Dr Leona Trimble

Leona is the school equality, diversity and inclusion lead. Over many years, she has contributed significantly to Athena Swan work at the School and institutional level. Leona is passionate about influencing and advocating organisational cultural change as it relates to gender equality, diversity and inclusion. As part of various Athena Swan self-assessment teams, Leona has contributed to project management, collaborative working, and strategic action planning in order to meet pressurised deadlines for two successful Athena SWAN Bronze Awards. Leona is particularly concerned about women’s career progression and development, especially into senior leadership roles. Leona’s research background and knowledge of the subject areas across Community Leadership, Gender Equality and Sport supports her current role as Principal Lecturer and Academic Team Leader for Community and Social Care.

Leona has a strong management pedigree through her academic qualifications. This is coupled with over 20 years of managerial experience in the private, public and higher education sectors. Her philosophy is based upon nurturing successful working relationships, empowering, supporting and championing people to deliver learning and teaching developments and make impactful changes towards inclusive organisational culture, curriculum and working practices.

Leona’s previous roles here have included interim Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Academic Lead for Sports Coaching, Sport Business Management and Physical Education. As Interim Head of EDI, Leona led the development of solutions to complex issues through appropriate EDI workstreams at institutional, school and service levels. She line managed the EDI officers and co-ordinated their activities including staff development, EDI events and Chartermarks to achieve institutional EDI goals. Leona focused on generating forward momentum to ensure that actions to tackle inequalities became embedded in institutional operations.

As academic lead, Leona focused on advancing learning, teaching and assessment, quality processes, student experiences, business developments and partnership working. She operationalised policies and practices, coordinated team budgets, led curriculum development and appraised designated staff agreeing team objectives and workload allocations.

Prior to entering higher education, Leona worked as a community sports development officer focusing on increasing participation in community sport and physical activity across Cheshire. She was involved in bidding, winning and implementing the Active Sports Programme. Within this role, Leona managed the county’s largest multi-sport event (Cheshire Youth Games) by coordinating 1300 young people, 600 volunteers and 3000 spectators with emphasis on participation and inclusion for all.

In the private health and fitness sector, Leona was assistant manager of Cannons Health Club in Liverpool. Within this flagship club, Leona recruited and trained staff and was responsible for operational management, activity programming, sales and customer service. Her specific responsibilities included line management of the reception team and strategic decision-making on events and marketing activities.