Charity Champions Podcast S02E08: Michelle Baharier, CEO, Cooltan Arts

Charity Leadership at Scale: Matt Hyde on What Really Works

Charity Champions Podcast S03E03: Matt Hyde, CEO, Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales In this episode of Charity Champions, Emily Formby is joined by Matt Hyde, Chief Executive of Lloyds Bank Foundation, to talk about charity leadership at scale. Matt draws on decades of experience across some of the UK's most recognisable charities, including the Scouts and Comic Relief, to share what genuinely works when leading organisations through change. From navigating the differences between large and small charities to building unrestricted funding models and putting together the right "backup team" as a leader, this conversation offers practical insight for anyone working in or leading a charity or non-profit organisation.

Charity Champions Podcast S03E02: Helen Barnard, Director, The Trussell Trust

In this episode of Charity Champions, host Emily Formby is joined by Helen Barnard, Director of Policy and Research at Trussell, to discuss her journey through research, policy and operational leadership. Helen shares lessons from evaluating government policy, shaping strategy at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and building effective teams under pressure. She also reflects on collaboration, decision making and psychological safety.

Charity Champions Podcast S03E01: Debra Allcock Tyler, Chief Executive, Directory of Social Change

Debra Allcock Tyler, Chief Executive of the Directory of Social Change (DSC), joins Emily Formby to share her candid journey through the charity sector. From unexpected career twists to leading one of the UK’s most influential organisations, Debra reflects on leadership, culture, and the realities of change. Packed with honesty and insight, this conversation is essential listening for charity leaders and trustees alike.

Charity Champions Podcast S02E08: Michelle Baharier, CEO, Cooltan Arts

Lived experience can be the most powerful foundation for leadership in the charity sector. In our season 2 finale, Michelle Baharier, artist, disability rights advocate and charity founder, shares her journey from the squats of 1980s Brixton to building and running a mental health charity for 25 years, growing it to 24 staff supporting around 3,000 people a year. Her insights highlight the realities of grassroots founding, the structural pressures pushing small charities toward burnout, and why good governance, succession planning and work-life balance matter as much as funding.

Charity Champions Podcast S02E07: Dr June O'Sullivan, Chief Executive, London Early Years Foundation

Leadership in the charity sector demands resilience, vision, and a commitment to social justice. Dr June O’Sullivan OBE, Chief Executive of the London Early Years Foundation, shares her journey from psychiatric nursing and social work to building one of the UK’s leading childcare social enterprises. Her insights highlight the power of purpose-driven leadership, the importance of community, and why social enterprise models can transform access and fairness in early years education.