Deborah Barnett BSc, MSc, FInstESE

Head of Equality Equity Diversity Inclusion & Belonging @ London Borough of Hackney

About

A dynamic and results-driven senior leader with over 20 years of transformative leadership in Children's Services and Education. Deborah Barnett specialises in turning complex organisational challenges into sector-leading performance, driven by an unwavering commitment to social justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDI), and trauma-informed systemic practice.Key leadership Impact & Expertise:Systemic Transformation & Performance: Deborah has successfully led multiple underperforming provisions to achieve the coveted Ofsted 'Good' rating. Her strategic vision resulted in a remarkable 99% success rate for the reintegration of marginalized cohorts into mainstream education, demonstrating exceptional skill in crisis resolution and sustainable service improvement.Strategic Funding & Investment: Deborah has secured substantial, multi-year funding to conceive and implement high-impact, evidence-led initiatives. This work has consistently yielded tangible, measurable outcomes and driven significant upward shifts in life chances for vulnerable children and young people at a population level.Strategic Commissioning & Financial Governance: Deborah possesses deep expertise in statutory finance and strategic commissioning, utilising robust financial governance to architect and deliver transformative programs that enhance educational equity and resource efficiency across large-scale organisations.Governance & Policy Leadership: A committed EDI and policy advocate, she shapes the strategic direction of organisations through her roles on various executive boards, influencing policy, promoting inclusive environments, and embedding best practice across all levels of governance.Executive Collaboration & Influence: A master collaborator who builds and leverages high-level strategic partnerships across government, third-sector, and executive bodies. She provides critical strategic counsel and influence to executive leadership teams and elected officials, translating policy into scaled, lasting, positive impact.Deborah’s approach is defined by a passion for innovative, evidence-led solutions and a visionary commitment to equity-focused leadership, creating meaningful, systemic change at the highest level.

Country

United Kingdom

City

London

Industry

Civic & Social Organization

Skill

Recruiting, Decision-Making, Cultural Transformation, Microsoft Outlook, Digital Transformation, HR Consulting, Board of Directors, Management Development, Organizational Learning, Board Governance, Time Management, Organizational Design, Nonprofit Leadership, Quantitative Research, Training Delivery, Board Development, HR Policy Formulation, HR Policies, Performance Management, Social Media Communications

Experience

Head of Equality Equity Diversity Inclusion & Belonging

London Borough of Hackney

2024-9 - Present · 2 yrs 1 mo

London Area, United Kingdom

Head of Service - Children & Education Directorate

London Borough of Hackney

2021-6 - 2024-9 · 3 yrs 4 mos

Anti Racist Strategic Lead

London Borough of Hackney

2022-5 - 2023-4 · 1 yr

London, England, United Kingdom

Board Member

Buckinghamshire New University

2025-10 - Present · 1 yr

Board Member

Hacney thinking spaces

2024-5 - 2025-10 · 1 yr 6 mos

London Area, United Kingdom

Hackney Thinking Spaces (HTS) is a new joint community based project with Hackney Council and I Found Me Therapeutic Counselling. Hackney Thinking Spaces will create community spaces to openly discuss and process the impact of systemic racism on residents’ emotional well-being and mental health. This project is a direct response to recent events of systemic racism which have profoundly impacted upon Black and Global Majority children, young people and families in Hackney. The Thinking Spaces will address how the historical legacies of discrimination, coupled with contemporary manifestations of systemic racism, have created an urgent call for action. e primary purpose of the Community Advisory Board is to facilitate active community involvement in the decision-making processes, ensuring that the ‘Hackney Thinking Spaces’ initiative is reflective of the needs, concerns, and aspirations of the local residents. The Community Advisory will review learning and insights emerging from the Thinking Spaces Groups and will focus on creating and moving forward a set of tangible System Change actions relating to issues being tackled.