Celebrating Women in Leadership

​Hannah’s Reflections for International Women’s Day

As Operations Director at Access Training, I’m proud to help shape a supportive, values driven culture where learners and colleagues can thrive. Access Training (co owned by NCHA and Futures Housing Group) supports over 1,000 learners each year, and we’re committed to helping people and businesses build skills, confidence and long term career pathways.

This International Women’s Day, I’ve been reflecting on what leadership means to me - and the women who helped shape that journey.

Leadership, for me, begins with clarity, fairness and putting people first. I want to create an environment where people feel supported, confident and able to challenge ideas without fear. Empowerment comes from trust, autonomy and being truly seen. Transparency and psychological safety sit at the heart of how I work; when people feel safe to speak openly and collaborate honestly, teams become stronger and more resilient.

International Women’s Day is a moment to celebrate progress, but also to acknowledge the work still ahead. It reminds me to champion women’s voices and push for equity in every space I move through. My biggest inspiration has always been my mum, who started her career in nursing and went on to hold leadership roles in global operations. Watching her lead with resilience and compassion shaped the leader I strive to be.

Representation matters. Seeing women in operational and senior roles broadens what others believe is possible and helps create workplaces where everyone feels they belong.

At Access Training, I’m surrounded by passionate colleagues who genuinely care about transforming learners’ lives. I’m proud to be part of an organisation that recognises women for their talent, trusts them with responsibility and encourages them to lead confidently. That kind of culture is built through intention - and lived every day.

International Women’s Day celebrates women leading with clarity, compassion and courage. I’m committed to helping build workplaces where women can thrive, grow and inspire others.