Leadership Update at East Sussex Community Voice

News - 11 May 2026

Our host organisation, East Sussex Community Voice (ESCV) is announcing that after three years at the helm, Veronica Kirwan, our Chief Executive Officer, will be retiring from this role at the end of June 2026.

We wish to thank Veronica for the significant contributions she has made to the organisation during her tenure, strengthening its governance, impact and ensuring community voices remain central to service delivery across East Sussex. She leaves having built strong relationships and represented the organisation with partners and across key forums.

A new Chief Executive Officer has been recruited and Vicki Harrison-Carr will join ESCV on the 26^th May, working alongside Veronica during a short handover period until the end of June. Vicki brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to championing the needs of local communities. She is looking forward to leading ESCV through its next phase, building on the organisation’s strong foundations and continuing to develop its work in partnership with local stakeholders.

Chair of the ESCV Board, Vanessa Taylor, said:
“On behalf of the Board, I would like to sincerely thank Veronica for her dedication, leadership and the lasting impact she has made during her time at ESCV. I would especially like to thank her for delaying her retirement when the announcement was made regarding the dismantling of Healthwatch by the Government, accompanied by the sad loss of our long term chair following a short terminal illness.

Together with the support she has given me personally in taking over as Chair of the Board of ESCV, she has played a key role in strengthening the organisation and ensuring it continues to represent the voice of local communities effectively. We wish her a very happy retirement.

We are delighted to welcome Vicki Harrison-Carr as our new CEO. Vicki brings a clear vision and passion for community engagement, and we are confident she will lead ESCV successfully into its next chapter.”

Vicki Harrison-Carr said:
“I am delighted to be joining East Sussex Community Voice and look forward to working closely with colleagues, partners and local communities. ESCV has a strong reputation for ensuring public voices are heard, and I am excited to build on this and help shape the organisation’s future impact.”