Fiona Cannon OBE has decided to step down as Surviving Economic Abuse’s Chair of Trustees after a remarkable three years at the charity. 

During her time as Chair, Fiona steered the charity into an exciting new chapter. She led the charity to develop its bold three-year strategy, “Changing Systems, Saving Lives”, appointed a new CEO and helped the charity to strengthen its impact and extend its reach.  

This included reaching more victim-survivors than ever with vital information, securing commitments to tackle economic abuse in five Government strategies, and accelerating action in response to economic abuse across the financial services sector through senior stakeholder engagement and the launch of a new good practice guide. 

After stepping down as Chair, Fiona will focus on her new role as Commissioner for Public Appointments and continue her role as Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Yorkshire Building Society.  

Vice-chair Anna Yearley will take on the role as interim chair to provide continuity while the charity recruits a new Chair of Trustees in the coming months to lead the charity into its next chapter as it continues to transform responses to economic abuse. 

Fiona Cannon OBE said: “It has been an enormous privilege to serve as Chair of Surviving Economic Abuse. I am incredibly proud of the difference the charity has made for victim-survivors and the progress we have made towards our mission to save lives and stop economic abuse forever. That progress is a testament to the dedication of Surviving Economic Abuse’s staff, trustees, advisers, ambassadors, funders and partners and, above all, to the victim-survivors whose experiences remind me every day why this work matters. I am immensely grateful to everyone I have had the privilege to work alongside, and I look forward to seeing Surviving Economic Abuse continue to grow its impact and change lives in the years ahead.” 

Sam Smethers, CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse, said: “We want to thank Fiona for everything she has done to steer Surviving Economic Abuse during this period of significant progress in tackling economic abuse. We look forward to continuing to build on everything the charity has achieved under her leadership and look forward to welcoming a new chair in due course to help the charity to grow its reach and impact to continue to change the lives of many more women experiencing economic abuse. Together, we can save lives and stop economic abuse forever.”   

ENDS