September 19, 2025
Kirsty Murphy of Alternative Futures Group Named UK EXA ’25 Leader of the Year
The UK Employee Experience Awards 2025 celebrated outstanding leadership in people strategy and workplace culture, with Kirsty Murphy, Chief People Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Alternative Futures Group, taking home the coveted Leader of the Year award.
Murphy has guided the charity, one of the North West’s largest providers of health and social care, through a period of sweeping change since the pandemic. Her leadership has been marked by a focus on transformation and on making the organisation an environment where both staff and the people they support can thrive.
Speaking after the win, Murphy emphasised the importance of this approach: “We’ve really led the sector, which is health and social care, through huge transformation, particularly post-COVID, making our staff and the people we support at the front and centre of everything we do in the organisation. Their contribution is what makes a huge difference to the world that we’re working in.”
Looking ahead, Murphy’s focus is on attracting top talent to continue strengthening the impact of Alternative Futures Group. She described the organisation as a place where people can directly improve lives every day and called it a “true privilege” to be part of its journey.
When asked about the lessons she would share with other leaders, Murphy said that success comes from collective belief and trust in those around you. She noted: “It’s belief, it’s surrounding yourself with good people, people are talented, and it’s those that are around you that make the success of any organisation, belief in them and belief in the collective contribution that people can make.”
See the full list of winners here.
