Joanna Jeffery

I am a very experienced associate, consultant and trainer working primarily in the public and third sectors. I began my career working on Urban Development and Policy in Central Government and then spent 10 years in Local Government in Brixton working on community development and engagement and inner city renewal.

Since 1990 I have been freelance and worked with a focus on equality, diversity and inclusion with a wide range of clients from Government Bodies, national bodies such as National Association of CABx, local authorities and social housing providers to small local voluntary groups. This has included devising and delivering training, writing policies and procedures, providing guidance on meeting the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 including how to carry out Equality Impact Assessments, and producing several books and briefings.

In 1998 I joined the Surrey Police Authority as an Independent Member and chaired the Personnel and Professional Standards Committees as well as being the Diversity Champion. During my 8 years on the Police Authority I became a Senior Associate for the College of Policing – a role I held until 2019. This included testing material and delivering development Centres as well as Assessment Centres for all ranks of the Service.

I am an Associate of several consultancy firms including Housing Quality Network and Pertemps as well as P2P. In the last two years, working with P2P, I have been an Associate on a large number of Workshops for potential police recruits as well as working with Fast Track candidates from Lincolnshire, Police Scotland and other forces. In addition I have developed material and assessed on development sessions for candidates for the College’s Senior Police Assessment Centre. Working as an Associate for another company, I have run development centres for Met Fast Track candidates as part of their Positive Action work.

My work is underpinned by a strong commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and an awareness that the vast majority of people want to deliver the best service which they can and will be happy to engage with activities which will develop their expertise and skills, if these activities are clearly relevant to them and presented in accessible way.

Outside of work, I have been a Board Member of Surrey Community Action which is the umbrella group for the voluntary sector in Surrey and a Board Member of East Surrey Domestic Abuse Service.