My career was spent within large corporate companies in a variety of senior leadership roles,  latterly as Head of Learning & Talent at Aviva.  Prior to that I led a variety of departments including Brand, Marketing, Sponsorship and Communications, developing strategy, governance and operational effectiveness.  

 I have a collaborative leadership style and enjoy being part of results focused teams, developing a culture based on strong personal values of honesty, trust, and integrity.

Alongside being Co-Chair at Home-Start Hampshire, I also sit on the board of Leukemia UK, and continue to do some work as a Management Consultant. 

I live in Bishops Waltham with my husband Mark, Greek rescue dog and 4 sons who come and go!  I enjoy yoga, gardening and travel in my spare time.

I have worked in a number of organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors and have significant experience of policy development, contracting, HR and TUPE as well as strategic business development.

Over the years I have been Chair, Vice-Chair and Director of various industry associations developing strong partnerships both internally and externally, working with diverse organisations such as the Audit Commission and local authorities.

As a former Deputy Head teacher and number eight of nine children, I am acutely aware of the benefits of a strong family environment in developing a well-rounded person. I was delighted to join Home-Start Rushmoor and Hart’s Board in 2014 and continue my involvement as a Trustee for Home-Start Hampshire on the merger of six Home-Start charities in 2018 – a very exciting – and exhausting – time.

As well as a Trustee, I am Company Secretary for Home-Start Hampshire which fits in well with my part-time Company Secretary role for several other organisations.

In my free time, I volunteer at the local Hospice, on my Neighbourhood Forum where we are writing our Neighbourhood Plan and spend as much time with my very extended family, 50+ at last count, most of whom have returned to live locally. With any time left, I enjoy reading, walking and travel focussed on history and the nature.

I qualified as a Social Worker in 1983 and returned to work in my home county Hampshire after living in Suffolk, Wales, Hong Kong and Manchester.

I spent my career working in Children’s Services specialising in family work, permanency planning and safeguarding both as a practitioner and manager. Prior to retirement I was District Service Manager in Rushmoor which covers the areas of Aldershot and Farnborough and was part of Hampshire County Council’s senior management team responsible for North Hampshire.

After retirement, I became the Chair of Trustees of the newly formed charity Home-Start Rushmoor and Hart and was part of the consortium of chairs of the other independent Home-Start schemes in Hampshire. When Rushmoor and Hart merged with five other Home-Starts in Hampshire I became Chair of Trustees . I recently stepped down after six years but have stayed on the Board as Safeguarding Trustee.

Having spent my entire career working with families and children I am passionate about the need for early support for families who are struggling for whatever reason. As a parent, I appreciate the pressures families are under and believe that the kind of support Home-Start can offer from very well trained and supported volunteers, at an early stage, can set families on a path that will enhance their lives for the future and improve their children’s life chances.

When I am not engaged in Home-Start activities I am a keen traveller, walker and gardener although the latter is more about directing than doing!

I was privileged to work for many years in the education sector initially as a teacher in Suffolk then in senior leadership roles in Hampshire. I loved working with children, some days were amazing and some challenging but it was never boring!

In 2015 I resigned from my position as a Headteacher and went to join my husband in the USA who had been relocated to Texas. While living there I trained as a Court Appointed Special Advocate to advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children in the Texas Care System. I saw this volunteer role as a unique opportunity to use the transferable skills and experience I gained in my professional career to make a difference and give a voice for vulnerable children. I also volunteered for the Assistance League another nonprofit national organization that offers support to families in times of difficulties and hardship. Both of these experiences gave me a great insight into a different side of the American Dream. On reflection, families face similar issues and problems wherever they are in the world.

After Texas we spent a year in the Netherlands but have now returned to the UK with our dog Watson much to the delight of our four children and four grandchildren. Friends who know me well would describe me as focused, determined, kind and a good listener!

I am excited and honored to have a Trustee role for Home Start. Throughout my professional career and volunteer work I have always had a strong moral belief that everyone should have the opportunity and support they need to be their best. Whether as a child or a parent everyone needs someone to care and be there to talk things through especially when life is challenging.

I have had the privilege of being a Home-Start Hampshire family visiting volunteer since 2018, based in the New Forest, and love the reward of working with remarkable families while supporting them through tricky times. I was also a member of the New Forest Community team from 2018 for several years, assisting with fundraising and writing funding applications. Since I retired in 2024, I now hope to contribute further to HSH through membership of the Trust Board.

Professionally, as an Emeritus Professor of Education (Early Years) at the Open University, I have over 30 years’ experience of research, teaching, training and practice in early childhood. I have taught students at vocational, professional development, undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level. I worked with a small group of colleagues on developing the National Standards for Early Years Professional Status and later Early Years Teacher Status, as well as in delivery, assessment and research of these professional statuses. In addition to professional and workforce development, I am former co-director of the Children’s Research Centre at the Open University. There, I focused on research using a range of methods that champion children’s voices and perspectives, including on interprofessional practice, having a parent in prison, living with a close family member with a life threatening illness, and children’s learning processes. I am a former Chair and Vice-chair of TACTYC, a national early year’s organisation with international reach, and former member of the steering group for the Early Childhood Forum, an umbrella group of 20+ national organisations.

I am married to Simon and we have two sons, a daughter and two granddaughters, plus two mucky dogs who love the New Forest. When time allows, I run, swim, walk, sew and occasionally paint and draw. Simon and I love travelling whenever we can.