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Leadership team

Our leadership team shares a commitment to make sure people are heard when it matters most. They work together to ensure our clients are supported and empowered to live full lives, and that VoiceAbility is a rewarding place to work.

We foster a climate that enables everyone to live life to the full, in the manner of their choosing. We do this by leading and empowering our teams to deliver the strategic vision, setting the performance expectation, making clear decisions, anticipating and mitigating risk, and investing in our people and resources so that we can all grow and thrive.

VoiceAbility Leadership Team

Meet our leadership team

Richard Jones

Chief Executive

Richard joined VoiceAbility in January 2017 as our Director of Finance, becoming our Chief Finance Officer in October 2021 and taking over from Jonathan Senker as Chief Executive in September 2024. Richard has a wealth of experience gained across a number of sectors including charity, and, before joining VoiceAbility, was the Commercial Operations Director of an animal conservation charity. 

Richard is responsible for the overall leadership of VoiceAbility, making sure that we have a clear strategy, provide quality support, and are constantly striving to ensure that people have a voice when it matters most.

I am passionate about seeing see everyone valued and empowered and able to live life to the full. I’m proud to work with an organisation that works with and helps people to overcome obstacles and constraints, and to take control over their lives.”

Sam Breckell

Chief Operating Officer

Sam joined VoiceAbility as Director of HR in June 2017 and later became Director or Operations and People, before his latest role in the leadership team as Chief Operating Officer since October 2021. 

Before joining VoiceAbility, Sam was Vice Principal at Oldham College, where he provided HR and organisational development leadership for a complex multi-site workforce. He brings a strong commercial understanding from his senior roles in Tesco and a very clear commitment to our aims, together with the drive to help us to achieve what we’re here to do.

Sam’s remit covers leadership of our operations and service delivery, business development, marketing and influencing. 

I see this role as an exciting opportunity to embed the value our people’ part of our strategy and to help us improve how we work together. I want to make sure this leads to more impactful outcomes for people using our services.”

Louise Abbs

Director of Operations and Practice

Kirsty Farrand

Interim Director of Finance and Reporting

Becs Hirst

Director of Safeguarding

Leighanne Philips

Commercial Director