The chief executive of disabilities charities Whizz Kidz has been appointed to the same role at Leonard Cheshire.

Owen, who was awarded an OBE in 2012 as recognition of her services to disabled people, joins as CEO of Leonard Cheshire on 1 February 2021 after 16 years leading Whizz Kidz.

“I feel privileged to have been appointed to this exceptional charity,” said Owen.

“I am passionate about enabling disabled people around the world to live, learn and work as independently as they choose and making a significant and tangible difference to their lives”.

Owen, who has been a wheelchair user since she was seven, has also advised the government and Mayor of London on diversity and inclusion issues.

In 2019 she became a member of the Mayor of London’s equity, diversity and inclusion advisory group and in the same year she was appointed by the Department for Work and Pension’s Office for Disability to be chair of the Greater London Regional Stakeholder Network.

During her time at Whizz Kidz the charity became the largest provider of powered and light-weight manual wheelchairs for children outside of the NHS.

She has also been a trustee of children’s charity Barnardos and ran her own IT company for a decade.

Leonard Cheshire chair of trustees Sally Davis added: “Ruth’s successes speak for themselves. Her passion, drive, business skills, charity and business experience will be a huge asset as we look to build on the achievements of recent years.

“While a huge amount has been achieved, we want to make an even bigger difference to the lives of disabled people around the world. Ruth will be integral to realising that vision and the whole Board looks forward to working with her.”

Owen replaces Neil Heslop who was appointed chief executive of the Charities Aid Foundation earlier this year.

Share Story: