Dame Julia is a passionate and practical campaigner who has gained an international reputation for “connecting the unconnected,” inspiring individuals and organisations to work together for the common good.  

Dame Julia became the Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund in November 2024. She has previously chaired Teach First, the National Literacy Trust, and Place Matters—all charities working to tackle inequality in communities experiencing the greatest poverty, disadvantage, and discrimination. She chairs the National Statistician’s Committee on Inclusive Data and sits on the EMCCA Inclusive Growth Commission. She is Co-founder of the #iwill movement, supporting young people into social action through volunteering, campaigning, and advocacy. She has served as Board Trustee for the Fair Education Alliance, The Careers and Enterprise Company, the Youth Futures Foundation, and Teach For All, and as Patron of Right to Succeed. She began her career with The Industrial Society and served as Chief Executive of Business in the Community for 17 years before working for the then Prince of Wales as his Special Adviser to the Prince’s Charities.