Sense appoints new chief executive just as charity prepares to celebrate 70th anniversary
James Watson-O’Neill has been appointed as the new Chief Executive for the disability charity Sense and Sense International.
James will start at the disability charity in February 2025, when its current Chief Executive, Richard Kramer, stands down.
Sense supports people with complex disabilities, and 2025 is set to be an exciting year for the charity, with it celebrating its 70th anniversary, and approaching the end of its ambitious five-year strategy: ‘no one left out of life – 2021-2026’, which has seen the charity delivering support to more people than ever in its history.
James, who is deaf, joins from SignHealth, the deaf health charity, where he has been Chief Executive since 2016. He has worked in the charity sector since 2001, including roles at Scope and the NSPCC. James is a trustee of the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group and in 2022 he was awarded an OBE for services to deaf people.
James Watson-O’Neill said: “I am honoured to be appointed as the new Chief Executive of Sense and Sense International. For 70 years, Sense has delivered vital support to disabled people and their families, working alongside them to campaign for a fairer society for disabled people.
“I want to build on Richard’s fantastic leadership and work with the team to keep growing the organisation as a force for positive change. I am really excited to be leading the next chapter and can’t wait to meet the people Sense supports, their families, staff and volunteers”.
Dr Justin Molloy, chair of Sense, said: “We are delighted that James will be joining Sense as our new Chief Executive. His understanding and commitment to Sense’s history and ambitions for improving the lives of people with complex disabilities shone through, as did his leadership and character.
“I’m looking forward to working with him and the rest of the outstanding team at Sense. I would like to take the opportunity to thank Richard Kramer who has led Sense with such skill and commitment. I’m confident that James is the right person to lead us into our exciting next chapter.”
Richard Kramer said: “My time at Sense has been a complete joy and privilege. There is so much to look back on with pride, not least the challenge and opportunity to lead the charity through the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis.
“But the most precious moments – the ones that will stay with me forever – come from listening to the children, adults, and families we have supported, and witnessing the difference that Sense make to people’s lives every day.
“James is an excellent appointment who will bring a wealth of experience and real passion for the cause. I know with the support of the wonderful team I leave behind that Sense will be in capable hands.”
Recent research by Sense revealed many disabled people feel they have been forgotten by our politicians. In a poll of 1,000 people with complex disabilities in the UK, nearly half said disabled people and the issues they face were not important to political parties.
