Meet Hannah W.
Tell us a bit about yourself
Hi, I am Hannah. I was born in Henley but brought up in North Devon (Saunton Beach is very much my happy spot to escape to). I spent most of my career teaching in South London before moving to Oxfordshire to be a Headteacher. I left the system in 2019 to go independent and work for myself. I am now a Leadership Development Consultant, Coach and Trainer.
I am a connector and a collaborator, I enjoy building communities and I organise lots of virtual and in person events. I love writing - I blog and have contributed to a few books, including co-editing Diverse Educators: A Manifesto. I am currently writing a book on Cultivating Belonging in Schools.
I am a governor at a local primary school for BWMAT and I mentor a young carer for Young Carers Development Trust (YCDT).
What inspired you to join Bath Women's Fund?
I relocated to Bath in July 2023 and I have been actively networking to connect with women leaders in the region. In October 2023 I launched the BANES WLN - we organise dinners, coffee mornings and an annual conference for women leaders in our growing network.
BWF popped up in my searches and the work that the Giving Circle and the community does locally really resonates with me as we are values-aligned in supporting and empowering women and girls.
What are the issues that you are most passionate about?
I am passionate about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, especially in education (I spent two decades teaching and leading in schools in London and the South East of the country).
I have been involved in gender equality work throughout my career. I volunteer in the UK to coach, mentor and train existing and aspiring women leaders. I have volunteered overseas in my school holidays to support women and girls overseas with global charities like Action Aid.
What would you be most interested in learning about as a Bath Women's Fund member?
I am still getting to know the local area, the local community and working out my place in the local ecosystem. I would love to know if there are any plans for connecting and collaborating with the local school system to support girls in finding/ using their voice and taking action on social justice themes impacting them and their peers. (I also volunteer for Speakers for Schools to deliver talks to school students to motivate them and raise aspirations).
What is your favourite place/thing to do in and around Bath?
I am still a bit of a tourist in Bath, I love walking around and taking in the beautiful architecture. As a former English teacher, Toppings is one of my favourite shops. The Westonbirt Arboretum is a great spot to escape to when the tourists take over.