Harpinder Collacott has been appointed as the next chief executive of the domestic abuse charity SafeLives.
Collacott will join the charity in mid-November and take over from interim Tracey Bleakley, who has led SafeLives since April.
Bleakley succeeded Ellen Miller, who stepped down for personal reasons in March following the death of her husband last year.
Collacott was recently appointed as interim chief delivery officer at the Bristol-based marine conservation charity Blue Ventures.
She has also been director of 4Thought Social Ventures since last February, a company that supports organisations through periods of transformation, growth and strategic change.
Collacott was the executive director for Europe for the global non-governmental organisation Mercy Corps between 2022 and 2024.
She worked for the not-for-profit poverty relief company Development Initiatives for 10 years, initially as its director of engagement and impact before becoming its chief executive in 2015 until leaving in 2022.
Collacott currently chairs SOS Children’s Villages UK and has previously been vice-chair of Bond and a trustee of WaterAid UK.
“SafeLives has a powerful track record of influencing systems, improving practice and centring the voices of people with lived experience,” Collacott said.
“Throughout my career, I have worked alongside organisations and communities seeking to challenge inequality, shift systems and create lasting social change.
“Domestic abuse remains one of the most pervasive and damaging injustices in our society, and I am deeply committed to ensuring that everyone affected can access the support, safety and opportunities they need to rebuild their lives.”
Dame Maria Miller, chair of SafeLives, said Collacott stood out for her “passion for our mission, her strategic rigour and her track record of leading successful organisations through change and growth”.
Outgoing interim chief Bleakley said Collacott’s “commitment to equity and social justice, combined with her experience of leading change in complex environments, makes her an excellent fit for SafeLives.”
She said: “Over the coming months, my focus will be on maintaining momentum and supporting a smooth handover, and I look forward to working with Harpinder as she begins her leadership of the organisation.”