Chelsie Jones

Employed at Storyhouse
Nominated through Chester Zoo Youth Board

Give us a brief description of your background

I am born and raised in North Wales. After I finished my A Levels, I decided to go down the apprenticeship route instead of university. I started out with an accounting apprenticeship in a small practice in Chester, before moving into industry and becoming part of the finance team at Storyhouse. I have here found a passion for the third sector and taken on voluntary roles in other charities, including chairing the Youth Board at Chester Zoo, campaigning for Mind, being a Mental Health Champion for Time to Change, conservation volunteer with the Wildlife Trust and helping out at my local animal rescue. In my spare time I enjoy reading, going to the gym and teaching my 5-month old puppy to not eat the sofa.

Who/what inspires you?

On a day to day basis, I follow a group on LinkedIn called Women in Banking & Finance. It shares stories of women excelling in a previously male dominated sector. Following those posts daily is really inspiring to read and highlights that there is a real positive shift of women being employed into powerful roles. Also, watching my mum take a chance setting up her own business whilst I was a child and the effort that she put into being successful, that has always pushed me to work harder.

What does the word leadership make you think of?

Positivity, empathy and courage. A person or a group that is strong and powerful means next to nothing to me, unless they ensure they are bringing others up around them and not putting them down in the process of succeeding.

How do you feel about taking part in the Future Leaders programme?

Excited! I am looking forward to meeting and collaborating with other young professionals with different perspectives to learn from and grow alongside, whilst achieving a collective goal. I hope to expand my knowledge and passion around a net carbon world so that I can confidently communicate and influence others in the future.

What do you think are the keys to a sustainable future?

Commitment, communication and educating those around us. We as a species need to understand the implications and damage that we have made as a collective on the environment around us. We all have to passionately want to enforce and welcome positive change, to live in a more sustainable world.