Helen Wilkinson

Experience

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  Tellex Monitors

  Jun 1987 - Sept 1987

  Copy writer
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  National Consumer Council (now Consumer Focus)

  Sept 1988 - Aug 1989

  Policy & Development Officer

  I focussed on health and housing policy from a consumer perspective in an important year with the passage of the health and housing acts.

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  BBC

  Sept 1989 - Mar 1994

  BBC TV Current Affairs Producer

  I worked in Lime Grove and White City BBC TV News and Current Affairs starting as a social affairs researcher before becoming an Associate Producer and Producer/Director of short films and documentaries for First Sight, Assignment and Newsnight. I am proudest of my international work. I was the first journalist to negotiate documentary access to film in Syria during the Gulf War, Syria - Changing Sides, and also produced and directed a film in Algeria, The Force of Islam, explaining the rise of the FIS in the country and reporting on the first multi party elections in North Africa at the time; this became a report of the cancellations of the elections and an imposition of coup d'etat by the ruling FLN and the film foreshadowed the causes and rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the region. I also did a film about the rise of the National Front in France, and of the international trade in human organs. A number of my foreign films were nominated for BAFTA Awards. Show less

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  Demos

  Apr 1994 - Mar 1999

  Project Director

  One of the founding members of the think tank, Demos, I conceived, fundraised for, led, managed and delivered a number of ground breaking policy projects which established Demos' reputation as one of the leading think tanks for innovative ideas, and helped to grow the organisation from one paid member of staff to 20 by 1999. As a member of the senior management team, I was one of the main spokespeople for the organisation and was a member of the senior management team reporting to the Board.

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  Families and Work Institute

  Sept 1997 - Feb 1999

  Commonwealth Fund Harkness Fellow & Research Associate, Families and Work Institute

  I was awarded a Harkness Fellowship by the US based Commonwealth Foundation in 1997 and was also a Research Associate at the New York based Families and Work Institute, where I developed a project on responsible fatherhood looking at innovative policy and practice in the USA exploring the lessons and relevance for the UK context

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  Genderquake Limited

  Mar 2000 - Jun 2010

  Director

  Strategy consultancy providing advice, support and change management services for individuals, organisations and networks interested in getting ahead of the curve on the implications of changes in gender roles for families, workplaces, business, politics and communities

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  Elancentric.com Limited

  Apr 2000 - Apr 2003

  Founding Chief Executive

  I was the founder and Chief Executive of this small dot com venture which was the UK's first online community and business to business trading platform for Britain's elancers (electronic mobile workers). It was selected as one of the top 10 internet start ups of 2001 in the DTI E-Commerce Awards, and received investment from a dot com business incubator and business angels.

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  DrugScope

  Jul 2002 - Apr 2003

  Director of Information and Policy

  As a member of the Senior Management Team, I was responsible for DrugScope's policy and influencing, publishing, communications, information and library services, and its international projects leading performance and managing 5 Heads and a team of 20

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  4Children

  Apr 2003 - Apr 2004

  Interim Director of Development

  A member of the Senior Management team leading change and the development of new services and products for the sector and our partners following rebranding to 4Children from Kids Clubs Network

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  Wales Council for Voluntary Action

  Jul 2010 - Sept 2015

  Senior Policy Officer, Anti-Poverty and European Cohesion Policy

  I led and managed WCVA's policy and programmes work on anti poverty and European Cohesion policy 2014-2020. This included developing expertise in community based regeneration, local economic development, social enterprise, employment and skills, welfare reform and alongside community development. This included facilitating a number of third sector networks during this period, including the Equalities and Human Rights Coalition, and the Anti Poverty Programmes Taskforce (which I initiated and set up) and Ministerial meetings between the third sector and Welsh Government under the third sector scheme. I was a member of the Welsh Government's National Regeneration Panel, the Welsh Government's Strategic Equality Board, Human Rights Stakeholder Group and the Budget Advisory Group on Equality which advised the Minister for Finance. Show less

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  My Moroccan Folly - Artisan Enterprise, Roots in Essaouira, Branches in the UK

  Jun 2012 - now

  Co founder

  We design, make and sell handcrafted thuya wood giftware, a tree unique to the region of Essaouira, Morocco where my husband, Mohammed 'Kosovo' Aarab, an accredited thuya artisan has been designing and making for over three decades. The tree is protected by the Forestry Commission and only accredited artisans can gain access to its offcuts. Through our artisan enterprise, we are bringing the art and gift of thuya and the place that inspires us to a wider audience. When you shop with us, you support a tradition of making that goes back centuries and nurture an artisan enterprise with its roots in Essaouira, Morocco and branches in the UK. You also support an enterprise committed to reuse, protecting the environment and respecting our natural resources. We regularly pop up in maker and artisan markets and art fairs in North Wales and the North West and have retailed some of Kosovo's work in a few galleries. Currently taking a break from 6 April 2024 but will be back in action later in the year for the gifting season. If you want to buy a gift in the meantime, check out our website, www.mymoroccanfolly.com and get in touch!As an aside, the lived experience of supporting this artisan enterprise and seeing the needs of makers, artists and artisans, and experiencing the different maker and artisan markets over this period informed the enterprise vision that inspired my proposal to bring Ruthin Market Hall back into use securing the licence from the Council in 2019 for the charity I was leading, bringing back to life an unused asset for the benefit of the community. I secured seed investment from the Welsh Government's Foundational Economy Challenge Fund grant award a few months later. Show less

