2025 Shortlisted nominee
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Alison Dunn is CEO of Society Matters Group, including Citizens Advice Gateshead, where since 2011 she has transformed the organisation from near insolvency into a thriving, values-led business supporting tens of thousands of people across the North East and beyond. A lawyer by training, Alison left school at 16 with no qualifications, later qualifying through night school and the Open University, a journey that fuels her lifelong fight for social justice and equity. She also serves as Strategic Lead for Poverty, Inequality and Disadvantage at Gateshead Council, chairs VONNE, and is a trustee of the County Durham Community Foundation. Alison has spearheaded initiatives such as the Warm Spaces movement, Gateshead’s fuel poverty action plan, and platforms to amplify unheard voices. Recognised with multiple awards, she remains grounded in her mission: breaking down barriers and building a fairer society for all.
