NCB is delighted to announce the appointment of its new Chair of the Board of Trustees, following a competitive recruitment process that attracted a strong field of applicants.
Sarah Mullen is a senior leader with over 35 years of experience in the public and charity sector. Sarah has an excellent understanding of the structures, relationships and cultures of central government and local government.
She also has expertise in charity governance and strategy, having previously chaired Bliss, the national charity for premature and sick babies, and Respect, a national domestic abuse charity.
She has been an NCB trustee since 2022 and became Vice-Chair in 2023. Sarah replaces Alison O’Sullivan, who is stepping down as Chair of the NCB Board of Trustees at the end of her second term in December. Sarah will take up her new role at the start of January 2026.
First appointed as NCB’s Chair in 2018, Alison is a former President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services and co-chair of the government’s expert panel on the mental health needs of children in care.
I am delighted that Sarah will be stepping up to chair our Board of Trustees, using her wealth of experience to help NCB deliver its ambitious strategy, Building Brighter Futures.
I know she will challenge us to go further and do better as we support the many children, young people and families facing deepening financial pressures and unacceptably high levels of household poverty.
Sarah brings a deep understanding of the complexities of health and social care systems, gained through three decades in senior roles across local and central government. She also offers considerable strategic expertise in advancing equality, diversity and inclusion.
I want to extend my sincere thanks to Alison for her outstanding contribution over the past seven years as Chair. Her insight into the issues facing the charity sector and vulnerable children, combined with her ability to guide and inspire, has strengthened NCB’s position as a trusted voice of influence and authority. Under her stewardship, we have made significant progress in creating the better childhoods that set young people up for life.
Anna Feuchtwang
Chief Executive, NCB
With so many interconnected challenges facing UK households today, NCB’s role in combining lived and learned experience and bringing people and organisations together to amplify the voices of children and young people has never been more critical. I’m excited to play my part in driving this mission forward and helping to build brighter futures for families across the country.
Sarah Mullen
New Chair of Trustees, NCB
I have treasured my time as NCB's Chair of Trustees and will miss working with this dedicated and exceptionally talented team of people. I am delighted, however, to be passing the Chair’s baton on to Sarah, who I have enjoyed working alongside. I have no doubt she will be an excellent Chair and support the NCB family with skill and vision through the next stage of its journey.
Alison O'Sullivan
Outgoing Chair of Trustees, NCB