Suzanne Jacob OBE welcomed as new SafeLives Chief Executive

Today, national domestic abuse charity, SafeLives, announces that Suzanne Jacob OBE has been appointed as the new Chief Executive.

Suzanne has worked with the charity for three years and has been Deputy CEO for the last two years. Suzanne leads the development of national programmes, the research and evidence team, oversees the training offer and leads the charity’s national policy work.

She takes over from the founder and current CEO, Diana Barran, who steps down after fourteen years. As the founder, Diana built the charity up from a handful of dedicated women to a national organisation, motivated by a determination to transform the response to domestic abuse.

Suzanne has been instrumental in directing and shaping SafeLives over the last three years, working alongside Diana and the Director of Practice, Jo Silver.  They have developed SafeLives into a seventy-strong team of passionate experts working tirelessly to end domestic abuse, for good. The commitment to innovation is clear: illustrated by the development of pioneering pilots such as Drive (in partnership with Respect and Social Finance) which challenges high harm perpetrators, and One Front Door, which provides a whole family approach to domestic abuse.

Suzanne will be taking over as Chief Executive from the 15th December.

SafeLives’ Chair, Isabel Boyer said:

“I am delighted that Suzanne has been selected from a strong external field of candidates to lead SafeLives. She has all the qualities and experience to become the CEO, as well as a determination to improve the lives of survivors. She is exactly the right person to take the baton and continue the tradition of remarkable leadership that has been the hallmark of SafeLives under Diana's stewardship. I am hugely excited to work alongside her and build on the successes of Diana and the charity.”

Suzanne Jacob OBE said:

“I'm incredibly proud to be selected as the next Chief Executive of SafeLives. Fourteen years ago, Diana had the vision and determination to create SafeLives, and under her leadership the charity has achieved a huge amount. Today, the organisation is full of talented, brilliant people who will help me take the charity forward. That includes our Pioneers - all experts by experience - who will make sure that we never for a second lose sight of our goal to end domestic abuse."

Diana Barran said:

“I am so pleased for Suzanne. I have worked very closely with her for the last three years, and I know she has the expertise, skill and passion of an exceptional leader. It has been a great honour to lead SafeLives, and I greatly look forward to seeing the charity go from strength to strength.”

For more information or interviews with Suzanne - please contact Penny East, Head of Communications at penny.east@safelives.org.uk or on 07818 593 562.

About SafeLives

We are a national charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, for good. We combine insight from services, survivors and statistics to support people to become safe, well and rebuild their lives. Since 2005, SafeLives has worked with organisations across the country to transform the response to domestic abuse, with over 60,000 victims at highest risk of murder or serious harm now receiving co-ordinated support annually. 

No one should live in fear. It is not acceptable, not inevitable, and together – we can make it stop.  

Every year, two million people experience domestic abuse. For every person being abused, there is someone else responsible for that abuse: the perpetrator. And all too often, children are in the home and living with the impact. 

Domestic abuse affects us all; it thrives on being hidden behind closed doors. We must make it everybody’s business.