Experience

Black Equity Organisation
• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Chief Executive Officer

  • Mar 2023 - Present

Society of Genealogists
• United Kingdom
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Chief Executive Officer

  • Oct 2021 - Mar 2023


The Equality Trust

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Executive Director

  • Sep 2016 - Oct 2021

  In this role I am a frequent media commentator, public speaker and writer. I have successfully led organisational change and and significantly increased the profile of The Equality Trust. I have led the team in diversifying our fundraising and revenue streams, and built excellent relationships with funders. Initiated increased political activity and coalition-building. Reorganised and established key personnel policies and practices. I work with the Board of Trustees to ensure The Equality Trust meets its charitable objectives.



Association Of Teachers and Lecturers

• United Kingdom
• Political Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Lead Equalities Officer

  • May 2014 - Aug 2016

  Worked with the Executive, Equality and Diversity Committee and member networks to deliver a UK-wide equalities strategy through policy, member engagement, public affairs and campaigning across ATL departments and membership. Advised General Secretariat and liaised with government, APPGs, parliamentarians, key Third Sector and charities, education unions and the TUC. Developed the Safer Schools Network (www.saferschools.org.uk) supported by the DfE, the Home Office and key partners including the NSPCC, Stonewall, Show Racism the Red Card, Young Minds and Women’s Aid. Supported members to engage young people in campaigning and facilitated member networks. Organised key national equalities events and training for ATL conferences and advised on CPD partners. Established equality reps programme. Achieved high profile coverage of ATL’s work on equalities (including social mobility, SRE and poverty) in TES, Guardian, CYP Now, FEWeek, SecEd and a range of publications on issues as diverse as guidance on disability, FGM, sexist bullying and young people’s mental health. Positioned ATL as front of mind for journalists seeking an education perspective on a range of young people’s issues. Experienced and articulate media commentator and interviewee, I am regularly invited to speak on panels, at seminars and roundtables. My strong media ability and influencing skills have resulted in my being invited to or elected onto: the Sex Education Forum Advisory Group, End Violence Against Women (EVAW) Prevention Network, the LGBT History Month Committee, the DfE Working Group on Faith-Related Abuse, the Anti-Bullying Alliance Board on Race and Faith Bullying, the APPG on Young People and Technology, the Labour Party VAWG campaign, the Labour Party HBT Bullying stakeholders group, the IPPR roundtable on young people and mental health, the Body Confidence Awards Board and the Young Carers DfE Stakeholders Group.

• Equalities Officer

  • Jul 2012 - Apr 2014

  Established an equalities function at ATL from scratch, reflecting the needs of members, organisational priorities and external policy changes. My work encompassed both internal and external policy, member-facing activities, public affairs, working with partners, delivering equalities training, and advising the General Secretary and other senior ATL staff on equalities issues. I also wrote content for the website, blog and other ATL publications and represented ATL in the media. Responsible for ATL's equalities strategy, member engagement around equalities and serviced Equality and Diversity Committee. Briefed members facing the media.Blog: www.atlspeakout.com Twitter: @ATLWanda Website: www.atl.org.uk



Unionlearn with the TUC

• Deputy Communications and Marketing Manager / Media and Digital Communications Officer

  • Feb 2011 - Jul 2013

  Reached and surpassed key media, campaigns and public affairs targets in raising the profile of unionlearn, a £15 million programme to widen participation and access to learning, run in a partnership between trade unions, BIS, employers and the TUC. To date it has offered learning opportunities to 2,000,000 workers. My role included a focus on regional, trade and national media coverage of workplace learning; partnership author events with Quick Reads (QR), the Reading Agency as well as a trade union QR competition and publication (with a foreword by Val McDermid); MP visits to learning centres; and a series of regional promotional films, welcomed and showcased by both employers and unions. Unionlearn attracted high-level support and praise from Government and also involved popular figures, such as Lily Allen, Lenny Henry, Lemn Sissay, Kate Mosse and Scott Quinnell. The organisation and promotion of these events demanded skilful negotiation and influencing skills to balance and meet the aims of unions, employers, authors and MPs. We increased participation of women, BME, disabled and LGBT people as learners and reps. I edited Breaking Down the Barriers – a collection of good practice case studies in learning, equalities and inclusion. I also worked closely with NIACE and was invited to judge their Adult Learning Week Awards. Developed and managed digital media strategy, including setting guidelines, organisational parameters and training. I oversaw the review of various websites, tendering and design. I led a team that rebranded unionlearn’s LearnDirect centres, including a ministerial launch, logo redesign, media promotion and suite of marketing materials. Through this project I coached and mentored several staff to develop new skills and areas of expertise.Built and led teams on a variety of projects, always factoring in opportunities to develop staff through mentoring and coaching. I was deputy manager in a team of four, also working across departments.

• Deputy Communications and Marketing Manager / Media Officer

  • Jul 2006 - Feb 2011

  In this role, I commissioned and produced short films, published articles across the print media and was the first point of contact for the press. I planned media strategies, events and conferences and managed the re-launch and re-branding of unionlearn's network of learning centres. I have successfully promoted unionlearn, its director and its learning centres within the education, skills and ethnic minority media. I secured a regular column for the director in the education press, feature profiles and media and broadcast interviews. I also wrote press releases, organised media events and attended TUC Congress and Labour Party conference.



League Against Cruel Sports

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Press Coordinator

  • Aug 2004 - Jun 2006

  As Press Coordinator I was responsible for the League's press team and for coordinating our media output, media strategy and working closely with our campaigns team. I recruited and managed a Press Officer and Assistant Press Officer and liaised with senior staff to implement the organisation's strategies. I wrote and published articles in a variety of national, regional, local and trade press, as well as appearing on national, regional and local TV and radio. I advised the CEO and President and liaised with the RSPCA and IFAW on joint campaigns. I managed the tender and implementation of a new website and edited and managed the relaunch of the glossy quarterly magazine. Wrote articles, op eds, press releases, court statements, letters to the press and case studies. Briefed journalists, organised publicity stunts, press conferences, photo opportunities and joint campaigns work. Worked across functions, including marketing, campaigns and membership, as well as on Northern Ireland and Scotland campaigns.