About Diana Sutton

Diana has worked for over 30 years in UK and international charities in different leadership, senior management, policy, public affairs and campaigning roles. She takes over from Stephen Unwin whose achievements include helping to steer Kids through the challenges of the Covid pandemic, ensuring the charity kept its doors open to deliver vital services. Stephen was instrumental in shaping the new Kids strategy which places the voices and views of young disabled people at the forefront of the organisation’s work.

Diana Sutton, new Chair of Kids, said:

“It is an honour and a privilege to become Chair of Kids at this key moment. Stephen is a big act to follow and I would like to thank him for his extraordinary achievements and leadership. As a current Trustee, I know how essential and impactful Kids’ work is, and I look forward to continuing to work with Katie Ghose, CEO and the Kids team. I am excited to lead the Board to implement the organisation’s ambitious new strategy, with its vision to reach and empower even more disabled children, young people and their families.”

Katie Ghose, CEO of Kids, said:

“We are thrilled that Diana is our new Chair. We welcome the breadth and depth of her experience in leadership and management, and her track-record in policy and advocacy will support us to empower disabled children and young people, to amplify their voices and to champion their rights.”

Stephen Unwin, outgoing Chair of Kids, said:

“I am delighted with Diana’s appointment. She has already brought immense skill, experience and passion to the Kids Board. Diana has all the right qualities needed for Kids’ next chapter, and she will really help to drive Kids forward in delivering its ambitious strategy.”

Find out more

Diana is the Director of The Bell Foundation which works to overcome exclusion through language education. She was previously Head of Policy and Public Affairs for the NSPCC, and Head of Save the Children’s office in Brussels. Diana was also a Trustee of the Children’s Rights Alliance for England from 2006-2013. Earlier in her career Diana worked as researcher to the European Parliament’s Disability Group of MEPs and prior to that as researcher to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Disability. She also has personal experience of disability as a sibling.

Earlier this year, Kids launched a new strategy which will enable us to reach 120,000 disabled young people and their families, every year, by 2027.