60-second interview

Who are you?

I'm an occupational psychologist and after 26 years employed within defence and security organisations, I'm now an independent consultant and an executive coach operating under the business name Edgar Vipond. 

What do you do?

I have an eclectic mix of work which I love. I support leaders to develop their people strategies and policies; I work with researchers to design and deliver their work for impact; and, as a coach, I enable leaders to negotiate difficult challenges and transitions. I'm also developing new offerings that combine my love of psychology, human factors and ethics with my interest in the impact of new and emerging technologies. 

I'm an independent member of the MOD Research Ethics Committee and an assessor for the BPS Qualification in Occupational Psychology.

What has been your path to get to your current role?

When working as a paediatric nurse, I completed a degree in psychology which triggered a career change. I assumed I would gravitate to clinical psychology, but I loved modules on work psychology and human factors so much that this led me to a MSc in Applied Psychology at Cranfield University. 

From here, I was employed by the Defence Evaluation Research Agency (DERA) and I ended up with a job primarily concerned with selection and training for the Navy. This consolidated some key skills in occupational psychology and later I had the opportunity to delve deep into a variety of research topics; most supporting policy and practices for Armed Forces personnel but some involved partnering with international organisations, such as Eurocontrol. 

From DERA, I had a career break teaching psychology in Greece and returned to the UK to work for QinetiQ (learning commercial skills and what it is like to be a supplier). From QinetiQ, I went to the Army to head up a small team of psychologists and from here I went to Dstl, where I embarked on my dream job: becoming the technical leader for Dstl personnel research and, later, the UK Defence human science lead on an international partnership. In 2022, I left Dstl after moving to France and I have been embracing new opportunities and a lifestyle change.

What would you like the impact of your work to be?

That somebody somewhere has experienced material benefit in their working life/environment as a result of the evidence-based decisions I've supported.

In 10 words or less, what message would you like to send to anyone interested in defence and security psychology?

It's so rewarding: Don't hesitate to explore how you fit.

If you could change anything about your field of psychology, what would it be?

I'd like it to be easier to explain and easier for my family and friends to understand. I'd like there to be as much promotion of the links with human factors and ergonomics as there is with HR, and I'd like to see occupational psychology drive inter-disciplinary connections and approaches, especially within the context of the evolving nature of work and technology. 

Tell us a funny or unusual thing that has happened to you in your career?

I've been lucky to have had some amazing experiences when working within defence, from conducting interviews on board a submarine (with no dedicated bathroom facilities for women) to being hosted with generals in the Te Papa Museum in Wellington, New Zealand. 

Being part of an international defence research partnership led me to meet an academic hero who had written a paper that was fundamental to my MSc. I was amazed when I realised he would be sitting on the same panel as me, and just a little star struck.