Biography.
The GDA is delighted to welcome Carol Le Page to the team as Social Policy Director. Carol joined the GDA at the beginning of one of the most exciting weeks and was able to help with the lobbying of States members before the anti-discrimination debate.
Carol was brought up and educated in Guernsey at St Martin’s School and the Grammar School for Girls. She came back to Guernsey having studied in London to work in the States graduate trainee scheme.
Carol has a wealth of experience having been a Civil Service for 28 years and in the third sector working for Safer, the Bailiwick’s Domestic Abuse Charity, for the last 5 years. Carol has also been actively involved with Equality Guernsey for the last few years.
Whilst working for the States Carol was employed in many Departments relating to social policy, including Social Security, Health and Social Care and the Policy Council. Carol has worked on the States equality and rights agenda including the disability and inclusion strategy, supported living and ageing well, same sex marriage, and other projects. In her earlier career Carol worked with Dave Purdy implementing Part M of the building regulations, relating to access and on the first Access Guide for visitors to Guernsey.
Carol said “I am delighted to be joining the GDA at such an exciting time! I am really looking forward to being able to now ride the wave and make sure that the legislation comes in as soon as possible so that everyone’s rights are protected.”
“I realise it has been a very hard time for a lot of members during lockdown, but it has helped bring our community together.” Carol explained about the effects of the pandemic. “It has made everyone appreciate how hard it can be to be isolated and not have the freedoms to be able to go out to the shops or to go to work. Organisations have reacted quickly to change, so some businesses are continuing to have employees working from home and more shops are now providing deliveries as a standard service.”
“The pandemic has shown that business can adapt quickly and efficiently to peoples needs and this needs to be seen as a positive way forward building back better together and shows that they need not be worried about making reasonable adjustments.”
“I am really looking forward to working with Karen Blanchford and to meeting as many of you as possible to find out what issues you and your members have so that these can be looked at in in our social policy discussions with the rest of the team: Dr Rob Harnish, Catherine Hall – Education, Mike Read – Health, and Arrun Wilkie.”