Growing up and living in Newport, I am a proud Newportonian who has witnessed the city’s remarkable transformation from its industrial roots into the vibrant, diverse and multicultural city it is today. Throughout its history, Newport has welcomed people from across the world who have chosen to make the city their home, enriching its communities and contributing to its success.
Working in local government for 40+ years I have seen significant changes in the way councils serve communities and create opportunities for people from all backgrounds. Throughout my career, I have been passionate about ensuring that public services are inclusive, accessible and provide opportunities for individuals, particularly those from potentially marginalised groups, to achieve their potential and play an active role in civic life.
My career has been built on embracing new challenges, breaking down barriers and championing inclusion. I have never been afraid to step into roles that challenge convention, including leadership positions in technology at a time when the profession was rather male-dominated. These experiences helped shape my belief that diverse perspectives strengthen organisations and improve outcomes for communities.
For more than two decades, I have worked within different services leading a wide range of initiatives focused on equality, diversity, community cohesion and organisational change. I have championed the work of our Equalities and Welsh Language Team, strengthened partnerships and supported programmes that have helped create a more inclusive culture within the Council and across Newport.
I am proud to be one of nine women on Newport Council’s Corporate Management Team, contributing to our progress in closing the gender pay gap and helping achieve one of the lowest median gender pay gaps among Welsh local authorities. Professionally and personally, I strive to be a respected, approachable and authentic leader, committed to creating workplaces where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive.
As a passionate advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion, I have worked to ensure these principles are embedded throughout our culture, policies and decision-making processes. I have helped lead successive Strategic Equality Plans that have supported a fundamental shift from a compliance-based approach to equality towards a strategic, outcomes-focused model that embeds equality across decision-making, service delivery and organisational culture. I am particularly proud that Newport became the first local authority in Wales to recognise care experience as a protected characteristic within its equality framework, ensuring the needs of people with care-experienced are considered in decision-making. As a visible active ally to people from underrepresented or potentially marginalised groups, and a strong advocate for fairness in the workplace, I remain committed to ensuring equality is a driving force behind positive change.
One of my proudest achievements was leading Newport City Council to become the first local authority in Wales to introduce participatory budgeting, giving residents from diverse backgrounds a direct voice in deciding how public funds are invested in community projects. Since its introduction, £1 million+ has been distributed to over 180 community groups, empowering local people to shape the future of their neighbourhoods.
Over the past 5 years, I have overseen the establishment of 4 staff-led employee network groups that provide a platform for employees to share their experiences, influence decision-making and champion inclusion across the organisation. These include our Diversity Network, which also represents staff from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Backgrounds; our Pride Network for LGBTQ+ staff; IN-NCC Network representing disabled and neurodivergent employees; and our Welsh Language Network.
These networks have become powerful voices within the organisation, influencing HR and wellbeing policies, participating in senior recruitment processes, strengthening organisational culture and contributing to the development of key strategies, including the Corporate Plan, People Plan, Climate Change & Digital Strategies. Their success reflects my belief that meaningful change happens when people are empowered to contribute, challenge and collaborate.
I enjoy supporting the wide range of community groups across Newport and representing these groups at regional and national events. Whether supporting Pride Cymru to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion in local government, promoting the Welsh language or championing inclusion initiatives, it is inspiring to see the positive impact of our work and how far we have come.
Throughout my career, I have remained committed to creating opportunities for others, and ensuring that equality, inclusion and fairness are at the heart of everything we do. In my role at Newport, I continue to champion positive change for our workforce, our communities and the city.