Kirsty started her career in the finance sector but soon realised it wasn’t for her. She moved into the charity sector in 2007 and has never looked back. She’s worked in a number of in-house communication roles before going freelance in 2015. In 2018 she took on an interim Social Media Manager role at the British Red Cross and worked on two emergency appeals. Kirsty was the interim Social Media Manager at Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH) in 2021/22 where she worked on a number of high profile campaigns. As well as specialising in social media, Kirsty is a copywriter and writes regularly for Third Sector and Charity Digital. After a high-profile charity Twitter crisis, Kirsty realised there was very little resource and support, in terms of wellbeing, for those working in social media. So in 2019 she authored the Wellbeing Guide for Comms Professionals for CharityComms, which is still their most-read resource. She has also featured on a number of podcasts, including CharityComms, Do more good, Third Sector, Tech for Good Live and more.

Helena has over 12 years’ experience in public sector communications and engagement, including both central and local government. Now leading the Campaigns, Internal Comms, and Social Media teams at Staffordshire County Council, she puts her enthusiasm and experience into to creative comms that have real impact. She encourages her team to try bold, brave, insight-led comms to make a difference. Her team won Best Communications Team and Best Email Campaign at the UnAwards 2022.

Nicky Roach is Head of Corporate Communications and External Relations at Edge Hill University. She has more than 20 years’ experience holding senior communications roles in higher education, local government, housing, transport, and health, and is an ex-journalist. She has a strong track record of working strategically with others to turn ideas into actions that deliver results. With a passion for wanting to make a difference to people’s lives, Nicky also volunteers her time as a Trustee on both the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership’s Digital and Creative Board and Sefton Council for Voluntary Services.