Julia Unwin
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Julia Unwin | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 July 1956 |
| Alma mater | Liverpool University; London School of Economics |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Father | Peter Unwin |
Dame Julia Unwin DBE FAcSS (born 6 July 1956) is a British businessperson who was chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF)[1] and the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT).[2] The Guardian in 2007 described her as a "major player in the voluntary sector".[3] In 2012, she was appointed by the Scottish Government as a member of the Expert Working Group on Welfare and Constitutional Reform.[4] In January 2026 she became the chair of the Charity Commission for England and Wales.[5]
Unwin is the daughter of Peter William Unwin, a retired diplomat.[6] She studied history at Liverpool University and graduated Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1978.[3] She then went on to undertake postgraduate studies in Social Policy and Planning at the London School of Economics, graduating Master of Science (MSc) in 1991.[3][6]
Career
- 1978–1980: Field worker, Liverpool Council for Voluntary Service
- 1980-1982: Community Liaison officer, London Borough of Southwark social services
- 1982–1986: Head of Voluntary sector liaison team, Greater London Council
- 1986–1992: Director, Homeless Network[7]
- 1992–2001: Board member, Housing Corporation[2]
- 1995–1998: Chair of Refugee Council[2]
- 1998–2003: Charity Commission for England and Wales: Charity Commissioner[2][3][7]
- 2001–2006: Board member, National Consumer Council[8]
- 2003–2006: Deputy Chair, Food Standards Agency[2]
In January 2016, Unwin was appointed as an independent non-executive Director of Mears Group Plc. In January 2017, she was appointed as a non-executive director at Yorkshire Water. She is also a non-executive director of the Financial Reporting Council. She chaired the independent inquiry into the future of civil society, which concluded and published its findings in late 2018.[9]
She was chief executive of JRF and JRHT from January 2007 to December 2016. Previous roles include being a freelance consultant between 1993 and 2006 – during this time Unwin undertook policy analysis, governance support and project evaluation. She has been a member of the peer review of Cabinet office (2000), a member of the Capability Review at DCLG (2006), Social Policy Adviser at NatWest Bank, and Senior Adviser to the Baring Foundation.[citation needed] She is a member of the Council at the University of York.[10]
In January 2026 she became the chair of the Charity Commission for England and Wales.[5]
Honours
Unwin was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2000 New Year Honours for services to the housing corporation,[11] Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2006 as deputy chair of the Food Standards Agency for services to consumers,[8] and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to civil society.[12]
She received an Outstanding Leadership Award at the 2010 Charity Awards. The presenter said: "...it's hard to overstate the impact that her work has had on social policy in the UK."[10]
