Our executive team
Gail Heath
CEO of The Pankhurst Trust (Incorporating Manchester Women’s Aid).
Gail leads dedicated staff and volunteers who provide holistic services such as refuge, community-based provision, advocacy, and education to empower and protect service users.
She’s responsible for the strategic vision and direction of the organisation as well as the sustainability and growth of the charity.
Gail previously worked in housing as an Assistant Director at Manchester City Council.
Gail is always on the lookout for opportunities to collaborate with other organisations, agencies and individuals who share our vision and values.
Elaine De Fries
Director of Operations, The Pankhurst Trust (Incorporating Manchester Women’s Aid).
Elaine De Fries has over 30 years’ experience of designing and coordinating projects in the statutory, voluntary and community sector.
She has worked on creative projects developing voice and agency with women from the global majority and victims of domestic abuse.
Elaine has worked with communities where trust in statutory agencies is very low, and she worked with police and other agencies to combat serious organised crime and anti-social behaviour and with communities affected by FGM and with insecure immigration status.
She’s a strong believer in the importance of narrative in community development and activism.