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  DVSC.co.uk

  May 2016 - Feb 2021

  Chief Executive

  I served as Chief Executive of Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council between 2016-2021, leading a turnaround of finance, and performance, strategic repositioning and rebranding underpinned by step shifts in our digital assets, and capability, across social media channels and conceiving and developing an award winning project selected for the Welsh Government's Foundational Economy Challenge Fund. Together, this has put the charity on the path to social enterprise sustainability with a portfolio of community assets, innovative projects, a suite of brands, high profile Board recruits, the highest free reserves in organisational history with continued income growth (and surplus generated) at the point of my departure. During the period of my leadership, DVSC broadened its stakeholders and services to include wellbeing services, co-working hub, enterprise and employability support, and other ChangeMaker initiatives with an asset base, digital platforms, brands and funding to invest in the social enterprise strategy to support these broader ambitions.DVSC is a member of Third Sector Support Wales, a pan Wales partnership involving the 19 CVCs & WCVA supporting 4 pillars of service - volunteering, funding, good governance and engagement & influencing to support the outcomes of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act. DVSC's mission is to provide excellent support to volunteers, volunteer involving organisations and the third sector and to be an influential voice for the sector in Denbighshire whilst working in partnership with neighbouring County Voluntary Councils to develop the third sector’s strategic capacity, influence & impact at the highest level throughout North Wales. DVSC is one of the smallest CVCs in the infrastructure & has been one of the strongest performers across a range of metrics (& relative to its size) under my leadership & management, evidenced by the CRM used for the Third Sector Support Wales inafrstructure which enables comparisons. Show less

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  The National Lottery Community Fund

  Feb 2018 - Feb 2021

  Wales Committee Member

  This public appointment was for three years, and renewed for a further 3 years by Welsh Government in January 2021. As a member of the Wales Committee, I was involved in strategic development, scrutiny of the funding portfolio and corporate performance and engaging with colleagues UK wide on TNLCF Board away days. I was also involved in funding decisions for specific funding programmes, including the Working Families and Supporting Great Ideas funding streams. I also spoke at a number of events for TNLCF community projects. I stepped down unexpectedly in Feb 2021 for personal reasons. It has been a privilege to serve on the Committee over the years and to see the brilliant work being done around Wales. Long may it continue! Members of the Wales Committee can be found here. https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/about/our-people/wales-committee Show less

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  Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

  Sept 2018 - Nov 2020

  Independent Board Member

  This was a public appointment. The Health Board was declared from Special Measures on 24 November 2021. I am humbled, privileged and proud to have served during this journey of improvement working with #TeamBetsi who managed a brilliant Covid 19 response. In addition to the Board, I sat on the Finance and Performance Committee, and the Charitable Funds Committee and was Vice Chair of the Strategy, Populations and Public Health Committee. I also spoke on behalf of the Health Board at a number of stakeholder events, including the League of Friends in Mold and Ruthin. Details of current BCUHB Board members can be found here - https://bcuhb.nhs.wales/about-us/health-board-meetings-and-members/health-board-members/. I resigned on November 23 2020 in line with the conditions of this appointment being linked to ongoing employment and involvement with a Third Sector organisation in the region in anticipation of my formal departure as CEO of DVSC in February 2021 for my #Covid19 Workshift. Show less

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  Wilkinson Bytes

  Feb 2021 - now

  Founder

  Wilkinson Bytes is my self-employed work stream where I collaborate with people, organisations and networks whose purpose inspires. My focus is on researching, writing, investigating, commenting and influencing around my areas of interest in the public interest. I also provide services that include: research, ideas generation and development, scenario building, forecasting, trend spotting, report writing, project management, community & enterprise development, social innovation, strategic consultancy, change management, interim leadership & management, coaching & mentoring. Taking a sabbatical from 6 April 2024 but if you are interested to discuss ways we might be able to collaborate DM me via Linked in!You can also find me on X @wilkinsonbytes, via email, wilkinsonbytes@outlook.com or What's App 07713 997 075 Show less

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  Sahir House

  May 2021 - Nov 2021

  Chief Executive
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  Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government

  Jul 2021 - Mar 2022

  Member of the Independent Remuneration Panel Wales (IRPW) Public Appointment

  This 4 year Welsh Government public appointment was approved by the Minister for Housing and Local Govt on 25 May 2021 with the term officially starting on 1 July 2021. I took a leave of absence for personal reasons on 7 March 2022. My appointment was officially terminatedby Welsh Government on 26 May 2023 in response to my request to return to the Panel following my leave of absence. I am delighted to have been part of the decision-making process with other independent members in my active 9 months on the Panel which led to a significant 'reset' in remuneration for county councillors and a historic investment in local democracy and diversity in Wales as we emerged from the pandemic. I also hope that concerns raised by me during my public appointment and leave of absence leads to improved processes and procedures for public appointees, greater transparency in these processes and decision-making and that lessons are learnt by Welsh Govt with a more effective duty of care put in place for public appointees. That Annual Report is here - https://gov.wales/independent-remuneration-panel-wales-annual-report-2022-2023 and the Annual Report noting my departure is here - https://www.gov.wales/independent-remuneration-panel-wales-annual-report-2024-2025. Show less

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  Riad Aarab

  Jan 2023 - now

  Co-creator of Riad Aarab
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  Tŷ Pawb

  Apr 2023 - now

  Member Ty Pawb Advisory Board