Joanna Elson

Vice Chair

Joanna is Chief Executive of Independent Age, a national charity providing support for older people facing financial hardship.

The charity offers free and impartial advice and information, and grants for community organisations. It also works with Parliamentarians and other key stakeholders to make sure older people facing financial hardship have sufficient income and receive the financial support they’re entitled to, are protected from unfair or avoidable costs, have the connections and support they need in their communities, and live in safe, secure and suitable housing with the care and support they need. Previously, Joanna was CEO of Money Advice Trust, the charity running National Debtline and Business Debtline, whose vision is to help people across the UK to tackle their debts and manage their money with confidence.

Joanna is a director of the financial services trade association UK Finance, representing vulnerable consumers, Chair of the Advisory Board at Birmingham University’s Centre on Household Assets and Savings Management, and a member of the Government’s Financial Inclusion Policy Forum. She is also Vice Chair of the Friends Provident Foundation, a Chartered Director and a Director of Fair 4 All Finance, which is using dormant assets to increase financial inclusion.

She lives in North London with her husband, Simon Horne, who is a Headteacher, and their three daughters. In her spare time she reads, sings, cycles and climbs Munros.