Michele has over thirty years’ experience of working within disability issues, disabled people’s organisations and the VCSE and recently retired from the role of Chief Executive at Breakthrough UK a role she held for eleven years.
Michele enjoys working collaboratively to achieve change and reduce inequalities. Michele’s key interests are to influence local, regional and national policy and practice and remove the barriers that prevent disabled people and other marginalised communities from living independent and healthy lives.
Michele is a highly experienced strategic leader and influencer and operational manager in local government and the third sector.
Michele is passionate about coaching and the powerful role it can play to support self-belief and authenticity. Michele particularly enjoys working with women aspiring to be leaders or who are already leaders but don’t believe it - aiming to liberate women of the imposter syndrome that sits insides too many of us!
Michele has nationally known expertise in disability issues and was awarded a place on the ‘Power 100 list’ of most influential disabled people in the UK in 2017.
Current Governance and Scrutiny roles include: Chair: Warrington Housing Association, Director: North West Care Co-operative & Chair of the North West Regional Stakeholder Network of disabled people.
Up till March 2022 on its dissolution, Michele was an appointed member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission – Disability Advisory Committee a role she held for 7 years. Michele began her career working & volunteering for disabled people’s organisations and in the mid 90’s moved into Local Government where she spent 10 years in corporate roles, first as a Disability Equality Officer and then in a managerial role developing and leading best practice in service delivery – whilst there she obtained her Masters in Management.
Michele has a hearing impairment.