Senior Leadership Team
Our Senior Leadership Team brings a wealth of skills, knowledge, and experience in careers support for young people, adults, the education sector, the charity sector, the criminal justice sector and the training of professionals in the advice and guidance sector.
Sheila Clark, CEO
Sheila has been an intrinsic part of Career Connect’s strategic leadership team since its inception. A successful company Director with significant experience in developing and leading services with Local Authorities, schools and businesses she also heads up HR, workforce development, quality improvement, commercial services and international business development.
Appointed as Career Connect CEO in January 2023, Sheila is committed to developing career management services for young people and adults at an international, national and regional level and brings extensive experience in creating, developing and sustaining strategic partnerships and good relationships at all levels.
Senior Leadership
Karen Parry, Chief Operating Officer
Karen is responsible for operations across the whole charity including all geographic locations in which we operate. She is on the Management Information Team and is a representative on the Career Connect Performance and Operations, Safeguarding, Health and Safety and Workforce and Quality Development Committees.
Since joining the organisation as a clerical apprentice in 1989, Karen has enjoyed several operational delivery and management roles, including an eighteen-month secondment opportunity with Raleigh International.
Married with one son (Ethan), Karen is a qualified careers adviser and has associate qualifications in youth and community work and basic counselling. In 2017 Karen achieved a CMI level 7 Diploma in Strategic Leadership and Management.
Simon Bean, Director of Business Development & Fundraising
Leading Business Development across the charity, Simon has worked in regeneration for the past 25 years on both capital and revenue projects. He is passionate about creating opportunities for everyone to fulfil their potential, particularly those who face the greatest obstacles.
Simon is experienced in developing partnerships, leading bid teams and securing new funding streams for the charity. He was instrumental in securing two of the largest social impact bonds yet commissioned. He is a non-executive director of Achieve North West Connect and has held non-executive positions across a range of charities.
Chris Bennett, Director of Justice Services
Chris Bennett is Director of Justice Services, focusing on offender employment, training and education services. Prior to this Chris had a career in the Probation Service, working as a Probation Officer and Senior Probation Officer. Chris is committed to offender rehabilitation.
Chris became Operational Manager for these services across Cheshire Probation, before moving to Merseyside Probation to become the Senior Manager leading the Achieve NW initiative. This was an ESF programme, “Services to Increase the Employability of Offenders”. Chris believes that as part of Career Connect, Achieve NW Connect can continue to offer services which have a positive impact on individuals and support them on their journey towards employment.
Dan Birtles, Director of IT & Digital
Our Director of I.T. & Digital, Dan Birtles joined us from Co-operatives UK and has vast experience in Digital & IT transformation, strategic planning and delivery of technology solutions.
Dan has worked in the management and operations of Digital and IT across a range of sectors, with key roles at Liverpool Hope University, RNID, BT, ACC Liverpool and Health Shield.
Gemma Grady, Commercial Director
Gemma joined Career Connect in 2023, having previously worked in the Consultancy arm of the National Trust for over 12 years. She has more than 25 years’ experience working for large companies in the private and third sectors, advising on visitor infrastructure projects and implementing strategies for successful growth delivery.
Gill Holywell, Director of Finance
Gill has over 30 years finance experience mainly in the third sector. She joined Career Connect in 2002 and is responsible for Finance, Compliance, Premises, Facilities and ICT as well as being our Company Secretary. In addition to managing Career Connect finances, Gill and her team also provide financial services to Adviza, a similar charity to Career Connect, based in Thames Valley.
In providing Financial Services, Gill and her team were the proud winners of both a Charity Times Award and also a Third Sector Award for Financial Management and Leadership.
Danielle Kneale, Director of People & Culture
Leading Human Resources, Professional Training Services and Quality Management, Danielle has a background in working with young people, before joining Career Connect in 2002. CIPD qualified to lead the HR team, Danielle also champions many of the charity’s digital developments to improve working practices for people, as well as enhancing quality of services to clients.
Danielle combines her knowledge and understanding of operational delivery, with strategic HR expertise to ensure the charity employs and retains the best people, to achieve the best possible outcomes for clients.
Diane Sproson, Director of Operations
Diane Sproson leads the commissioned services for young people in Salford and Manchester and the charity’s Education and Business services across the north west, providing a range of services to over 120 schools. Diane has worked in the information, advice and guidance field for over 35 years and for Career Connect since 2001. Diane has a Diploma in Careers Guidance and started her career in Salford as a Careers Adviser, she has also worked in Tameside, Cheshire and Merseyside.
