Jessica Taplin

Civil society leader and the British Gas Energy Trust’s CEO, oversees the Trust and £23m of funding in 2022/2023. Jessica has significant sector leadership & grant making experience, her third sector career has focused on working with charities that help those in need of extra support to achieve what they are capable of. As the grandchild of an immigrant who arrived in the UK with very little, Jessica is passionate about helping ensure everyone can access the support, advice, training and inspiration they need, to be “the best version of themselves” no matter what obstacles and barriers might be in their way.

Having moved to the Charity sector after an early career in Business Development, Jessica worked at the Big Lottery Fund, playing a lead role in the UK Partnerships & Partnerships grant funding portfolio –  since then she has led several charities including the national youth helpline, a national volunteering charity and an established specialist, residential Trust for young disabled people;

Jessica is a Trustee of the CareTech foundation,  on the advisory panel for the Patchwork Foundation focusing on supporting minority groups participate in politics and government as well as mentoring Leeds university students, who are the first in their family to attend to university, as she herself was. She brings with her an innovative and dynamic people focused approach to developing and enhancing services,  a track record of developing and supporting effective partnership collaborations and a passion for designing funding programmes and interventions that help make a practical & immediate positive difference to people’s lives.

In her spare time she’s mother of three, keeps bees, hens and enjoys her vegetable garden, long hikes and windsurfing rather badly.