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.
Meet our leadership team
Kirsty Farrand
Interim Chief Executive Officer and Director of Resources
Kirsty joined VoiceAbility in June 2025 as Director of Finance and IT. In this role, she leads on financial strategy, governance, and IT and digital transformation, ensuring the organisation’s financial resources, systems and insights are aligned to deliver sustainable impact and growth.
Prior to joining VoiceAbility, Kirsty held senior financial leadership roles across a range of mission-driven and high growth organisations. She led finance, people and compliance functions during periods of rapid expansion, strengthening financial processes and supporting strategic decision-making to shape commercial strategy and drive organisational growth.
I believe finance is most powerful when it’s a strategic partner; enabling our organisation to make confident decisions, invest in what matters, and create meaningful, lasting change for the people and communities we serve.
Donna Bronson-Barnes
Director of Operations
Donna joined VoiceAbility in April 2026 as Director of Operations, overseeing the operational delivery of services across the organisation. Her remit covers operational performance, service quality, and continuous improvement; supporting teams across all regions to deliver safe, effective, and person-centred services.
Before joining VoiceAbility, Donna built a career across health, social care and community services, with a strong foundation in information, advice and guidance (IAG), community development, and youth advocacy. This experience has shaped her commitment to ensuring people are supported to understand their rights and have their voices heard.
Donna brings extensive experience in operational leadership across complex, contract-funded services, with a focus on driving consistency, strengthening accountability, and improving service performance.
I’m passionate about ensuring people are able to speak out and be heard, and about the power of advocacy to make that possible. For me, it’s also about creating consistent, accountable services where processes work for people — not against them — so every individual feels respected, supported, and empowered.
Leighanne Phillips
Commercial Director
Leighanne joined VoiceAbility in April 2025 as Commercial Director, where she leads the Commercial and Marketing teams and shapes the organisation’s commercial strategy.
She brings proven expertise in commercial leadership, business development, and building high‑performing teams, alongside a deep understanding of the challenges faced by charities — and how to balance innovation, creativity, and commercial rigour to deliver lasting value.
Her focus is on strengthening commercial processes across the organisation, and enabling partnerships and strategies that advance our mission. She is committed to collaboration across all departments, ensuring that our commercial approach reflects the needs and insights of colleagues throughout the organisation.
‘I’m very passionate about ‘lived experience’ in developing and delivering preventative ways of working that create opportunities to support at the earliest point of contact. I believe creating a platform for lived experience to be heard and understood is vital in contributing to positive impact for those who need our support.’