I am the Founder and CEO of Why Care, a fostering social enterprise focused on improving the assessment, preparation and support of foster carers. My vision for Why Care is driven by a commitment to make the fostering environment more effective, empathetic and inclusive.

I have experience as a qualified social worker and civil servant, from child protection to national policy leadership, and my understanding of the foster care system has deepened through roles involving the assessment and approval of foster carers. Witnessing adverse effects on children, such as frequent relocations and poor matching, motivated me to work on the independent review of children's social care, developing crucial recommendations for widespread improvement in the sector.

My Fellowship will examine the selection and support of foster carers internationally, identifying best practices that can be integrated into the British system to address the national crisis in foster care. By learning from international models, I aim to create a sustainable, supportive environment for foster carers, leading to better outcomes for children in care.