Gemma Khairi

Gemma is the Director of Operations. She has an MA in Criminology, Rights and Justice that largely focused on children and young people and mental health. She began her career working with vulnerable adults who had suffered drug and alcohol abuse and mental health issues, before moving into working with young Care leavers, Street sex workers, and those affected by, or with, HIV. Gemma has extensive experience in safeguarding, child protection and the Helpline sector and feels very passionate about both. She has wide and varied operational management and leadership experience within the charity sector, having previously managed a large national volunteer-led service. She has developed key strategic partnerships with Child Exploitation Online Protection (CEOP) and the National Crime Agency (NCA) and in recognition of this partnership work with the NCA Control Centre and ChildLine, she received a commendation for outstanding contribution to law enforcement and protecting the public. The helpline sector had a profound impact on her, seeing thousands of calls coming in each day, and realizing how many people needed support. It gave her a renewed passion to do more, which led to Helplines Partnership. Here she now has more impact across a wide range of helplines. Three years ago, Gemma set up Helplines Awareness Day, an annual day on 23 February to celebrate helplines and the impact they make on people's lives.