Deborah Jenkins MBE DL
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Deborah joined NCFE as Chair in December 2017.
Deborah runs her own consultancy (Kindling Ltd) which delivers project creation, consultancy and facilitation to explore better collaborative work methods.
Since its creation in 1991, Deborah has run the Derwent Initiative (TDI). Deborah acted as Chair until 2006, when she became CEO. TDI is a small, independent charity based in Newcastle upon Tyne which aims to reduce the risk of sexual offending. It provides a pragmatic, partnership approach to risk reduction, and creates and operates public protection schemes.
In addition, she’s held other rules including:
- Chair of the Barnard Castle Vision Partnership
- Chair of the South Tees Hospitals Foundation Trust
- Chair of the Northern Neonatal Network, which is an NHS Operational Delivery Network.
- Chair of the Cultura Trust
- Independent Chair of the Northern Neonatal Network
- Vice Chair of the Mental Health Act Commission
- Chaired the AllTalk FM Northeast bid for North East commercial radio franchise The Wireless Group
- Board member of the Northern Community of Interest and Decision-Making
- Director of Trades4Care
Deborah received an MBE in 1995 for services to urban regeneration and was named the North East Alternative Business Person of the Year in 2011.
Deborah co-founded and held various director roles at Common Purpose, the national charity that runs leadership programmes for city decision-makers to improve active citizenship and strategic direction, based on the US model. Deborah developed and ran programmes for senior urban leaders throughout Europe and the UK. While at Common Purpose, Deborah wrote an impact study commissioned by Baring Foundation in 2000.
Deborah lives in County Durham with her husband, but also spends time in Newcastle and Nice, where she and her husband are honorary
Niçois and acquire ideas that they can use in their work.
Deborah has a lifelong interest in domesticity, which she tries to find time for and greatly enjoys spending time with her family.
Deborah joined us as Chair of our board following eight years as Chair at South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust.