Experience

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  Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA)

  • Head of Service Delivery

    • Jan 2024 - Present

    - Leading the Engagement and Services team in the delivery of high-quality services that support people affected by cleft lip and palate in the UK.

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  Students'​ Union UCL

  • Head of Volunteering - Community Partnerships

    • Dec 2022 - Aug 2023

    • Directed the evolution, development, and delivery of the Community strategy for the UK’s largest university-based volunteering, community-engaged learning and research service. This involved extensive sector research, needs analysis, and networking, aligning the strategy with the university’s broader priorities.• Developed and led successful relationships with a wide range of charity, NGO, statutory and education partners including collaborations with VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas), the Technical University of Kenya and councils across the London Boroughs. These efforts expanded the programme’s reach both locally and internationally, increasing community engagement and sustainable initiatives. • Designed, developed and facilitated innovative charity partnerships and programmes, fostering a culture of volunteerism, and driving a 10% increase in student volunteering. • Stayed abreast of the ESG and sustainability landscape, actively collaborating with charities and NGOs to expand sustainable volunteering. This enabled a growth in the number of projects aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the quality education, good health and wellbeing and zero hunger goals. Workplace priorities also informed the create equitable and inclusive opportunities, reflecting the diverse communities where our students live, study, and work. • Successfully led the ‘Consultancy Challenge’ education programme, connecting students with charities to tackle the real-world challenges including the integration of ESG and sustainable practices. This provided students with valuable business skills, increased understanding of the ESG landscape, and delivered value-added solutions to partners. • Collaborated with the campaigns and marketing team to develop effective cross-channel communication strategies that reinforced our community commitment and increased awareness and engagement. Increased participation in the ‘Consultancy Challenge’ by 40%.

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  Hertfordshire Community Foundation

  • Hatfield, England, United Kingdom

  • Grants and Training Manager

    • May 2021 - Nov 2022
    • Hatfield, England, United Kingdom

    • Led cross-functional teams in delivering multiple grant programmes aimed at strengthening communities and helping vulnerable children, young people and their families access resources and opportunities. This included managing the ‘Building Life Chances’ fund and providing emergency support for Afghanistan and Ukrainian refugees.• Managed the grants and training operations for the Hertfordshire segment of the Government’s £220 million national ‘Holiday Activity and Food’ education programme. The programme tackles school holiday hunger, inactivity and isolation and raises educational aspirations through the delivery of high-quality sports, enrichment, and nutritional education. • Developed and maintained strategic partnerships with a diverse range of existing and prospective charity, business, and training partners. This required a balanced approach to retain key contractors for delivery continuity as well as funding new partners for innovation and programme expansion. • Led senior stakeholder management, engaging with the boards, committees, working groups, statutory partners, schools, and other stakeholders, leveraging relationship-building and communication skills. • Demonstrated strategic financial acumen in directing a £2 million annual budget, identifying risks and leading change management in response to national funding reductions. • Managed the grant giving process, including conducting due diligence, contract negotiations, compliance monitoring and quality assurance. • Collaborated with the campaigns and marketing team to increase internal and external engagement, resulting in a significant 25% increase in grant applications from charities and businesses.

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  W3RT

  • United Kingdom
  • Non-profit Organization Management
  • 1 - 100 Employee

  • Acting Chief Executive Officer

    • Dec 2020 - Apr 2021

    • Spearheaded organisational restructuring and strategic planning initiatives in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Successfully leveraged business planning, influencing and senior stakeholder management skills to navigate challenges and ensure sustainability and resilience.• Also see Deputy CEO role also for a comprehensive overview.

  • Deputy Chief Executive Officer

    • Jul 2015 - Dec 2020

    • Directed a comprehensive voluntary sector infrastructure service, which provided fundraising, governance and business planning advice and support for over 500 member charities.• Provided strategic leadership across a diverse range of adult care and health and wellbeing programmes. • Collaborated with charities and community groups to develop innovative and sustainable programmes that addressed community needs. Applied Asset-based community development and co-production principles to deliver equitable and inclusive programmes to empower communities.• Spearheaded the local voluntary sector’s response to the Covid-19 emergency, leading a large-scale volunteer recruitment campaign. Successfully deployed over 6,000 community volunteers in critical roles across essential services, demonstrating effective crisis management and community mobilisation. • Collaborated with businesses to secure donations of time, space and resources to support the response to Covid-19. Led a Christmas Gift drive for older people in partnership with Heart Radio and Atria Watford and implemented community fundraising initiatives including payroll giving and an annual community quiz.• Directed the strategic development of the Community Fund, aligning it with stakeholder priorities and identifying expansion opportunities. Managed the fund’s Covid-19 response and collaborated with the campaigns and marketing team to enhance visibility and impact, including producing regular content.• Directed Human Resources operations, focusing on people-centred policies and initiatives that promoted an inclusive and dynamic workplace. Key areas included recruitment, development, diversity, and employee wellbeing. This included partnering with the government’s Kickstart Scheme and The Prince’s Trust to provide placements and training for young people. • Coached and led the senior management team which contributed to a culture of high performance and collaboration.

