Lisa Hollins, executive director of the British Red Cross’s UK operations, has been appointed co-chair of the Voluntary and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership.

The charity, which connects more than 300 community, voluntary and public sector partners across England, announced that Hollins has taken up the co-chair role on a permanent basis.

She will continue work alongside her existing co-chair Maddy Desforges, chief executive of the local infrastructure body Navca. 

Hollins has been acting co-chair since November last year, when she took over the role from Mike Adamson when he stepped down as chief executive of the BRC.

Before taking up her role at the BRC, Hollins was national director of innovation for NHS England. She has 30 years’ experience running emergency services for the NHS, including 10 years as a hospital director.

Hollins said: “Responding to crises relies on all of us working in partnership to meet the needs of our communities. I am looking forward to working with communities and organisations across the country to learn from each other to prepare for and respond to the breadth of emergencies that impact people each year.”

Desforges said: “Lisa brings significant experience and leadership to bear, to raise the profile of the work the partnership does and engage widely. 

“It is a sign of British Red Cross’s commitment to the importance of the partnership in its wider work.”

Robyn Knox, director of VCS Emergencies Partnership, said: ““The support of Lisa and the British Red Cross has been and continues to be really important to all our partners and the Emergencies Partnership team. 

“Lisa brings a great deal of experience and a powerful commitment to provide generous and curious leadership, to listen, create space and help steer our thriving partnership and sector to be better connected, better informed about risks and people’s vulnerabilities, and all in all to build resilience in a more person-centred way.”