Feminist leadership as a regenerative model for the charity sector

Lead compassionately in trauma-informed environments while sustaining resilience.

This dynamic, research-informed workshop explores how feminist leadership can serve as a regenerative model for the charity sector – one that sustains both people and purpose in the face of complexity, trauma, and limited resources.

Drawing directly on leadership practice at Rising Sun Domestic Violence and Abuse Service and collaborative research with Hult International Business School, this session examines how compassionate, trauma-informed leadership can coexist with accountability and organisational resilience.

Participants will engage in reflective dialogue and practical exercises that reframe leadership not as endurance, but as regeneration – the capacity to restore energy, trust, and effectiveness across teams and systems.

Core themes:

The double bind of feminist leadership
Why values-led, inclusive leadership can attract scrutiny, yet delivers deep and lasting organisational value.

Balancing care with accountability
Exploring real tensions in trauma-informed settings – how to safeguard mission and wellbeing without burnout.

Regeneration in action
Practical ways to create workplace cultures that replenish human and social capital rather than deplete it.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the session, participants will:

• leave re-energised, with one or two regenerative micro-practices to embed in their own organisations
• understand feminist leadership as a regenerative, system-conscious model for sustainable impact
• recognise and articulate their own leadership “double binds” and how to navigate them
• learn directly from Rising Sun’s lived leadership practice and frameworks co-developed with Hult
• identify practical strategies for balancing care, accountability, and boundaries

Expect a space for reflection, conversation, and practical takeaway tools you can apply immediately in your own organisation.

Read Debbie’s recent blog for ACEVO: Feminist regenerative leadership in the charity sector and dig deeper at this session.

This event will not be recorded.

Speakers

Dr Debbie Bayntun-Lees

Professor of Leadership & Organisational Development, Hult International Business School

Dr Debbie Bayntun-Lees

Professor of Leadership & Organisational Development, Hult International Business School

Debbie Bayntun-Lees is Professor of Leadership & Organisational Development at Hult International Business School (Ashridge Executive Education). She is an experienced leadership and organisational development consultant, specialising in inclusive leadership, gender equity, and cultural transformation. Debbie’s work focuses on creating inclusive, high-performing teams and fostering meaningful workplace dialogue that drives systemic change. She has a particular interest in regenerative leadership—exploring how leaders can create conditions for people and organisations to thrive sustainably in complex, interconnected systems.

Fran Ellis

Chief Executive Officer, Rising Sun Domestic Violence and Abuse Service

Fran Ellis

Chief Executive Officer, Rising Sun Domestic Violence and Abuse Service

Fran Ellis is Chief Executive Officer of Rising Sun Domestic Violence and Abuse Service. She has extensive leadership experience in women’s and children’s services and is deeply committed to creating safe, inclusive, and empowering environments for both survivors and practitioners. Fran brings a wealth of expertise in gender-based service management and a strong belief in conversation-led, collaborative approaches to leadership and organisational development.