Linkage Welcomes Jayne Mitchell as New Chair of the Board of Trustees
Linkage is delighted to announce the appointment of Jayne Mitchell as the new Chair of its Board of Trustees, effective January 2026.
Jayne brings a distinguished career in Higher Education and Public Health, having served as an academic, practitioner, senior leader, and policymaker. She is currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost at Leeds Trinity University and has previously held multiple senior governance roles across UK universities. As a former Director of the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, Jayne has extensive expertise in governance, quality assurance, and strategic planning, contributing to national and international initiatives, including leading the UK Quality Code for Higher Education and advising on European Higher Education policy. She has also contributed to public health initiatives, including work on the COVID-19 response for Public Health England.
Brought up in Lincolnshire, Jayne has personal experience supporting a family member with multiple and complex learning disabilities, giving her unique insight into the challenges faced by individuals and families in accessing appropriate support. She is committed to enabling people to lead creative and purposeful lives in their communities.
Jayne said:
“I am honoured to take on the role of Chair of Trustees at Linkage. I am passionate about supporting services that transform the lives of individuals and communities socially, economically, and culturally. I look forward to working with the Board and Executive Leadership Team to continue the organisation’s excellent work.”
Linkage would also like to extend sincere thanks to Steph Simpson, who has served as Interim Chair over the last 12 months. Steph is a Chartered Engineer with over 20 years of military experience leading diverse teams in complex and challenging environments in the UK and overseas. She joined Linkage as a Trustee in March 2017 and was appointed Vice-Chair of the Board in April 2018. Steph is also the mother of a young child with Williams Syndrome, bringing invaluable lived experience to her work with the organisation.
Linkage looks forward to welcoming Jayne in her new role and benefiting from her wealth of experience, strategic insight, and dedication to empowering individuals and communities.