Following her degree in French, Leeds University chose Helen for a two-year post lecturing in British Civilisation at Université Paris-Est. Subsequently, Helen trained with Baker & McKenzie in London, joining the corporate department on qualification.

Having always had an eye for the business world, Helen progressed into leading in-house roles:

  • leading the legal requirements of the aviation services & products division at BBA Group PLC
  • establishing the in-house/company secretarial department of listed online travel agency ebookers plc) as its first General Counsel & Company Secretary. Helen held a number of directorships of subsidiary entities and oversaw the eventual sale of the group.
  • setting up and managing the legal/company secretarial department of international employee incentive and performance improvement business The Grass Roots Group PLC. Helen was appointed an executive director of the PLC board
  • heading up the UK & German legal team for World Duty Free Group, a global travel retailer with operations in 58 countries

Helen has also held senior legal positions in the third sector, acting as Senior Commercial Adviser to NSPCC and more recently as Specialist Senior Commercial Adviser and subsequently interim Head of Legal at The British Red Cross, taking on the role just prior to the outbreak of the covid pandemic. Helen is currently Senior Counsel in the Commercial and Innovation Legal team at Royal Mail Group. Responsible for leading team negotiations on important contracts with key corporate clients.

She is married with two teenage daughters and when not having fun with the family, she loves taking on challenge hikes!