Paula holds one of the lived experience seats on the RR3, bringing her unique perspective as a former prisoner and nearly 16 years of professional experience in the sector. She is the CEO of Unlock charity and previously served as Head of Prisoner Involvement at the Prison Reform Trust (PRT). In this role, she developed prisoner leadership and led the Prisoner Policy Network, a network of around 1000 serving and former prisoners who are involved in the policy and advocacy work of PRT.
Paula is involved in the steering group of the UK-wide Experience for Justice collective, a group of lived experience leaders and allies, and serves as Chair of Mac-UK and Trustee of PACT (Prison Advice and Care Trust) and Changing Tunes. Her earlier roles include Head of Involvement at Revolving Doors Agency (2015-2017), where she influenced peer support programs in NHS England Health and Justice, and Head of Programmes at User Voice (2010-2015), where she advanced prisoner involvement in prison, probation, and forensic mental health services. Paula’s passion for justice reform is rooted in her personal experience of being in contact with the criminal justice system.