Lucy Swanson has held leadership roles in the public, private and third sectors throughout her career, working across boundaries to tackle complex social challenges. 

Lucy developed her interest in sustainable and equitable finance for community development while Head of Community Relations for NatWest Group, where she managed NatWest’s grant-making charitable trust and was a Director of its pioneering impact investment programmes. She later gained policy and regulatory experience within government including as Chief of Staff at the Competition Commission and Network Strategy Director at Postcomm.

Lucy has supported charities through strategic growth and change in various roles as an adviser, funder, manager and board member. She has enjoyed working in different settings since her early front-line work as Head of Maths at a rural secondary school in Zimbabwe, and delivering therapeutic music activities in a children’s home in Kingston, Jamaica.

More recently she commissioned additional music and family services for primary, secondary and SEND school communities in South London as Director of Oval Learning. 

I am inspired by music’s potential to heal and connect individuals and nurture communities in challenging circumstances. As a lifelong player, singer and listener – who appreciates the incredible impact of small and mighty charities – I am delighted to join the board of Music as Therapy International for its next chapter.