Hello my name is Melissa and I am the Finance, Business and Culture Lead at Inclusion North
My Experience
I have lived experience of ADHD and Autism.
I trained and worked in hotels before I had children.
After my children were born I retrained in accounts.
Working in the voluntary sector for many years.
I volunteered as a Trustee specialising in Special Educational Needs.
My grown up daughter has Spinabifida and learning difficulty.
My Skills and Knowledge
Accounts and the rules.
Office Management.
Inclusive workplaces and wellbeing.
Working with people in prisons and their families.
Setting up a Social Enterprise Cafe for people in prison to work in.
Writing training programmes.
Supporting in school SEN.
Organising things and making them work well.
What is important to me
Everyone having equal rights and having a good life.
Helping people.
Being a good person.
What people say about me
Kind and helpful.
Organised.
I care about other people.
I enjoy
Spending time with family, friends and pets.
Going for long walks up mountains.
Dancing.
Learning new things.
In the downloads at the side of the screen you can see my one page profile and job description.
Melissa Peacock – Finance, Business and Culture Lead
Melissa leads on finance, business operations, and organisational culture at Inclusion North. She oversees the organisation’s finances, contract, and governance, ensuring Inclusion North remains financially secure, accountable, and well managed in a complex and changing funding environment.
Melissa plays a critical role in safeguarding Inclusion North’s sustainability. She supports strategic decision making by providing clear financial oversight, risk management, and assurance, helping the organisation to plan confidently while remaining true to its values and purpose.
Alongside her financial leadership, Melissa leads on organisational culture. She works closely with staff, and the Expert Hub to create an inclusive, supportive working environment where people feel valued, confident, and able to do their best work. This includes supporting wellbeing, inclusive working practices, and strong team relationships. Melissa is the lead contact for our Expert Hub and oversees the Oliver Mc Gowan Mandatory Training across the regions. In Hannah’s absence Melissa deputises to ensure continuity of leadership.
Melissa brings a people centred approach to finance and business leadership. Her work is shaped by lived experience of ADHD and autism, and by her experience as a parent and carer to a daughter with spina bifida and a learning difficulty. She also brings extensive experience from the voluntary sector, including volunteering as a Trustee specialising in Special Educational Needs, serving as Co-Chair on the Board of Trustees of a young people’s dance and health charity, working with people in prison and their families and supporting the development and delivery of inclusive social enterprises.
Melissa is committed to making sure Inclusion North is sustainable not just in numbers, but in relationships, integrity, and impact. She believes that strong finances and strong values must go hand in hand.
In the downloads at the side of the screen you can see my one page profile and job description.
