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Sarah Sweeney announced as National Voices’ Interim CEO

Charlotte Augst, CEO of National Voices is due to depart at the end of October 2022 after three and a half years. The National Voices Board of Trustees have announced that Sarah Sweeney, who joined National Voices in January 2022 as Head of Policy in a maternity cover role, has been appointed as Interim CEO.

Sarah, who has worked in close partnership with Charlotte to lead National Voices since joining in January, has a wealth of experience in policy, campaigning, research and community development. Prior to joining National Voices, Sarah led the campaigns and health policy influencing work of Friends, Families and Travellers.

We will soon share more information regarding the recruitment of a permanent Chief Executive to lead National Voices into its next phase of development, but for now we are thankful to Sarah for stepping into the Interim CEO role: supporting the team and continuing to work with our members, partners and stakeholders to continue to make what matters to people matter in health and care.

Helen Buckingham, Chair of National Voices says:

Charlotte has had a huge impact as the Chief Executive of National Voices, ensuring that the lived experience of people who use health and care services is front and centre for decision-makers at every level in the health and care system. She has led the organisation through some of the most challenging times any of us have experienced, and her legacy will be long-lasting. We are delighted that Sarah is picking up the baton, and will lead the whole National Voices team in building on this work as we recruit Charlotte’s substantive successor.

Sarah Sweeney, who will be stepping into the Interim CEO role at National Voices says:

Under Charlotte’s leadership, National Voices has a larger membership than ever before, our income has more than doubled, our influence and profile have increased significantly, and our team has grown. As Interim CEO, I will be working closely with our members to ensure that we go from strength to strength in our work making what matters to people matter in health and care. In particular, I am keen to build on and strengthen the work we are already doing to bring lived experience and a focus on health inequalities into everything that we do.

Charlotte Augst, National Voices’ current CEO says:

It is great to know that the National Voices team, our membership, the wider sector and the health and care system will benefit from Sarah’s leadership for the coming months. Sarah is a committed, knowledgeable and well-connected leader in our sector and has already made a big contribution as our Head of Policy. I look forward to seeing this little organisation move from strength to strength.