Reward Policy and Practice
Strategic Reward Skills Masterclass
Two-Day Residential
17 & 18 October 2023: Day 1: 09.30 – 17.30 (followed by formal dinner), Day 2: 08.15 – 17.00
The PARC ‘Strategic Reward Skills Masterclass’ has become the essential passport to a
senior role in Group HR or Reward Management. The Masterclass is aimed both at prime
succession candidates to current Heads of Reward in major listed companies, and at
newly promoted or aspiring Group HR Directors, who are seeking to develop a more
strategically focused set of reward skills.
Our focus for the Masterclass is the development of these reward skills, enabling attendees to ask the right questions of business leaders in support of developing an effective and appropriate reward strategy.
Attendees benefit from the insight and counsel of our faculty of experienced and current practitioners and our content is founded on those areas most frequently reported by RemCo Chairs as essential to effective performance as Group ‘reward strategy’ lead in major companies.
Our proprietary content encompasses:
- The ability to develop a ‘grounded’ reward strategy – aligned with business strategy
- The ability to review, assess and contribute to RemCo effectiveness
- The ability to assess the effectiveness of longer-term incentive arrangements aligned with sustainable performance
- The ability to design and conduct a risk audit of reward
Each year we evolve the format and content to ensure continued relevance and value for those attending.
An element of the Masterclass particularly valued by our Alumni is the simulated Remuneration Committee session, focused on the challenges of reconciling business needs with investor guidelines and broader stakeholder management.
The Masterclass incorporates a speakers’ dinner at the end of Day 1, which forms an essential component of the Masterclass and builds towards this RemCo simulation on Day 2.
The Masterclass is an ideal learning, networking, and skills development opportunity for the next generation of Reward and HR Leaders. Peer exchange and collaboration between delegates are fundamental components of the programme. The content is therefore targeted at experienced, capable talent who are most likely to progress to the most senior HR and reward roles.
Our Residential Masterclass is available to one nominee from each PARC member as part of your annual subscription. There is an additional charge for accommodation. Extra places may become available to PARC members at a cost of £2,500 per person. Places may become available to non-members at a cost of £5,000 per person. However, numbers for each programme are strictly limited to ensure maximum participation and interaction with the PARC faculty and guest speakers.
Masterclass Faculty

Karen Clark
Managing Director, PARC
Karen leads the PARC network. She has been instrumental in facilitating executive networking and collaboration for 16+ years. She has a focus on ensuring members get ongoing benefit and value from being part of the PARC community and engaging in PARC’s activities. Aligned with this focus she works closely with external subject matter experts and our associate advisers to ensure the ongoing relevance and evolution of PARC’s offering. Karen has a particular interest in the development of individual and team capability plus the opportunity for progressive, enjoyable careers. She is an EMCC qualified executive coach which supports her development work with our members. She is also a qualified solicitor and has an interest in the role of effective governance in support of growth, performance and positive societal impact. Karen is a keen hiker and loves to be out in the hills. She and has a passion for the sustainability of the natural landscape and the value it can bring via enabling access and inclusion for all. She is a Board Trustee for the Surrey Hills Society.

Drew Matthews
Group Head of Reward, Benefits & Wellbeing, Centrica
Drew Matthews is Group Head of Reward, Benefits & Wellbeing at Centrica. He has extensive corporate and consultancy experience gained from multinational companies across a variety of industries. He was previously at BAE Systems, BT and Tesco where he had accountability for reward, HR policies, global mobility, employee relations, HR mergers and acquisitions, and health, safety and wellbeing. Prior to becoming an HR Director, Drew worked as an independent remuneration committee adviser for a number of consultancy firms including PwC and Deloitte.

Phil Wills
Director, PARC and Independent Consultant
Phil Wills contributes to the development of PARC’s programme of events. He also runs an independent consultancy business providing strategic reward support on the delivery of business strategy and organisational performance. He is a coach to newly appointed (or aspiring) Corporate HR Directors on all areas of reward strategy and delivery, including incentive plan design and governance effectiveness. His previous corporate roles included Global Head of Reward for Reed Elsevier (RELX), for ICI, and for Diageo. In 2010 he established an independent consultancy business to provide strategic reward support, focused on the delivery of business strategy and organisational performance.