Penny Hood is the Executive Leader, Children & Families for Barnardos Australia. Penny joined Barnardos in 2018 after an extensive 20+ year career with the NSW Government. As Executive Leader, Children & Families, Penny is responsible for all Barnardos services and programs.

She is well regarded for her strong leadership skills, which have seen her successfully lead large operational portfolios and strategic policy and program reform projects.

Penny has extensive experience working with children, young people, their families and communities across early intervention and prevention, child protection, out-of-home care, domestic and family violence, disability and housing and homelessness.

Her in-depth knowledge of the sector and passion for children’s social care has been of great benefit to Barnardos. Penny has been instrumental in guiding Barnardos through change and growth over the past few years.

As an innovator, change maker and deliverer of results, Penny leads Barnardos practitioners through the ever-shifting landscape of child protection as they strive to take the organisation to the next level under Barnardos Towards 2025 Strategic Directions.

Qualifications: BA Arts, BA Law, M Policy Studies, Specialist Certificate Implementation Science