Alec Rodger Memorial Lecture

Since 1983, the annual Alec Rodger Memorial Lecture honours the influence of one of the founding members of the Department of Organizational Psychology. The invited speakers are distinguished individuals who have made a demonstrable impact on organisations in academia, public service and commerce. 

The lecture series is funded by the T. Ritchie Rodger Research Fund, which is managed by the British Psychological Society (BPS). The fund was set up by Alec Rodger, the first Professor of Occupational Psychology at Birkbeck, in memory of his father. 

2019

Professor Michelle Ryan, University of Exeter: 'The glass cliff: Understanding the precariousness of women's leadership positions' (Register now)

2018

Professor Evangelia Demerouti, Eindhoven University of Technology: 'Is job-crafting a way to stimulate effective functioning? (video)'. 

2017

Professor Ellen Ernst Kossek, Professor of Management, Krannert School of Management: 'New frontiers in work-family research: a vision for the future in a global world'. 

2016

Dame Sandra Dawson DBE, Professor of Management Studies, University of Cambridge: 'Bridging the gap - from Weber to where? (video)'. 

2015

Professor Lynda Gratton 'How our world will change - and what it means for us'. 

2014

Adrian Moorhouse MBE: 'What can business learn from sport?'. 

2013

David MacLeod: 'Engage for success: putting people at the heart of our approach'. 

2012

Professor Andrew Pettigrew OBE, Professor of Strategy and Organisation, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford: 'Scholarship with impact'. 

2011

Tom Cox CBE, Professor of Occupational Health Psychology and Management, Birkbeck: 'Resilience: people, organisations and their communities'. 

2010

Professor Dame Carol Black DBE, Principal of Newham College, University of Cambridge: 'Maintaining the health and wellbeing of the working age population'. 

2009

Stephen Fineman, Professor Emeritus, School of Management, University of Bath: 'Getting critical about emotion'. 

2008

Mary Chapman, Chief Executive, Chartered Management Institute: 'Management futures: fit to lead tomorrow's organisations?'.  

2007

David Guest, Professor in Organisational Psychology and HRM, King's Business School: 'The psychological contract: was it ever worth taking seriously?'. 

2006

Toby Wall, Emeritus Professor, Sheffield University: 'Management practices and company performance: a policy perspective'. 

2005

Professor Colin Mackay, University of Nottingham: 'Psychology in health and safety: research, policy and action'. 

2004

Sir Cary Cooper CBE, Professor of Organizational Psychology, University of Manchester: 'The disposal workforce'. 

2003

Will Hutton, Principal, Hertford College, University of Oxford: 'Companies on the cusp'. 

2002

John Arnold, Professor of Organisational Behaviour, Loughborough University: 'Matching person to occupation in career choice'. 

2001

Professor Binna Kandola OBE, Pearn Kandola: 'Managing diversity, dealing with prejudice'. 

1999

John Burgoyne, Professor of Management Learning, Lancaster University: 'The Learning Company ten years on: what have we learned?'. 

1998

Lord Monks, Labour Peer, House of Lords: 'What about the workers at the millennium?'. 

1997

Nigel Nicholson, Emeritus Professor of Organisational Behaviour, London Business School. 

1996

Karen Legge, Professor of Organisational Behaviour, Warwick Business School: 'Human resource management and ethics'. 

1995

Edward E. Lawler, Professor of Business, University of Southern California.  

1994

Sir Stephen Tumin, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales: 'What are prisons about?'. 

1992

Joanna Foster CBE, Chair, Equal Opportunities Commission. 

1991

Roger Williams CBE, Professor of Hepatology, King's College London. 

1990

Henry Mintzberg, Professor of Management Studies, McGill University: 'Managerial work revisited'. 

1989

Professor Mike Cooley, Director of Technology, Greater London Enterprise Board (GLEB). 

1988

Chris Argyris, Professor of Education and Organizational Behavior, Harvard Business School. 

1987

Judson Graham Day, Chairman, Rover Group: 'Organizational development strategy'. 

1986

Enid Mumford, Professor of Organizational Behaviour, University of Manchester. 

1985

Peter Warr, Professor of Work Psychology, University of Sheffield. 

1984

Professor Charles J. de Wolff, Organizational Psychologist. 

1983

Denis Pym, author and editor: 'Beyond rationality and employment'.