EIDA is delighted to announce two new appointments: new Chair to the Board, Sarah Newton and new Chief Executive Officer, Susan Bright.
New Chair, Sarah Newton
Sarah Newton brings over 30 years of experience in the public, business and voluntary sectors to the role of Chair to the Board. Previously Director of American Express Europe, Director of the ‘think and do’ tank ILC-UK and Director of Age Concern (now Age UK), Sarah was elected Member of Parliament between 2010 and 2019. With experience in strategic planning, innovation, and reputation management, she was Minister at the Department for Work and Pensions and the Home Office, where she was responsible for domestic abuse.
Sarah takes over from Elizabeth Filkin CBE who founded EIDA in January 2018 and who has been instrumental in building the organisation. Elizabeth will remain closely involved as Chair of EIDA’s Advisory Board.
New CEO, Susan Bright
Susan Bright will join EIDA at the beginning of December. Susan has been a partner at global law firm and EIDA Beacon member, Hogan Lovells, for more than 20 years. She has held various senior management roles, including as Managing Partner for the firm’s UK and Africa region for eight years. Most recently, she has been the firm’s first Global Managing Partner for D&I and Responsible Business, where she is responsible for diversity & inclusion, wellbeing, pro bono legal work, community volunteering and sustainability.
Susan is a non-executive Director of the City Mental Health Alliance, a network of businesses working together to support and create positive mental health for their people and has been instrumental in supporting CMHA with the development of their global chapter, MindForward Alliance. She is also Chair of 50:50 Parliament, which helps women progress in politics.
Experience and Expertise
Both Sarah and Susan bring a wealth of leadership experience and expertise in tackling domestic abuse to their new roles at EIDA. Their appointments promise to have a big impact by strengthening and growing EIDA’s ability to support its 1,000-strong network of employers taking effective action on domestic abuse across the UK.
