Rachel is a Specialist Occupational Therapist working for the NHS, graduating in 2007. She has also been a Cadet Force Adult Volunteer for 25 years and is currently the National Lead for Diversity and Inclusion in the Army Cadets. She enjoys farming and outdoor adventures with friends and supports groups on expedition as a qualified Mountain Leader. Rachel is an active trustee of The Michelle Jurd Trust and supports a number of other charities focused on wellbeing and personal development of others.
Rachel has worked with individuals and groups who have a range of complex disabilities and learning difficulties through her professional career and volunteering roles. She has a PGC in Sensory Integration with a high level of emotional intelligence alongside working in the field of postural management and mobility. Part of her inclusive leadership journey has been setting up and developing the Duke of Edinburgh Award at Beaumont College, a Further Education College for young adults with physical and learning disabilities and difficulties. Leading and developing a staff team with expedition skills and risk management measures it enables her to share knowledge from her experiences over three decades of outdoor education and team building.
In 2022 Rachel became a member of The Royal Society of St George – Furness Branch which had previously been a single sex membership organisation. She has been integral in opening this out to a more diverse membership, engaging with local community charities for fundraising opportunities and helping to educate and include others as a member of the Council team. An insightful learning opportunity with occasional influence to a National level.
Rachel worked as part of the Cadet Force Commission Board assessor team at Westbury over a five year period. She considers it to be one of her most intent learning periods for leadership and teamworking. Observing individuals from various backgrounds and abilities under pressure to perform, her skills of observation and awareness when looking at leaders and team interaction enable her to share insight into facilitating successful teams and reflecting on self-awareness and behaviours as a leader.
Rachel recently won the Inclusivity in Defence category at the 2025 Soldiering on Awards, acknowledging her leadership and development work carried out in recent years to improve awareness, behaviours and educate members about inclusive leadership in the Army Cadets.
