Governance

Lancashire Women is a registered charity (Registered Charity Number: 1100976) and Company Limited by Guarantee (Company Number 4777720).

The charity is governed by a board of trustees. These local volunteers bring on board expertise and experience in key areas including: health, justice and finance. Our Trustees have overall control of our charity and are responsible for making sure we work towards our agreed aims and objectives.

Our most recent accounts can be viewed here.

Lynette Harwood (Chair)

Lynette lives in Darwen and is an independent health and social care consultant who has been part of the National Maternity Transformation Programme with NHS England for the past seven years and led on the implementation of several Maternity Programmes for Greater Manchester including Equity and Diversity.

She worked for the NHS for 27 years prior to this and has experience in senior management, commissioning and public health. She has commissioned mental health, substance misuse and children’s services across East Lancashire.

Lynette spends her spare time with her horse, reading and with her grandson.

Lynette is the Chair of Lancashire Women and has been a Trustee for nine years. She feels very privileged to be part of the organisation.

Maggie Lishman (Vice Chair)

Maggie lives in Burnley where she represents the ward of Briercliffe as their Liberal Democrat councillor. She is retired from the NHS where she worked as a senior manager.

She’s been a trustee of Lancashire Women for over two years now and enjoys the role and the challenges that brings in these uncertain times.

Maggie is also vice chair of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale CVS.

Dr. Charlotte Barrow

Charlotte lives in Preston and has been an academic at the University of Central Lancashire since 2001. Involved in the University’s work around equality, diversity and inclusion, she is Co-Chair of the University’s Women’s Network, and her specialism is around inclusion in education.

Charlotte was a volunteer for the past Red Box project in Preston, and is currently a school governor, so brings experience of these roles, and the skills of scrutiny and governance to the work of a trustee. A qualified yoga teacher, Charlotte has taken huge pleasure in sharing wellbeing practices in early years settings and the workplace and is also a Mental Health First Aider.

In her spare time, Charlotte enjoys walking, reading, running, baking and swimming – all alongside two daughters, which are a huge part of the reason for her contribution to Lancashire Women, to try and be a small part of campaigning and progression for women’s rights and representation across society.

Donna Livesey

I am 46 years old, married with a 10 year old son. I have a love for sport and physical activity. I’m a keen tennis player and follower of my local football team. I take great pride in my local area, being in the outdoors and supporting the local communities where I live.

I’m educated to masters degree level in Sport & Leisure Management with 30 years sports development experience in the community and voluntary sector. I feel together they have developed me into the woman I am today.

I have worked in Community Sports Development for over 21 years, 6 in Lancashire and 15 in Greater Manchester, through various roles within Your Trust Rochdale, fulfilling the strategic development & operational management. I am a keen volunteer at a women's charity, a voluntary sector sports club and a cultural trust, where I aspire to share all my professional and volunteer experiences to the best of my ability with integrity, versatility, flexibility & sensitivity, for the benefit of local communities.

Emma Plachciak

Emma lives in Clayton-Le-Moors, Lancashire with her Husband and four children.

Emma is an Independent HR Consultant, with her own HR Consultancy, PuzzleHR. Emma is CIPD qualified and has over 18 years HR and Organisational Development experience in Private and Non-for-Profit companies, prior to developing her own consultancy, supporting Micro and SME businesses, in differing sectors across Lancashire. Emma has volunteered for CIPD Lancashire for 6 years and her last role was the Chair of CIPD Lancashire.

Emma spends her time with her four children, exploring and encouraging all their interests and where possible, travelling with her favourite locations being Italy and Hawaii, where she had her wedding and exploring castles across the UK with her children.

Emma is a Trustee of Lancashire Women and is proud to support all women in Lancashire.

Howard Hamilton-Smith

bio coming soon

Jennifer Lunn

Jennifer lives in Preston and is a Solicitor who currently works within local government and advises on commercial matters, risk and governance. Before her role in local government, she has been in-house legal counsel for a number of businesses, spanning a variety of different industries.

In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys playing the piano and spending time in the outdoors, cycling and running.

Jennifer wanted to become a Trustee to make use of her professional skills in the voluntary sector and contribute to her local community. She is proud to support Lancashire Women and work alongside a passionate and committed team.

Laura Brown

Laura is a social justice professional with over 20 years of experience in programme design, funding and management, strategic planning and capacity strengthening in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. She has specific technical expertise in women's rights and gender justice programming with women's rights organisations including projects to end violence against women and girls, women's participation and leadership and strengthening feminist movements. Laura is also a creative trainer and facilitator and has extensive experience in external representation and network co-ordination.

Pauline Geraghty

Pauline lives in Darwen and is a registered social worker currently working as an independent consultant. She has worked in children’s social care and children’s rights for 38 years both in statutory and voluntary organisations. Prior to this she was a teacher. In 2011 she was awarded the MBE from the Queen for services to children and young people.

She is currently the chair of trustees for a Lancashire domestic abuse charity having worked with other women as a founder of the organisation some 30 plus years ago. Given her background in working with charities she supports charities setting up or wanting to develop and expand.

Pauline has experience of working in leadership roles, strategic development, risk management and also has many years as a practitioner in frontline services.

In her spare time Pauline enjoys camping, reading, walking her Border Collie and chasing around after her grandchildren.

Pauline has followed Lancashire Women from its formation and now feels she has the time to get more actively involved as a trustee. She joined the Board in January 2022 and is excited to be part of an organisation that makes such a difference to the lives of women in Lancashire.

Read about our impact in our latest Annual Report

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