I was a teenager when I lost my Dad to cancer. The compassion and care that Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham gave our family is what has inspired my career in the voluntary sector.

As a graduate of Cardiff University Law School, I knew that I wanted to help others to get the help and support of charities when they needed it most. 20 years on and I still care passionately about the voluntary sector and champion its important role in creating profound, long-term societal change.

Working as both a volunteer and in paid roles including health, disability, education, international development, arts and culture, mental health and human rights, I’ve learnt that it’s not just about what you do, but how you do it.

As Chief Executive of a national UK health charity, The Pituitary Foundation, I champion the importance of good governance in the fight for social change.  In fact, in 2019, I was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) for outstanding contribution to social progress and development.

I am committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. I know only too well as an LGBTQ woman of the prejudice and injustice that individuals in minority groups can face.  My passion to work towards reducing inequalities not only inspired me to join The Pituitary Foundation, that provides a vital voice for people with rare diseases, but also to become a trustee of Race Council Cymru; a charity in Wales promoting integration, championing justice and race equality.

Making a difference in life and in business needs values-led inclusive leadership, agile strategy and the promotion of the importance of high standards of governance. It is this approach that results in robust, effective and resilient organisations. Indeed, that’s why I became a member of the Institute of Directors; developing my knowledge and skills as a director and broadening my cross-sector network.

Completing the Chartered Director programme has proven to me how cross-sector learning provides many opportunities to share best practice, ways of working, and innovations across the third, private and public sectors to help us all to build a better future. As an Ambassador for the IoD,  I am now actively promoting and representing chartered directorship, policy, governance and the third sector.

Put simply, organisations need effective and informed boards and directors who are aware of their personal responsibilities and accountabilities across a spectrum of activities and disciplines. Better directors equate to better businesses. Better businesses result in a better economy and a better economy means that we can make real social progress. That’s what will enable us to make better choices, create stronger communities and enable people to lead more fulfilling lives.

You can find out more about becoming a Chartered Director at https://www.iod.com/chartered-director

To find out more about Race Council Cymru visit www.racecouncilcymru.org.uk  and The Pituitary Foundation www.pituitary.org.uk