which included off-site sessions and an independent coach, as well as 360-degree feedback from colleagues, clients and candidates. It was entirely transformational and enabled me to challenge myself in areas I was less confident. 

I benefited so much from the course and was promoted to Associate Partner in June 2022, and Partner in December 2022. 

Since completing the Principal Development Programme, I have joined the Odgers Berndtson Allies Group. The Allies programme was created as a means by which to ensure we create an inclusive culture and working environment where everyone has a sense of belonging, and that our culture is upheld and resonates across our geographic locations. I am part of the Ethnicity Allies Group which is important to me because of my own background, having been born and brought up in Croatia with English being my second language.  

The support I have received from colleagues across the business has been invaluable. I felt like everyone wanted me to succeed at every step of the way. There is an enormous amount of talent in our business which everyone can benefit from. We are also lucky to have an incredible team of support staff as well as marketing, events and business development experts who are all dedicated to making sure things run smoothly and efficiently.