Event Information

Jane became CEO of Working Families in September 2018.

Jane has 12 years’ experience working in the third sector and has held senior leadership positions at a number of UK charities. She believes in the value of a fulfilling, balanced working life and its transformative power to create social connections, build self-esteem, and impact the wider community. She is a passionate advocate of equal opportunity for all.

Prior to joining Working Families, Jane served as Operations Director at Breast Cancer Haven. She has also served as Acting Chief Executive at SANDS and Head of Operations at Samaritans.

Jane holds a social science bachelor’s degree from the University of Cape Town in Industrial Sociology and Industrial Psychology.

Donna Gooby is Director of People and Culture at Inspire North www.inspirenorth.co.uk parent organisation of Community Links www.commlinks.co.uk and Foundation www.foundationuk.org and their subsidiaries. They provide award-winning services and accredited training across the north of England in mental health, wellbeing, housing and domestic abuse. 

She was previously Director for Diversity and HR for Community Links before her most recent appointment in October 2018 when Community Links and Foundation merged bringing together two charities with decades of experience in mental health and housing. 

In 2020 Inspire North was placed 29th in the Sunday Times list of 100 Best Not for Profit Organisations to Work For they also received the Sunday Times Special Learning & Development Award. Community Links is ranked 15th in The Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List she is proud of the continuous dedication to diversity, equality and inclusion.

She has led the transformation of the HR agenda – developing the Group HR Strategy and defining direction in areas including diversity and inclusion, culture change, leadership, talent and reward. She believes people make the difference, not processes and attracting diverse talent is something that all organisations need to work hard at. 

She has a postgraduate qualification in HR and is a Chartered Fellow CIPD.

Sue is a partner within our charities and social economy team at Wrigleys

Sue advises charities and other not for profit, voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises on all aspects of employment law including strategic issues involving TUPE and restructuring.

Sue has experience of advising on severance packages and on senior executive service agreements. She also represents employers throughout the Employment Tribunal process.

She manages Wrigleys HR Response, our telephone and email employment law helpline for charities including academies and independent schools.