Who we are

CEO Voluntary Organisations Network North East

Carol Botten is the CEO of the Voluntary Organisations Network North East (VONNE) and sits on the NTCA Inclusive Economy Board.

At VONNE, Carol leads on external policy work with the NE Local Enterprise Partnership and the North of Tyne Combined Authority on skills, employability and inclusive growth and more recently developing work on addressing the Climate Emergency.

Carol has worked in the VCS sector for the best part of her professional life of nearly 25 years, with a specific background in development within the cultural and voluntary sectors and previous roles focusing on management, business development, fundraising and communications. She is passionate about supporting the sector’s leadership and governance capabilities and developing new programmes and projects to increase organisations’ sustainability and resilience.

In addition, Carol is a member of Northern Powergrid’s Social Issues Expert Group and Stakeholder Panel, the NE EU Exit Implementation Group and the Cabinet Office’s National Leadership programme.