Sarah Atherton Email and Phone Number

If you are looking to develop your military relationships or deliver tangible outcomes to your defence community, then look no further. As a high profile champion for the UK Armed Forces and Veterans, I have a clear track record of thought leadership and strategic delivery, resulting in a much improved lived experience for service personnel, their families and veterans. My political insight, with a track record of outcome delivery, coupled with a background of process optimisation, team leadership and willingness to address difficult situations, would make me a valuable addition to your team.  I was a Member of Parliament from 2019 to 2024, campaigning tirelessly to raise the profile of Wrexham. From a Welsh town, where I was often asked, ‘Where exactly is it?’, Wrexham is now a high profile City. I delivered over £203 million of bespoke investment from the UK Government including the Wrexham Investment Zone (1 of only 13 granted), hosted 3 Prime Ministers and I secured the future of Wrexham’s Hightown Barracks.From 2023 - 2024, I led the Office of Veterans Affairs Advisory Board for the UK’s first Female Veterans’ Strategy, drawing together voices of authority on female veterans. Through a process of engagement, critical analysis and conflict resolution, I provided strategic direction to the Cabinet Office for the introduction of this policy.   I chaired the groundbreaking House of Commons enquiry into ‘Women in the Armed Forces’, which was instrumental in changing the conditions of military service for over 183,000 service personnel and reset the cultural outlook of the MInistry of Defence. On 18/11/24 the Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard stated in the Chamber, “The Atherton Review... should be compulsory reading for all Members of Parliament…to understand the experiences of so many women in our Armed Forces.” As a leading advocate for the UK Defence Community, whether in Parliament, at the Ministry of Defence, as a member of the Defence Committee, within the Office of Veterans Affairs or on the International stage, I built a reputation for cross-functional collaboration, integrity and team collaboration, in what can be the adversarial environment of Whitehall. Prior to entering politics I had successful careers as a Soldier (Army Intelligence Corps), Nurse, District Nurse and mental health Social Worker. If you are looking for someone with gravitas, an informal approach to driving positive change, thrives in an environment of challenge and leads from the front in a collaborative manner - please get in touch.