Joanne Duffy has worked for Pennine GP Alliance since 2020 and is an exceptional leader who has demonstrated remarkable growth within the organisation, rising swiftly to become a key member of the senior leadership team in just four years. Her ability to deputise for the CEO as needed showcases her deep understanding of the organisations strategic thinking, and commitment to its success. Widely respected and admired across all levels of staff, Joanne serves as an inspiration through her dedication, vision, and the positive influence she brings to the workplace.
Joanne began her career journey studying neuropsychology at university, which gave her the love of science she has brought to PGPA. Whilst at university she started volunteering with and then working at the Alzheimer’s Society and The Stroke Association.
She says her time at The Alzheimer’s Society – where she won a National Volunteer’s Award – “made me realise I wanted to work in service delivery not academia”. Since then, while Joanne has worked in a wide range of roles, supporting and connecting people has remained a constant theme.
Joanne first joined PGPA in 2020 when she took on one of the first social prescriber roles in Calderdale – a new role at the time that was almost immediately impacted by the pandemic. She says: “The role was all about connecting people to services and then suddenly we couldn’t do any of that and instead it became about welfare, calling people and checking they were Ok and supporting vaccine clinics. It made us resourceful, doing anything we could to support the community.”
Today just four years later Joanne is PGPA’s Head of Programmes, managing a team of 7. She says: “I love my job! At university I discovered I love science and statistics – but it takes ages for an academic to see results. In this job we do research, gather evidence, analyse it and then crack on and make a difference! I love the fact that everything we do here has an impact on local people. All of this is made possible by having an excellent team with the right skills, knowledge and passion, such as the Digital Transformation team.”
Joanne appreciates PGPA’s respect for a work/life balance and the value it places on people with life experiences and not just those with formal qualifications. She adds “I have always felt encouraged to look after myself and that my opinions are valued, I try to ensure that others feel the same way”.
You can view PGPA’s latest vacancies by visiting our vacancies page.