Deborah Alsina MBE joined Independent Age as Chief Executive in October 2019 and brings extensive experience of voluntary sector strategic leadership. Deborah began her career in publishing and has subsequently worked in the voluntary sector for over 25 years. She has worked with a broad range of organisations from academic think tanks to charities working on international refugee and human rights issues. Prior to joining Independent Age, Deborah worked for Bowel Cancer UK for eleven years including ten as the Chief Executive. In 2017 Deborah played a leading role in merging Bowel Cancer UK and Beating Bowel Cancer, becoming Chief Executive of the new merged charity on the 1st January 2018. She was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 90th Birthday Honours list 2016 in recognition of her service to bowel cancer patients. She was named Charity Chief Executive of the Year at the Third Sector Excellence Awards 2017, Charity Principal of the Year in the Charity Times Awards 2018, and one of the 25 most influential leaders in the voluntary sector by the Charity Times in 2019