Jackie Charlton - MSc Gender and Social Policy (Bristol) BA Hons (Open) PGCE (Cardiff)

Christine Gittoes

Jackie has been working with the voluntary sector and small business sector for 15 years.

Originally from England she moved to Wales in 1989 after working in the finance industry. After completing her BA Honours Degree with the Open University she went into teaching and achieved the Post Graduate Certificate in Education from Cardiff University. Jackie taught on ACCESS courses as well as teaching information technology skills. She focused on politics and women's studies for ACCESS students and from this base went into community development to enhance activities for women in employment. She set up a programme for women farmers to encourage diversification and self employment. Additionally she worked with local schools, community groups and the voluntary sector and was Chair of Brecknock Play Network.

Jackie obtained her Masters Degree in Gender and Social Policy in 1999 from the University of Bristol and decided to use this opportunity to branch out into research and development activities. She has to date carried out feasibility studies and audits for Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and worked on the SME Equality Project for the WDA and Department of Innovation and Enterprise for the Welsh Assembly Government. The SME Equality Project was the first of it's kind in the UK and seen as a flagship project by the EU for ensuring women and other under-represented groups in Wales were not discriminated against in the workplace.

In 2000 Jackie was appointed a Member of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and a Non Executive Director of Powys Healthcare NHS Trust. She subsequently became a Non Officer Member of Powys LHB until 2005. During this time Jackie has been the Equality and Human Rights Champion for both organisations and Chair of various committees. She remains a Mental Health Act Manager on behalf of the Powys LHB and Member of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority.

Jackie is Director of Crickhowell Resource and Information Centre and focuses on human resources, volunteering and social enterprise activity.