Associate
Diana McNally
Associate | People & Wellbeing
Diana brings a psychology-informed perspective to service improvement and organisational change, helping keep people’s needs, experiences and wellbeing at the centre of decisions.
Professional introduction
My career has taken me across Romania, the United Arab Emirates and Ireland, working in management, aviation, recruitment and community settings. Across these environments, people have been central to my work: understanding their needs, supporting colleagues and building relationships. I have completed a BSc (Hons) in Psychology, building on a longstanding interest in mental health and wellbeing. I’m particularly interested in how people’s experiences, relationships and surroundings influence how they feel, participate and respond to change. At CoLab Works, I bring together my psychology studies and experience in management, recruitment and multicultural settings to help explore how services and organisational decisions affect people. My focus is on understanding different perspectives, recognising barriers to participation and considering what helps people feel supported through change.
Areas of expertise
Mental health and wellbeing | Psychology and human behaviour | Service experience | Diversity and inclusion | Recruitment and team support
Relevant professional experience
My background includes ten years with Emirates, where I worked as a Senior Flight Stewardess and also gained experience in recruitment in Dubai. These roles gave me experience supporting colleagues, engaging with prospective employees and responding to different needs in a multicultural environment. I’ve also held management roles in Romania and Ireland, and currently work in an international protection accommodation centre. Working across cultures and with people navigating significant change has shaped my understanding of diversity, uncertainty and the importance of adapting how we communicate and offer support. Alongside this, I volunteer with the ISPCC. Together with my psychology studies, these experiences inform my interest in mental health, wellbeing and how people feel supported within services and communities. I also have a background in business administration and management, bringing both organisational and people-focused perspectives to my work.
How I approach my work
I believe understanding starts with listening. People experience the same service, workplace or change differently, and taking time to understand those differences can reveal what needs attention. I’m interested in what helps people feel respected, supported and able to contribute. That means considering how we communicate, whose perspectives are being heard and what might make it difficult for someone to participate. I bring curiosity and care to these conversations, connecting what we know about human behaviour with the practical realities facing organisations and the people they serve. For me, wellbeing belongs in everyday decisions about how work is organised, how services are delivered and how people are supported through change.