Jacqui has been Chair of the AYM since 2022, prior to that she was the Vice-Chair from 2020, and this followed her previous role as the NW Regional Representative.

A qualified social worker she has worked in both mental health and child protection services, until her move to youth justice in 1999 when Youth Offending Teams (YOT’s) were first established under the Crime & Disorder Act 1998, and this also included her research for an MA in Social Work focusing on the establishment of YOT’s.

She initially worked for Manchester City Council in the Youth Justice Service, and latterly in Stockport where she has been Head of Youth Justice & Targeted Youth Support Services since 2005. Her current role in Stockport involves a brief around Adolescent Services, and currently includes oversight for Youth Justice, Complex Safeguarding, Serious Violence Reduction, Anti-Social Behaviour, Targeted Youth Support and Detached Youth Work.

Jacqui has also been the Chair of the Greater Manchester Youth Justice Strategic Leaders Group; a strong partnership that represents the 10 GM authorities and involves close collaboration within the GM devolved administration (GMCA). She holds portfolios on behalf of the YJ GM conurbation, and these workstreams include ‘Child-Centred Policing’, with a specific remit with GMP for children in police custody (a role she had led on for many years).

In addition to being the AYM Chair, Jacqui also holds national portfolios on behalf of the association; these include sector-led improvement, custodial remands, and children in police custody.

Jacqui is a trained peer reviewer and has been involved in the Youth Justice Sector Improvement Partnership (YJSIP) since its early days and acted as a Peer Review Leader on several youth justice partnership peer reviews across England & Wales. Jacqui is also a trained coach and has mentored new Heads of YJ Services as they acclimatise to their roles.

Her passion for improving the rights and hearing the voice and lived experience of children involved in the criminal justice system, has guided her career. She has many specialist areas including a specific focus on children in police detention, and this led to engagement with ‘Just for Kids Law’. Jacqui sits on the national ‘Youth Justice Legal Centre’ Advisory Board (a former subsidiary of Just for Kids Law) and advises them from both a strategic and operational sector perspective. She was also involved in the recent APPG for children in police custody.

Jacqui has a strong commitment to improving the lives of children both within, and at risk of entering, the criminal justice system, and in furthering the recognition of the youth justice sector in achieving such improvements.

Jacqui was honoured to have been awarded an MBE in the Kings Birthday Honours list 2024, for her ‘Services to Youth Justice’.