Barbara Hearn OBE
Deputy Chief Executive

Barbara heads up NCB’s policy, research and information department with additional responsibility for Northern Ireland, communications and the involvement of children and young people.

Barbara’s work area also includes NCB's young people's membership programme, Young NCB and NCB's involvement in Participation Works. She chairs the National Participation Forum and the National Education & Employer Partnership Taskforce.

Barbara has acted as business advisor to a number of small companies. She worked in local authorities for 14 years and for the National Institute for Social Work before settling in NCB. She has been a non-executive director of both a Health Trust and a Health Authority, as well as a school governor.

Barbara is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and worked for the Government's Children and Young People's Unit on policy development and subsequently for the DfES's Children, Young People and Families Directorate as advisor on Youth Matters. She has authored publications on family support, child protection, reducing inequalities, management and community based practice.

Barbara was made an OBE in the Queen's Birthday honours and has a background in social work practice, organisation development and business management.

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