She holds a PhD in Human Resource Management from Cranfield School of Management in the UK. Dr Farndale’s specialist areas of interest and research include: international and comparative HRM; the status, professionalism and roles of the HR department; HRM and firm performance; and HRM and employee engagement. Elaine has presented numerous papers at international conferences and has published articles and chapters in both the practitioner and academic press, such as Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of World Business, Sloan Management Review, Human Resource Management, Human Resource Management Journal and International Journal of Human Resource Management. Dr Farndale has also worked previously as an HR specialist for several years.