In May 2021, Frances Longley became CEO of ActionAid UK. The charity is focused on improving the lives of those living in poverty – particularly women and children. Overall, ActionAid works with over 15 million people living in 40 of the world’s poorest countries. Longley has accumulated over 25 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector – largely in strategy and communications with an emphasis on increasing access to healthcare in marginalised populations. Most recently, she was executive director for programmes & policy at CARE International UK, where her department portfolio included global leadership on women’s economic justice and inclusive governance. She has been CEO of Amref Health Africa UK, and director of communications and brand at Unicef UK. Longley spent time living and working in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and Afghanistan, working for the countries’ respective health ministries. Since March 2018, Longley has co-chaired the UK NGO sector’s work on leadership and culture for safeguarding, co-authoring Bond’s new culture tool for leaders. She is also a trustee of the Joffe Charitable Trust and a member of the BBC’s Appeals Advisory Committee.
