From Purpose to Policy with Caroline Lee-Davey, CEO of Bliss

Описание: What does it take to turn purpose into real policy change, and keep your organisation anchored to its mission along the way?

In this episode of Leading Lights, host Abi Mellor is joined by Caroline Lee-Davey, Chief Executive of Bliss, the UK’s leading neonatal charity. Caroline shares how purpose-led leadership can move beyond good intentions to deliver tangible change. Her campaigning experience is broad and deep, including benefitting from a quirk in the British parliamentary systems, the Private Members’ Bill, to bring the Neonatal Care Leave and Pay Act into law, transforming support for families with babies in neonatal care.

Caroline reflects on staying true to mission, navigating the realities of charity leadership, and why trusting your gut instinct matters more than following logic alone. This is a conversation about campaigning that delivers, leadership that is sustainable, and the quiet determination behind real impact.

Content note: this episode includes discussion of neonatal care and supporting families with babies born premature or sick.

In this episode, we explore:

How Bliss turned frontline insight into national policy change

The stages of a successful campaign, from evidence to Parliament

Why Caroline’s mantra is: “What difference is this making for babies?”

The importance of parents being recognised as partners in neonatal care

Tackling inequalities in neonatal outcomes for Black, South Asian and disadvantaged families

Techniques for leading as an introvert

Why joy, boundaries and protected time are essential for long-term impact

About Caroline Lee-Davey

Caroline joined Bliss as Chief Executive in November 2014; she also sits on the Executive Committee of the British Association of Perinatal Medicine, and is a member of NHS England’s Neonatal Critical Care Clinical Reference Group and Maternity & Neonatal Stakeholder Council.
Before joining Bliss Caroline was the Director of Policy, Advice and Communications at Gingerbread, the single parent charity, where she led on policy and campaigning work as well as overseeing the delivery of multi-channel information and advice services. Caroline was previously Deputy Director of Communications, Policy and Campaigns at housing charity Shelter. Caroline is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and was a trustee of homelessness charity Crisis from 2014-2020.

Links
Find out more about Bliss
https://www.bliss.org.uk/

Follow Bliss on social media
Instagram:   / blisscharity  
LinkedIn:   / bliss_4  
Facebook:   / blisscharity  

About Bliss
Founded in 1979, Bliss is the UK's leading neonatal charity. Its vision is that every baby born premature or sick in the UK has the best chance of survival and quality of life. Bliss champions the right of every baby born premature or sick to excellent neonatal care, experience and outcomes. It achieves this by improving care, giving voice to babies, and supporting parents to be partners in care.

Bliss' work delivers significant impact for neonatal babies, families and health professionals - at an individual level, across neonatal health services and systems, and nationally, including in the delivery of its landmark campaigning achievement to introduce paid neonatal leave through the Neonatal Care (Leave & Pay) Act, which came into effect in April 2025.

At the heart of its work is also a focus on tackling neonatal inequalities. Its 2025-29 strategy prioritises equity of care, equity of voice and equity of support for all neonatal babies and their families.

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