Released on: 30 September 2015
NCT has appointed a new Chair and elected a new President
NCT, the UK’s largest charity for parents, has selected a new Chair and President to create a new leadership team with its recently appointed Chief Executive.
Helen Stephenson CBE has been appointed Chair and Seána Talbot has been elected President. They will work closely with NCT’s new Chief Executive, Nick Wilkie, who joined in July, to drive the charity forward.
Helen’s strong background in early years education and Seána’s achievements in voluntary work, complement Nick’s 17 years’ experience developing pioneering strategies across the charity sector, including his recent role at Save the Children. The trio form a robust team and the appointments reinforce NCT’s commitment to supporting mothers and fathers through the First 1000 Days of life as a new parent.
Helen has held high-profile positions in Government, including the Cabinet Office and has been responsible for policy and strategy in a number of Government departments. She is currently the Director of Early Years, Child Poverty and Strategy - responsible for the Government’s early years education and childcare policy and leading the delivery of the programme to provide 30 hours of free childcare in the UK. She also heads up the cross-department Child Poverty Unit.
Helen Stephenson said: “I’m thrilled to join NCT. I feel very strongly the First 1000 Days are so important in a child’s life and it’s crucial that all parents should get all the help and support they need in the early stages. NCT is a wonderful source of information and support for parents and I’m looking forward to working with Nick and the Board on the strategic direction of the charity.”
Seána has a long history of volunteering with NCT and has been an NCT Board member, Trustee and non-executive Director since 2009. She has served as NCT Chair and Vice-Chair and has also represented NCT on Maternity Services Liaison Committees for 15 years. She has worked as an NHS manager and commissioner and for the Northern Ireland Department of Health rolling out the Sure Start programme across Northern Ireland. She currently manages a Sure Start project in Belfast.
Seána Talbot said: “I’m excited and delighted to take on the role of President. NCT supports millions of parents and I am passionate about our mission and about finding new ways to reach and support even more parents.”
Nick Wilkie said: “I am delighted to welcome Helen as Chair and Seána as President. They both bring with them a wealth of experience, skills and knowledge and I am really looking forward to working closely with them to build upon the fantastic work that NCT does and to continue to move the organisation forward.”
Video interviews with Seána Talbot and Helen Stephenson can be found here:
