Together, She Rises 

FOUNDING DIRECTOR - THE ESTHER PROJECT

Lianne Kirkman's career spans over 30 years, focusing on empowering women and addressing social issues. Starting as a nurse, she volunteered to help women facing abuse, homelessness, addiction, and criminal justice involvement.

For a decade, she founded and led the Helping Hands Community Project in Leamington Spa, tackling homelessness and identifying a critical need for gender-specific services.

Her latest initiative, The Esther Project, is a trauma-informed space exclusively for women, providing tailored assistance to help them rebuild their lives. Additionally, she is working to create a women-only center and alternative custody site in Warwickshire, aimed at providing holistic support.

FOUNDER & CEO - CHERISHED

Cherished, a charity that Hannah started in 2011 from her own lived experience, dedicated to helping children feel safe, seen, soothed, and secure. Connection is at the heart of everything she does, Hannah believes in dealing with the root of behaviour, not just the fruit. 

Hannah is a huge advocate for curiosity around behaviour, recognising that every action is a communication of an unmet need. 

DISTRICT JUDGE - (MAGISTRATES’ COURT) BIRMINGHAM

Dealing with both adult and youth criminal cases.  Michelle is also an Appropriate Judge who deals with Extradition applications and sits in the First Tier Tribunal (HESC Mental Health).  She is a Judicial College tutor and a Judicial Mentor.  She is also a Diversity and Community Relations Judge.  Michelle is the lead judge in the ISC pilot for women offenders in Birmingham. 

CEO - WILLOWDENE FARM

With over two decades of dedicated service, my mission at Willowdene Rehabilitation has been to provide life-changing opportunities, irrespective of birth circumstances.

My core competencies include strategic leadership and the ability to navigate complex challenges within the rehabilitation sector.

Our team at Willowdene is committed to fostering an environment that supports growth and transformation, aligning with the organisation's culture of care and excellence.

Combined with my passion to support lasting transformation and leveraging my background in engineering and business administration, I have driven the development of Willowdene to become a premier provider of rehabilitation and training services across Justice and Public Health.

In my tenure as CEO, we have championed innovative approaches to rehabilitation, including a Whole Systems Approach to Women's Services across West Mercia and pioneering the first Residential Alternative to Custody for Women in the UK. More recently, we have been developing programmes and interventions to address and resolve the inter-generational issues associated with offending and health.

By focusing on alternatives to traditional recovery methods, we have empowered countless individuals on their journey to a healthier, more stable life. This work reflects my dedication to making a tangible impact in the community and shaping a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

CEO - The JABBS Foundation and appointed to the Ministry of Justice Women’s Justice Board

Starting as a commercial lawyer, he later became a charity & social enterprise specialist.

Previously, as the West Midlands’ Assistant Police & Crime Commissioner, he initiated and supported innovative projects including one of the UK’s first women’s problem-solving courts, technology ethics in law enforcement and new models of early intervention for families in crisis.

As well as having a Social Policy & Criminology PhD from the University of Birmingham, he has policy fellowships at the University of Cambridge and York University.

He is also a trustee of the Criminal Justice Alliance, and proud dad of two daughters.

CEO - KAIROS WWT

Kellie is the Chief Executive Officer of Kairos Women Working Together, a Coventry based specialist women's organisation supporting and advocating for women who face multiple intersecting forms of disadvantage and are subject to or at risk of sexual exploitation, including women involved in prostitution. She is also a trustee of EVAW (End Violence Against Women), a group of feminist organisations and experts from across the UK, working to end violence against women and girls in all its forms.

Kellie has lived experience as a survivor of men's violence against women and girls, including sexual exploitation, both inside and outside of the sex industry. She found solace in specialist women's services and safety and sisterhoood in women-only spaces, which were key to her life-long journey of survival, growth, and healing.

Kellie is passionate about the needs and rights of women and girls and the importance of the women's sector. As a member of SoundDelivery Media's Spokesperson Network, she utilises her lived and learned expertise to advocate for systems change so that all women may live free from violence, abuse, and sexual exploitation.