Sarah Ronan
Director

Sarah Ronan developed the Coalition while working at the Women’s Budget Group (WBG). She is now the Coalition’s Director with overall responsibility for its strategy, development and advocacy.

Prior to joining WBG, Sarah worked at Pregnant Then Screwed where she led its award-winning pandemic response including campaigns on childcare and employment rights, as well as building its high-impact support services. Sarah has previously worked in policy, comms and campaigns for a range of organisations including trade unions and early education providers. She also sits on the board of Parental Pay Equality, the campaign for equal parental leave for the self-employed. Sarah speaks and writes regularly in the media on the importance of early education and childcare.

Staff Team

Lucie Stephens
Associate Director (Research and Coproduction)

Lucie steers the Coalition’s research, supporting collaborations among member organisations. She was instrumental in the co-design of the Coalition during its development phase.

Lucie was previously head of co-production and core economy at the New Economics Foundation where she published the Childcare Infrastructure Fund report, a fully costed bailout plan designed to support the sector during lockdown. She has worked on co-produced childcare and early education provision since 2012, supporting parent-led nurseries. As the former director of a nursery, she has first-hand experience of the challenges facing providers. Lucie is also a director of a consultancy that works with organisations focused on systems change and the application of research.

Debbie Caine
Regional Engagement Advisor

Debbie has worked in politics at all levels for almost 15 years managing campaigns for parliamentary and mayoral candidates as well as seven years spent working for an MP. More recently, Debbie worked for a public affairs consultancy specialising in devolution. She has also served as campaign director of Hillsborough Law Now, a cause she continues to support.

When not meddling in politics, Debbie is a mother of four and spends her spare time hiding from her husband, the children & and (too many) pets in order to eat cake and read (non-political) books in peace.

Anna Eaton
Deputy Director (Operations)

Anna leads the Coalition’s operations and development, helping to ensure the smooth-running of our various projects. She has a background in politics, campaign management and operations and has previously worked in Westminster for MPs and on national campaigns covering music, politics, infrastructure and education. She has over 10 years’ experience of developing socially driven start-up organisations with a passion for community-building to help them grow.

Anna was a founding director of social consultancy, Ideas Alliance. When she’s not working to transform early education, she’s raising her two young children with her husband on the south coast, having recently swapped her London roots for the beach life.

Steering Group

The Staff Team is supported by a Steering Group elected by the Coalition’s membership. Together they champion the voices of all those we represent and help to set the strategic direction of the Coalition. They are:

  • Catherine McLeod, Dingley’s Promise

  • Neil Leitch, Early Years Alliance

  • Phoebe Sarjent, Federation of Small Businesses

  • Victoria Benson, Gingerbread

  • Helen Donohoe, PACEY (Vice-Chair)

  • Joeli Brearley, Pregnant Then Screwed

  • Meghan Meek-O’Connor, Save the Children UK

  • Nikki Pound, Trades Union Congress

  • Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, Women’s Budget Group (Chair)

Centring lived experience

The Coalition’s research and campaign strategy is informed by the experience of those at the coalface. We regularly convene focus groups and speak directly to those working in the sector as well as to families struggling to access government support or the provision they need.

We are continuing to develop this into a lived experience advisory group. Please get in touch if you are interested in participating.