Hello my name is Hannah and I am the Chief Executive at Inclusion North
My Experience
Leadership experience in charities and private business.
I am an experienced Autism and Learning Disability lead.
I am experienced in using data to evidence impact.
Experienced in partnership working.
My husband and sister are autistic.
My Skills and Knowledge
I am a Qualified Teacher and have delivered lots of training.
I have worked with people with autism throughout my career.
I am a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor and have worked with a variety of people .
What is important to me
Working in a person-centred way.
My work having a meaningful impact.
Inclusive and engaged team.
Supporting people to grow.
What people say about me
I like to get to know people and hear things from their point of view.
I am very efficient and get things done.
I am an advocate and will speak up on issues where change is needed.
I enjoy
Wild swimming in the sea, lakes or lochs!
Live music and festivals.
Time with my family and my dogs.
Painting pictures.
Playing board games.
In the downloads at the side of the screen you can see my one page profile and job description.
Hannah Tough – Chief Executive
Hannah leads Inclusion North, shaping the organisation’s strategic direction and ensuring the voices of people with a learning disability, autistic people, and family carers are heard at the highest levels of decision-making.
She is a qualified teacher and a psychotherapeutic counsellor, with many years of experience working alongside people with a learning disability and autistic people and has extensive experience in charity leadership and system facing roles. Hannah has a strong understanding of SEND across education, health, and social care, grounded in both frontline practice and strategic leadership.
Hannah also brings lived experience of neurodivergence and family caring, which informs her leadership approach and reinforces her commitment to inclusive, sustainable ways of working.
Hannah has significant experience working with and alongside research partners, including universities and academic teams, contributing to research, evaluation, and knowledge exchange focused on learning disability, autism, inequality, and system change. She is particularly interested in how research evidence, lived experience, and real world practice can be brought together to inform policy and improve outcomes.
As Chief Executive, Hannah focuses on strengthening Inclusion North’s role as a regional leader and positioning the organisation as a credible, trusted partner to system leaders across the North East and Yorkshire & Humber. She works closely with members, people with lived experience, researchers, commissioners and funders to shape strategy, influence decision-making, and drive meaningful system change.
Hannah is the organisation’s Safeguarding & Whistleblowing Lead, providing oversight and accountability for safeguarding practice across Inclusion North’s work. She is also the lead contact for fundraising, working with partners, supporters and funders to secure resources that enable Inclusion North’s work to grow sustainably.
She also brings strong analytical skills, including experience in data analysis and the use of evidence to demonstrate impact, challenge assumptions, and support effective decision-making. Hannah is committed to ensuring Inclusion North’s influence leads to real, measurable improvements in people’s lives, rather than activity without impact.
In the downloads at the side of the screen you can see my one page profile and job description.
