Simon Blake

Last updated
Simon Blake
OBE
Born1974
Cornwall, England
NationalityBritish
EducationCardiff University (BA)
Occupation(s)Social entrepreneur, activist, CEO
Years active1995–present

Simon Blake OBE (born 1974) is a British social entrepreneur and activist. He currently serves as the CEO of the UK-based LGBTQ+ charity, Stonewall. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Blake was born in 1974 in Cornwall, England. He was the first person in his family to attend university, graduating from Cardiff University in 1995 with a BA Hons degree in psychology. [2] He has completed several postgraduate programs, including Social Research Methods and Executive Coaching.

Career

Blake began his career in voluntary services at the Cardiff AIDS Helpline and the Family Planning Association. [3] He has served in leadership roles in a number of Non-Profit organisations the National Children's Bureau, [4] Brook, a young people's sexual health charity, and the National Union of Students. [5] He is also a non-executive director of the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. [4]

Blake joined the social enterprise, Mental Health First Aid England as CEO in 2018 and left in September 2024 to work at Stonewell. [6] [7] [8] He has collaborated with Stonewall for over 20 years in which he stayed there as a trustee for 6 years, [9] working on issues such as the repeal of Section 28 and equalising the age of consent. [10] He served as Vice Chair of Stonewall from 2015 to 2021. [9]

In 2011, Blake was awarded an OBE for his services to the voluntary sector and young people. [11] He is a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute (CCMI), [12] an advisor to Headspace, [13] and an ambassador for the Dying Matters Campaign. [1]

Publications

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References

  1. 1 2 "Stonewall reveals next chief executive". www.thirdsector.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  2. ↑ "Simon Blake: The 41-year-old paid £100,000-a-year to run the NUS". The Tab. 2016-08-15. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  3. ↑ Dudman, Jane (2011-01-05). "Leading questions: Simon Blake, Brook". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  4. 1 2 "Simon Blake OBE". Stonewall. 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  5. ↑ "NUS appoints Simon Blake as chief executive". www.civilsociety.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  6. ↑ "Simon Blake OBE | HuffPost". www.huffingtonpost.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  7. ↑ "Laurence Fox loses High Court libel case over social media row". 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  8. ↑ "HSM MAGAZINE - MHFA England announces new interim chief executive". www.hsmsearch.com. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  9. 1 2 "Pride Month reflections from our departing vice chair, Simon Blake OBE". Stonewall. 2021-06-29. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  10. ↑ "The time for change is now: We're championing LGBTQ+ safety at the Labour Party Conference". Stonewall. 2024-09-20. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  11. ↑ Slawson, Nicola (2016-06-29). "NUS chief executive: if people want to scrutinise me, so be it". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  12. ↑ emma.molloy@thinkpublishing.co.uk (2022-11-22). "Men's mental health: Using empathetic leadership". CMI. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  13. ↑ Stroude, Will (2023-02-03). "LGBTQ+ leaders tackle workplace mental health at PinkNews Business Community event with Accenture". PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
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