Local government executives to lead human rights charity on job share basis

Human Rights charity Birthrights has become the latest charity to recruit senior staffers on a job share basis as part of a drive towards flexible working across the sector.

The charity has recruited local government policy executives Shanthi Gunesekera and Janaki Mahadevan as joint chief executives. They replace Amy Gibbs, who stepped down in July.

They start in January next year and have already shared roles since 2019 delivering Greater London Authority (GLA) policy and programmes under the Mayor of London’s Social Integration Strategy. This included tackling inequality in the labour market, as well as increasing active citizenship.

Birthrights chair Elizabeth Prochaska said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Shanthi and Janaki as the next Birthrights’ CEOs.

“They bring fantastic leadership experience from the GLA and passion for our cause. We are also excited to model job sharing at a senior level in the charity sector, reflecting Birthrights’ strong commitment to inclusion.”

Mahadevan is a former head of policy and public affairs at the London Borough of Newham and was a journalist at publications including Children & Young People Now.

Meanwhile, Gunesekera led on migration policy at the GLA and has worked at the London Borough of Enfield on issues including equalities.

ANNOUNCEMENT🌟

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Shanthi Gunesekera and Janaki Mahadevan as joint Chief Executives, who will lead our mission to protect human rights during pregnancy and childbirth in a job share from January 2023. pic.twitter.com/USLvO2b4oc
— Birthrights (@birthrightsorg) November 8, 2022

“We are honoured to be joining Birthrights at such a critical time for maternity care in the UK, said Gunesekera and Mahadevan.

“As Birthrights prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary, we will continue to focu on the protection of human rights through pregnancy and birth, challenge the structures and practices that perpetuate racial injustices in maternity care, and champion investment in the NHS workforce.”

Job sharing in senior roles is increasingly being adopted in the charity sector along side other flexible working commitments such as four-day weeks and home working.

This autumn Leukaemia UK recruited Lizzie Afonso and Anna Wilson on a job share basis to fill its newly created director of communications post. They had previously job shared in senior marketing and communications roles at Shelter.