After 33 years in government, the majority of it leading teams at senior level delivering operational outcomes often in pressured situations, I decided to rebalance my life and focus on sharing what I’ve learned about top level leadership and helping organisations enable their people to give of their very best. I’ve been a Board member, devising and delivering strategy (especially in the people space) but I am comfortable working at all levels. My passions are for authenticity in leadership, for genuine fairness and inclusivity across the workforce, and for leaders to see the development of their people as a measure of success. As the Board member responsible for People in a UK Government Agency, I led a step change improvement in our success against National benchmarks for diversity (Stonewall WEI, Times Top Employers for Women, and other major indices for disability and race) that was underpinned by work to bring about lasting change (such as revamping recruitment, promotion processes, leadership development etc, and changing the conversations to ones that made real difference). I have significant experience of managing mental health issues in the workplace; also lived experience of PTSD with depression and anxiety.Alongside work, I do some volunteering locally, including as a youth mentor for a charity engaged by Surrey County Council as part of their support for vulnerable young adults, and as a Trustee for the UK Mens Sheds Association. For the last two years I’ve been teaching myself woodwork (making a lot of sawdust and little of value), overseeing a major building project, and learning to create natural substitutes for everyday ‘chemical’ items.