Protect, has today (March 19) announced the appointment of Liz Gardiner as its new Chief Executive.
Liz, who joined Protect as Legal Officer in July 2018, has been Acting Chief Executive at the charity since December last year when Francesca West stood down.
Liz said, “I am delighted and honoured to be working for such a great charity with such talented and committed staff. I am looking forward to acting as an ambassador for Protect and building on our work, to change whistleblowing culture for good across workplaces. I am passionate about Protect’s work and the impact we can have in encouraging speaking up to stop harm.”
Before joining Protect, Liz, who is a qualified employment solicitor, worked at charity Working Families on their legal helpline, advising parents and carers about discrimination and flexible working issues. Liz also has strong public affairs and communication skills; she has worked in both Houses of Parliament and as Parliamentary Officer for Working Families and the Royal College of Nursing.
Protect Chair, Paul Boyle said, “Firstly on behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Francesca for all her hard work and we all wish her well. The Board is delighted to appoint Liz who stood out head and shoulders amongst many applicants. She has impressed the Board and staff with her positivity, enthusiasm and ambition for the charity. I’d like to congratulate Liz on behalf of the Board on her appointment and offer any support if needed over the next few months, which will undoubtedly be challenging for CE’s up and down the country. The work of Protect is as vital as ever, if not more so.”