Dawn Lawrence is the Founder and CEO of Hospitality Jobs UK (HJUK), supporting over 400 operators each year across pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, leisure, care, retail and attractions. She is widely recognised for building a recruitment platform that goes far beyond a traditional jobs board, placing dignity, clarity and inclusion at the heart of hiring.

In 2025, Dawn was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration for her outstanding contribution to hospitality by the University of Sunderland. She is a Comrade of the British Institute of Innkeeping (CBII) and a trusted advisor to the Institute of Hospitality, Licensed Trade Charity and Only A Pavement Away. Through HJUK, she also partners with HIT Training, Springboard, the Federation of Tourism and Commerce and the Armed Forces Career Transition Partnership, creating accessible pathways into hospitality careers.

Dawn is known for fearlessly championing conversations the industry often avoids, including menopause, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ inclusion and mental wellbeing, combining commercial insight with deeply human leadership.