Our Structure

Jilly’s background is in education in the healthcare sector. She worked as a research lead and grant holder for many projects within the Department of Health, Public Health England and other governmental organisations. This experience gave her the skills to begin her own consultancy company, Jill Rogers Associates, which specialised in running educational conferences and events. The company also created reports for the Department of Health and medical and nursing Royal Colleges, developed e-learning materials, and supported with data management.

Since joining NCWGB in 2017 and becoming involved with the management committee, Jilly has collaborated with colleagues to update the website and modernise the logo. She is committed to championing the rights of women in an increasingly complex world and is helping to grow the work and influence of NCW.

Gillian began work as a fully trained secretary working in a variety of industries including shoe manufacture, coal mining, and fabric and hosiery. Her career then took her to partnership roles in retail and food wholesale alongside voluntary work in primary schools and local youth groups.

It was in these voluntary positions that Gillian found her passion for working with children. She spent the next 29 years working with local and national charities to support children and families and working in safeguarding and child protection. She joined the NCW in 1995 and became a board member in 2009, using her skills as a bookkeeper as our National Treasurer, and working to update our electronic systems and data collection and safety.

Gail spent her career at the Bank of England working in many different departments and roles. Early on, she and female colleagues began pushing for family-friendly policies as women increasingly returned to work after maternity leave. A post advising on employment and discrimination legislation led to Gail’s appointment as the Bank’s first equal opportunities manager, where she oversaw the introduction of part-time working and job sharing.

Later, as a Parliamentary adviser, she ran a programme to familiarise new MPs with the Bank’s work and reported on pertinent Parliamentary and Select Committee activity. These roles laid the foundation for her current involvement with NCW. Gail is now the Secretary and acting Treasurer of the Darlington NCWGB Branch.

Alison’s last paid position was with an investment management company specialising in thoughtful investing, funding charities and individuals who are working to drive positive change. Here, she became director of the Employee Share Ownership Trust and a member of an employee group which raised and distributed funds for local charities.

Throughout her career, Alison has also volunteered for the Samaritans, taking calls from those in distress and providing them with a safe, non-judgmental space to explore their feelings. During her 5 years in this role, she also worked in Outreach and Fundraising to raise awareness for the Samaritans and to secure funds for the local branch. Alison has continuously supported good causes, embodying the belief that fairness and equality for all should be a right, not an aspiration.

Sheila completed a secretarial course at college in the 1970s giving her the best foundation for a career in administration. Her professional journey began at her local NHS hospital, working in recruitment for all medical staff, a job she enjoyed for 24 years. She then spent two years working with the Primary Care Trust, providing temporary administrative support. In 2007, Sheila joined NCWGB as a part‑time administrative secretary.

In her personal time, Sheila is an active member and secretary of a local woodcarving group. She also contributes to her community through the Friends of the Denes group, helping to organise events and maintain local park areas. Animals, especially dogs, are her passion having shared her life over four decades with Golden Retrievers, Newfoundlands, and now ex‑racing Greyhounds. Her time with Newfoundland dogs led her into the world of water rescue work and she still judges the breed in simulated water rescue exercises.

Growing up in London and Birmingham, Jackie has first-hand experience of the difficulties families face when every day is a struggle to get by. This formative experience began to inform the values of fairness, social justice and equality that would shape her life. In her early career, Jackie trained and worked as a nurse and looked after accommodated young people and studied at degree level as a Social Worker.

In 2014, Jackie became the first African Caribbean councillor in Sandwell, providing a real choice for the women of the ward who, for 38 years, had relied on an all-male councillor team for support. Jackie has mentored other councillors to help champion diversity, commissioned the book Black Country Roots, and is currently a cabinet member for adult health and wellbeing.

Reverend Leonora Wassell is a minister, national faith leader, disability advocate, Co-Chair of Methodist Women in Britain, and has a lifelong commitment to justice, equality, and the dignity of women. She was ordained in 1994 as an Anglican Decon, as a Priest in 1995, and received into Full Connection with the Methodist Church in 1998.

As a survivor of multiple near-death experiences and long-term disability due to fibromyalgia, she brings a powerful intersectional perspective shaped by faith, lived experience of disability, motherhood, and her journey as an openly gay woman in public leadership. Leonora has been a visible advocate for inclusion and social change, including helping to organise the first pride march in Harrogate in 2017, and continues to work nationally at the intersection of faith, women’s leadership, human rights, and resilience.

Professor Husna Ahmad is an international speaker, author and thought leader, focussing on faith, gender, the environment, and peacebuilding. In 2010, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year’s Honours list for her services to disadvantaged people and promoting social justice within disadvantaged communities.

As the CEO got Global One, a UK-based Muslim women-led international development NGO, Husna helps train and support women leaders. They use faith and education to promote positive change in society and create sustainable development solutions in global health, agriculture, and water, sanitation and hygiene. Among other roles, Husna is also Chair of the Steering Committee of UNEP’s Faith for Earth Initiative, Secretary General of the World Muslim Leadership Forum, and sits on the Steering Committee of The World Bank’s Moral Imperative Initiative.