Experience

Housing Justice

• United Kingdom
• Public Policy
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director for Wales

  • Mar 2020 - Present

  As Director of a leading homeless and social housing charity servicing all 22 local authorities in Wales, I have been responsible for the overall strategic direction and management of the organisation. My role includes developing and implementing policies and programs to support the needs of our clients, as well as fostering partnerships and collaborations with other organisations and stakeholders. Key achievements: >> Transformed the operating model of the organisation (promoted as an example of best practice by the Minister for Climate Change), significantly improving performance across all work streams, increasing the organisational revenue by four times. >> Conducted strategic stakeholder engagement to identify new business areas and improve public awareness of the charity. >> Improved governance, diversity and skills mix and expanded the workforce by 5 times and boosted staff satisfaction to 90%. >> Diversified funding streams and significantly increased financial growth, turning workstreams from grant dependency to self financing. Secured a number of Welsh government contracts (in a first for this charity), including becoming a grant funder of their budgets, demonstrating exceptional trust and impact across Wales. Contracts include the $100,000 AirBnB grant to accommodate Ukrainian Refugees. >> Increasing the supply of affordable homes in Wales, through partnerships with churches and housing associations. Implemented transformative strategies targeting homelessness prevention. >> Represented the organisation publicly at the Senedd Scrutiny Committee's, government fora, national media and speaking/chairing at UK conferences. Internally I work closely with the HJC Steering Group, the Board of Trustees and the wider housing, homelessness and asylum sector across Wales. Show less



The Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales

• United Kingdom
• Government Relations Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Office of the Future Generations Commissioner

  • Nov 2018 - Mar 2020

  As the Lead for Housing, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Change at the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, I played a vital role in promoting sustainable development and ensuring that the needs of future generations are considered in the policies and practices of public bodies in Wales. This included managing a small team to conduct research through public consultation and stakeholder engagement to provide sustainable and equitable recommendations for inclusion in The Future Generations Report 2020. Specifically, I highlighted the current lack of emphasis on preventative measures and insufficient consideration given to the evolving needs of Wales' changing demographics and societal changes. In a first-of-its-kind approach, I secured permission from the minister to release four senior civil servants and the whole directorate for two days from their offices to attend a 2-day seminar for policymakers on a Future Thinking Theory and Change Management. From this event, I came away with a new understanding of the limited limitations of current thinking. I could really see those light bulb moments occurring as the participants grasped what future thinking is and how policy could be more effectively developed in the future. Due to its success and impact, I curated and hosted a similar event focused on adverse childhood experiences. This was attended by The Chair of the Health Board and all of the senior representatives from all of the partnership organisations with Baroness Louise Casey as keynote speaker. Show less



South Wales Police

• United Kingdom
• Law Enforcement
• 700 & Above Employee

• Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales

  • Jun 2016 - Nov 2019

  As the only woman in a senior leadership team, covering both the Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner's Office, I shared new perspectives and a different approach to decision-making.I held dual reporting lines to the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Welsh Government, with the latter focused on housing policy (rented and owned), supported housing and homelessness services.My main focus was to ensure the efficient use of resources and improved policy outcomes on community engagement, misogyny, violence, licensing, community cohesion, drugs, hate crime, cybercrime, evictions and vulnerability.To do this, I secured commitment from leaders from a wide range of organisations to contribute to the development of this work including the Chief Executive of numerous Government bodies. My contributions to Strategy Meetings covered a wide range of issues from Police Recruitment, Crime Reduction, Strategic Appointments and Community Engagement.One of my biggest contributions was a UK-first information sharing system which brought together police data and housing association addresses to better inform all social landlords of incidents of domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour at the earliest opportunity. Show less

• Policy Lead for the Police and Crime Commissioner

  • 2014 - Jun 2016

  As Policy Lead I was responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of various policies related policing, including anti-social behaviour and housing related issues. I worked closely with the Minister and civil servants, social landlords, South Wales Police, and other relevant agencies, including the Home Office, for whom I advised on the implementation of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.I led the first thematic review of anti-social behaviour for South Wales Police and partner agencies through an evidence-based approach and served as the national lead for improving the responses to anti-social behaviour while ensuring the needs of vulnerable tenants were accounted for.On a practical level, I achieved this by replacing an ineffective and under-utilised toolkit with a new standardised national framework for social landlords outlining best practices for preventing and dealing with anti-social behaviour. This was rolled out across Wales in a very hands-on, supportive approach and was a huge success. Show less

• Anti-Social Behaviour Coordinator

  • Sep 2008 - Jun 2014

  The Anti-Social Behaviour Coordinator was a key role within the Police, responsible for identifying and addressing issues related to anti-social behaviour within the community.Typically, this was achieved through identifying patterns and trends in anti-social behaviours, and developing strategies to address them.This required building relationships with community groups and other stakeholders and coordinating with other agencies and departments, such as local councils and housing associations.Equipped with this information, I advocated for including provisions for addressing anti-social behaviour in the Housing Wales Act and worked with the Minister of Housing during the drafting process.I also provided support and guidance to officers and other staff members on how to deal with anti-social behaviours and introduced a high-quality and impactful anti-social behaviour lesson plan into the national curriculum for primary schools in Wales.By addressing inconsistencies in how housing associations dealt with anti-social behaviour throughout Wales, we reduced calls by 66%, saving 300+ hours of police time in 3 months. Chair of the All Wales Anti-social Behaviour Group 2010-2014 Show less



Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government

• United Kingdom
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Government Policy Adviser

  • 2014 - 2018

  In conjunction with my roles as South Wales and Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner, I provided expertise on setting policy direction as an Adviser to the Welsh Government. This involved advising ministers and civil servants on social housing policy. During this time, I led the development of a new national framework, outlining best practice for social landlords, creating a standardised approach across Wales. I also led a sub group, reporting to the Ministerial Task Force for Housing First and Ending Youth Homelessness. This required buy-in and ongoing commitment from leaders from a wide range of organisations to contribute to the development of this work, including Public Health (represented by the Chief Executive), ACE’s Hub and Community Housing Cymru (represented by the Chief Executive). Show less



Cardiff Council

• United Kingdom
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Day Services Manager

  • Sep 2006 - Sep 2008

  Gained two years experience in the care sector. Managed front line staff and coordinated the day service provisions for clients with profound and multiple learning and physical disabilities. Gained two years experience in the care sector. Managed front line staff and coordinated the day service provisions for clients with profound and multiple learning and physical disabilities.



New Directions Education Ltd

• United Kingdom
• Staffing and Recruiting
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Special Needs and Challenging Behaviour Officer

  • Sep 2004 - Sep 2006

  Working part time while studying, I planned and carried out high-level support sessions for a variety of children with challenging behaviour and profound and multiple learning and physical disabilities . Working part time while studying, I planned and carried out high-level support sessions for a variety of children with challenging behaviour and profound and multiple learning and physical disabilities .