Sarah Whittaker

Strategic, values‑driven senior leader with over fifteen years’ experience shaping governance, assurance, safeguarding and quality frameworks across large, complex national organisations. A trusted advisor to Chief Executives, Boards and Executive Committees, with a proven ability to distil complex information, drive organisational performance, and lead high‑performing teams through significant change. Recognised for delivering large‑scale transformation, strengthening risk and assurance systems, and embedding cultures of integrity, transparency and continuous improvement. Passionate about public service, safeguarding, and ensuring people receive safe, fair and dignified support.

• Designed and implemented a new, national Assurance Directorate within CGL, strengthening organisational governance, risk and assurance arrangements.
• Key member of Domestic Charity Programme Board led by Department of Culture, Media and Sport; provided strategic oversight and expert Adults Safeguarding input into the development and implementation of national safeguarding resources for the Third Sector.
• Received excellent results from an external, independent review of Alzheimer’s Society’s approach to safeguarding in 2019.
• Successful track record of implementing and embedding robust safeguarding, quality and continual improvement frameworks; achieved and retained ISO9001 quality management certification for two large, national complex organisations.
• Established a brand new, volunteer led “Companion Call” service to provide regular companionship and support to people impacted by dementia, including carers, during the Covid-19 crisis.
• Played a key, lead role in a transformation project within DBS; introducing new IT system, organisational structure and ways of working (including going paperless) across the organisation. Specific lead for training, guidance and quality and jointly accountable for culture change.