Yvonne brings her knowledge of the voluntary, statutory and independent sector to the Trustee Board. As former director of Barnardo's Cymru she has wide experience of aligning services to meet the challenges facing the most deprived communities in Wales.

Before becoming a social worker in child protection, she had ten years teaching experience and held an Education Welfare role. Her extensive social work experience includes working in a police and social services joint investigation team, managing a child sexual abuse service and managing a family centre offering parental assessments and parenting programmes which addressed the developmental wellbeing of children, many of whom had complex needs.

She went on to hold a National Advisory role in Education for the NSPCC and developed a child protection manual for teachers which was delivered across 88 training institutions across the UK. She has also designed and delivered training for foster carers, health and education professionals which addressed the specific needs of children and young people in public care.

Yvonne provided strong leadership at Barnardo’s Cymru through a period of significant internal and external challenge and change. There were three changes at the Chief Executive level resulting in a new operational model which she successfully embedded and additional responsibilities which saw her leading both Wales and the South West of England. Against this backdrop Yvonne increased service delivery in Wales from 43 to 87 services in order to meet burgeoning social need and negotiated with local authority directors, politicians and other external partners to achieve policy and service change for the most vulnerable children, young people and families.

Governance 
As Director Barnardo’s Cymru from 2008-16 she held responsibilities for organising National Committee meetings and presenting reports on performance, safeguarding, health and safety, inspections and financial monitoring. Yvonne had further governance experience as a Trustee with Children in Wales from 2008-2016 and currently holds the role of Vice Chair on the Board of Llanelli Railway Goods Shed Trust.