Katie Ghose announced as new chief executive of Women’s Aid

23 May 2017 News

Katie Ghose, incoming chief executive of Women's Aid

Domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid has announced the appointment of Katie Ghose as its new chief executive.

Women’s Aid made the announcement released yesterday, and said that Ghose would be joining the charity following 7 years as chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society.

During her time at the Electoral Reform Commission Ghose “led the transformation of the society into the UK’s leading campaigner and commentator on democracy; pioneered the UK’s first citizens’ assemblies to engage new audiences and launched” the ERS’ operations in Northern Ireland.

A barrister and campaigner, Ghose was also the director of the British Institute of Human Rights between 2005 and 2010 and was an independent commissioner on the Independent Asylum Commission between 2006 and 2008.

Ghose also lead Age UK’s parliamentary lobbying for older women’s rights at works and in public services and served as a trustee for LGBT rights charity Stonewall. She is currently a board member of Fair Vote, an American organisation campaigning for electoral and democratic.

She was awarded the Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year award by the Asian Lawyer’s Association in 2009.

Ghose will be replacing current chief executive Polly Neate in the role, after it was announced in February that Neate would be joining Shelter as chief executive in the summer. Neate was chief executive of Women's Aid for four years, having joined from Action for Children. 

'I am thrilled to be joining Women's Aid' 

Commenting on her appointment, Ghose said: “I am thrilled to be joining Women’s Aid, an organisation with an incredible record of life-saving work for women and children. The Women’s Aid team, members and survivors they support are an inspirational movement.

“This is a crucial time for the defence and promotion of women’s rights and to empower all women to live their lives free from abuse and fear. I look forward to bringing all of my energy, experience and passion to the cause.”

Women’s Aid had an income of £3.5m and spending of £2.7m during the financial year ending 31 March 2016. 

 

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