Hans Middag

Hans Middag facilitates peer groups for HR, Finance, Legal, and Facility Management leaders. As an independent consultant, trainer, coach, and facilitator with a background in HR directorship and a degree in Facility Management, he brings hands-on experience from multiple corporate disciplines to the table.

Hans says:

My career has taken me through HR leadership, consulting, training, and coaching. That breadth means that when a member brings a problem to the table, I recognise the landscape – whether it’s a people issue, a financial dilemma, or an operational challenge. I don’t just listen; I ask questions that push people to think beyond the immediate situation. What consequences does this have for your team? What could the impact be for your customers? Those questions tend to crack things open.

Walk into one of my peer group meetings and you’ll find a room that has a clear agenda and purpose, but also real energy – there are laughs, moments of high intensity, and moments where everything goes quiet for reflection. People are genuinely open about what’s on their mind. That doesn’t happen by accident. I create that space by being open about my own failures and learnings, by celebrating mistakes as a source of learning, and by making it crystal clear: what’s said in the room, stays in the room. Compassion and empathy are not soft extras – they are the foundation.

When the network makes a difference

I became a Chair because I want to keep a broad perspective on what’s happening in business, and because supporting leaders to become better leaders is genuinely rewarding to me. When someone leaves a meeting energised, with new ideas and a different perspective, that gives me energy too. I remember one meeting where a member brought in a project that wasn’t flying yet – his gut told him something was missing, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. The peer group asked sharp, experienced questions, and together they identified exactly what was missing in his research and board support. I will never forget his facial expression afterwards – a mix of relief, happiness, and gratitude. That’s exactly what this is for.