Debbie Simister

Global Vice President Talent Management – Accor

Debbie Simister is a visionary leader and seasoned expert in the field of Human Resources, with more than two decades of multi-disciplinary global Human Resource expertise within service-orientated luxury hospitality and high-end consumer goods. Her career has unfolded across diverse locations including New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

In her current role Debbie is a global people leader for some of the world’s most stunning luxury hotels, including the iconic Sofitel Legend, Sofitel and boutique brands MGallery and Emblems Collection.

Based in Dubai, Debbie drives organisational success through her passion to create a distinctive employee-centric culture and an environment that empowers and enables leadership. She is responsible for partnering with business to shape the company’s future, providing strategic vision and forward-thinking best practices, developing and implementing planned interventions designed to increase organisation effectiveness and redefine a new reference for luxury.

A recognised talent management leader, Debbie was recently featured in the Women World Magazine as the ‘Most Influential Women in Talent Management 2024’. She also ranked #4 on Hotelier Middle East’s coveted ‘Women in Hospitality Top 50 Power List’ in 2019. She is an accredited coach with the Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership (IECL), holds a Masters in Social and Organisational Leadership with Charles Sturt University, Diploma’s in both Hospitality and Human Resources, holds a Graduate Certificate in Organisational Coaching and Leadership and is a certified Gallup Strengths Coach.