Our Team
Senior Leadership Team
Jane van Zyl, Chief Executive
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Jane joined Working Families as CEO in September 2018. She has 18 years’ experience working in the third sector and has held senior leadership positions at a number of UK charities, including Samaritans and Sands. She believes in the value of a fulfilling, balanced working life and its transformative power to create social connections, build self-esteem, and impact the wider community. She is a passionate advocate of equal opportunity for all.
She spent her childhood in the UK (Norfolk) and South Africa (Cape Town & Johannesburg). Jane holds a social science bachelor’s degree from the University of Cape Town in Industrial Sociology and Industrial Psychology.
Joanne Waterworth, Head of Employer Services
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Jo is Head of Employer Services at Working Families. She leads the team working with employers, providing insight, knowledge and practical interventions to help employers to develop family-friendly, flexible, high-performing inclusive workplaces. Jo joined Working Families in 2016. Prior to this, she worked in senior client relationship management and business development roles within the professional services sector.
Jo holds a BA in Modern Language Studies from the University of Nottingham and an MA in Sociolinguistics from Queen Mary, University of London.
Simon Kelleher, Head of Policy and Influencing
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Simon joined Working Families in 2021 and leads the charity’s influencing work, amplifying the voices of both working parents and progressive employers to push for pragmatic changes to the world of work.
Prior to joining Working Families, Simon was Head of Education and Skills at the cross party think tank Policy Connect where he worked for 7 years to improve policy and raise the profile of further education in Westminster. Simon began his career teaching in the secondary sector and has extensive experience in the voluntary sector, most recently volunteering with Pembroke House as part of the charity’s response to the pandemic and food poverty in Southwark. Simon studied History at UEA and holds a Diploma in Management Studies from LSBU.
Emily Pritty, Head of Legal Advice Service (job share)
Emily believes it is essential for employment law advice to be readily available and accessible to those who need it the most, yet have the least access to support. She is passionate about reducing inequality and supporting employers to improve flexibility and diversity in the workplace. Together with Katy Salt, Emily is responsible for the charity’s Legal Advice Service, advising working parents on their rights via our advice support channels.
Emily has specialised in employment law since qualification as a solicitor in 2005 advising employers and employees from a wide range of industry sectors on the full range of contentious and non-contentious employment law and day to day HR matters. Emily previously worked at Norton Rose Fulbright and Harbottle and Lewis LLP before doing employment law consultancy alongside raising her children. Emily did her degree in Law and Politics at Nottingham University and Legal Practice Course at Nottingham Law school.
Katy Salt, Head of Legal Advice Service (job share)
Katy joined Working Families in November 2020 and together with Emily Pritty runs the charity’s Legal Advice Service. Katy is committed to delivering clear, accessible and practical legal advice to working parents, especially those who are most vulnerable and who may not ordinarily be able to access legal advice.
Katy has specialised in employment law since she qualified as a solicitor in 2002 and since then has worked in both the private sector (advising both employers and employees) and the public sector as a government lawyer. She has extensive experience of both litigation and advisory work covering a broad range of employment law issues. She studied History and Politics at University before completing her legal studies at BPP Law School.