Professor Fiona Patterson
- Position: Founding Director
- Qualification: BSc, MSc, PhD, CPsychol, FASS, FRCGP (Hon), FCMI
Review Psychologist
Personal Experience & Biography
Career in brief
Fiona Patterson is the Founding Director for Work Psychology Group, a research-led organisational psychology consulting practice located in the UK and Australia, providing advice to public, private and charity sector organisations internationally. Fiona continues as a Visiting Professor to the University of London. Prior to this Fiona held academic posts at the University of Nottingham, the Institute of Work Psychology, University of Sheffield, and the University of Cambridge. Before her posts in academe, Fiona was Head of Organisational Psychology at The Boots Corporation Plc and an internal consultant psychologist at Ford Motor Company Limited (Global) in the corporate sector.
Fiona Patterson is the Founding Director for Work Psychology Group, a research-led organisational psychology consulting practice located in the UK and Australia, providing advice to public, private and charity sector organisations internationally. Fiona continues as a Visiting Professor to the University of London. Prior to this Fiona held academic posts at the University of Nottingham, the Institute of Work Psychology, University of Sheffield, and the University of Cambridge. Before her posts in academe, Fiona was Head of Organisational Psychology at The Boots Corporation Plc and an internal consultant psychologist at Ford Motor Company Limited (Global) in the corporate sector.
Areas of expertise and interest
Fiona is a leading expert in the field of assessment, selection and innovation in organisations. Fiona publishes regularly in the highest-ranking journals in psychology (e.g. Journal of Applied Psychology) and in Medicine (e.g. British Medical Journal, Medical Education). She is also co-author of the leading international textbook Work Psychology, now in its 7th edition Arnold, Coyne, Randall & Patterson, Work Psychology: Understanding Human Behaviour in the Workplace, 7th Edition, 7th Edition | Pearson. Her current research interests include how best to design selection and assessment practices to address fairness, especially for those from BME and lower socio-economic backgrounds. This work includes new insights in the design of a range of selection tools and how best to construct selection systems to minimise adverse impact. Fiona is also researching best practice use of digital and technology-augmented selection tools to optimise validity and fairness.
Fiona is a leading expert in the field of assessment, selection and innovation in organisations. Fiona publishes regularly in the highest-ranking journals in psychology (e.g. Journal of Applied Psychology) and in Medicine (e.g. British Medical Journal, Medical Education). She is also co-author of the leading international textbook Work Psychology, now in its 7th edition Arnold, Coyne, Randall & Patterson, Work Psychology: Understanding Human Behaviour in the Workplace, 7th Edition, 7th Edition | Pearson. Her current research interests include how best to design selection and assessment practices to address fairness, especially for those from BME and lower socio-economic backgrounds. This work includes new insights in the design of a range of selection tools and how best to construct selection systems to minimise adverse impact. Fiona is also researching best practice use of digital and technology-augmented selection tools to optimise validity and fairness.
Professional accomplishments
In recognition of her work in the healthcare sector, she was appointed as honorary visiting Professor at the University of Nottingham Medical School in 2010. In 2012, for her work in selection and assessment, Fiona was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of General Practice, which is the highest award the College can bestow. In 2013, she won the international Association for the Study of Medical Education’s (ASME) Silver Quill award for the highest impact research publication in Medical Education. Also in 2013, she was the first woman to win the annual British Psychological Society’s Academic Contribution to Practice award. In 2014, alongside her collaborators she founded and now co-chairs the International Research Network for Researchers in Selection into Healthcare (INReSH | Medical Schools Council (medschools.ac.uk) Building on this work, Fiona was the lead Editor for a special issue of Advances in Health Science Education focusing on selection into healthcare published in 2016. In 2017, she won an International Women in Business award sponsored by HSBC. In 2018, she led the new international consensus statement on selection and recruitment hosted by the Association for Medical Education in Europe 2018 Ottawa consensus statement: Selection and recruitment to the healthcare professions: Medical Teacher: Vol 40, No 11 (tandfonline.com). Also in 2018, Fiona published an edited book presenting state-of-the-art research and practical case studies in selection for the healthcare professions Selection and Recruitment in the Healthcare Professions | SpringerLink. In 2020, for work in partnership with the General Medical Council (GMC), WPG were awarded a national prize from the Association of Business Psychology for work in addressing equality and diversity issues in assessment practices.
In recognition of her work in the healthcare sector, she was appointed as honorary visiting Professor at the University of Nottingham Medical School in 2010. In 2012, for her work in selection and assessment, Fiona was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of General Practice, which is the highest award the College can bestow. In 2013, she won the international Association for the Study of Medical Education’s (ASME) Silver Quill award for the highest impact research publication in Medical Education. Also in 2013, she was the first woman to win the annual British Psychological Society’s Academic Contribution to Practice award. In 2014, alongside her collaborators she founded and now co-chairs the International Research Network for Researchers in Selection into Healthcare (INReSH | Medical Schools Council (medschools.ac.uk) Building on this work, Fiona was the lead Editor for a special issue of Advances in Health Science Education focusing on selection into healthcare published in 2016. In 2017, she won an International Women in Business award sponsored by HSBC. In 2018, she led the new international consensus statement on selection and recruitment hosted by the Association for Medical Education in Europe 2018 Ottawa consensus statement: Selection and recruitment to the healthcare professions: Medical Teacher: Vol 40, No 11 (tandfonline.com). Also in 2018, Fiona published an edited book presenting state-of-the-art research and practical case studies in selection for the healthcare professions Selection and Recruitment in the Healthcare Professions | SpringerLink. In 2020, for work in partnership with the General Medical Council (GMC), WPG were awarded a national prize from the Association of Business Psychology for work in addressing equality and diversity issues in assessment practices.
What Fiona can’t live without
A large pot of tea first thing in the morning and cuddles with my two little and very furry cats, Bubble & Squeak.
A large pot of tea first thing in the morning and cuddles with my two little and very furry cats, Bubble & Squeak.
What Fiona would happily live without
Snakes…having had two very close encounters so far in my life (one in Thailand and the other in Australia), they are something I hope I never see again!
Snakes…having had two very close encounters so far in my life (one in Thailand and the other in Australia), they are something I hope I never see again!
What Customer Say Professor Fiona Patterson
Julia Mushenko
“Marina is a well-established psychologist and delivers a very professional service. As a skilled therapist Marina brings not only depth, warmth and wisdom to his practice, she also has a sense of humor and charm, that invites trust and ease to her clients. ”
Noor Mallick
“Marina is a well-established psychologist and delivers a very professional service. As a skilled therapist Marina brings not only depth, warmth and wisdom to his practice, she also has a sense of humor and charm, that invites trust and ease to her clients. ”