  • Director Of Operations

    • Jul 2013 - Jul 2015

    • Led the Community and Voluntary Service team in the delivery of the Community strategy, focusing on strengthening and increasing the capacity of the local charities and enabling communities to thrive. This included providing business planning, fundraising, governance and volunteer recruitment advice. • Provided effective coaching and line management for the senior management team which enabled a positive and high-performing team. • Led the design and delivery of a diverse range of adult care services including biding for contracts, developing partnership with charities and health professionals, enabling co-production, measuring impact and reporting.• Directed complex change management programmes including developing staffing structures and conducting redundancy consultations. • Utilised financial planning skills to inform the development of organisational business plans including setting annual budgets and targets, reviewing forecasts, ensuring the senior management team effectively managed their departmental budgets and reporting to the board and stakeholders.• Demonstrated cross-functional leadership and senior stakeholder management, notably leading the rebranding of the Trust and the implementation of a new CRM system which significantly enhanced organisational performance.• Led meetings and networking events such as the Watford and Three Rivers Health Partnership, fostering successful relationships based on shared values and community impact, promoting multi-faceted collaboration.

  • Resilience Officer

    • May 2011 - Jul 2013

    • Directed a cross-functional team evaluating the resilience of the local voluntary sector and contributed to the development of a 3-year Community Strategy. This role involved continuous stakeholder engagement, identifying emerging community needs and developing innovative engagement and reporting methodologies.• Led the strategy for communicating with charities that were not successful in receiving funded from the new strategy, offering temporary extensions to ease transition. Facilitated communications with care and sensitivity, addressing concerns and implications.• Delivered strategic business planning advice to unsuccessful charities, assisting them in diversifying income sources and guiding change management to enable the adoption of sustainable business models. • Led the Dragon’s Apprentice Challenge, raising over £120,000 for local communities. This innovative Corporate Responsibility programme partnered schools, charities, and businesses, enabling young people to gain business skills and benefit from mentorship.

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  National Museums Liverpool

  • United Kingdom
  • Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos
  • 400 - 500 Employee

  • Senior Education Manager

    • Mar 2010 - Feb 2011

    • Developed and directed the Education and Community strategy, resulting in a significant increase in programme engagement from 120,000 to 160,000+ customers annually. • Led the Education team in delivering world-class programmes that engaged diverse audiences including children, young people, families, adults, schools, universities and hard to reach communities. • Directed programmes across three sites attracting 520,000+ visitors annually. Led the continuous improvement of customer service operations including improving signage, upgrading facilities to enable accessibility, and introducing volunteer-led gallery tours to engage children and young people. • Played a strategic role in cross-functional teams, including the £72 million capital development project for the Museum of Liverpool. Collaborated with partners such as Liverpool Arts and Regeneration Consortium and Liverpool Business Improvement District to deliver city-wide programmes.• Drove the development of marketing and communication materials, enhancing customer and stakeholder engagement. Contributed to marketing and communication campaigns, effectively conveying key messages, and fostering community involvement.

  • Programmes Manager

    • Feb 2006 - Mar 2010

    • Spearheaded the development and delivery of the public education programme. Achieved a 22% increase in engagement by diversifying educational activities including courses, events, children’s workshops, youth programmes, performances, conferences, and training sessions.• Developed and implemented inclusive education programmes for diverse groups such as early years, families, adults, Special Education Needs, ESOL and vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people including looked-after children and young carers.• Secured grant funding and commissions to deliver programmes aligned with community priorities. This included leading ‘House of Memories’, a museums-led Dementia awareness programme, and being commissioned by Liverpool City Council to deliver programmes raising standards in early years education and improving community health outcomes.• Played a pivotal role in city-wide and National strategic initiatives, including delivery of the European Capital of Culture programme in 2008, ensuring long-term community benefits. Led panels, working groups and cross-functional teams influencing stakeholders and aligning complex strategic priorities.

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  Bishopsgate Institute

  • London, United Kingdom

  • Programmes Manager

    • Jan 2005 - Feb 2006
    • London, United Kingdom

    • Directed course operations including booking processes, financial management, customer service and quality assurance etc. • Led the programmes team in the delivery of a broad range of adult education courses which engaged 7,000+ students per annum. • Developed and launched the institutes inaugural cultural events programme, successfully surpassing income generation targets.• Led the continuous improvement of customer experience including implementing a new customer engagement programme that saw customer satisfaction increase by 19%.

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  Client Logic

  • Watford, United Kingdom

  • Customer Service Manager

    • May 2004 - Jan 2005
    • Watford, United Kingdom

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  TK Maxx

  • Watford, United Kingdom

  • Merchandise Allocator

    • Jul 2001 - May 2003
    • Watford, United Kingdom