Jon Sparkes OBE

Jon Sparkes OBE is the Chief Executive of Mencap. They currently serve as a trustee of St Petrocs (2023–Present) and as a trustee of UK for UNHCR (2025–Present). They previously served as Chief Executive of Crisis (2014–2021) and as Chief Executive of UNICEF UK (2022–2024), and as Chief Operating Officer of UNICEF UK (2012–2014). Their career includes leadership and governance roles at SeeAbility (Trustee, 2013–2017), Centre for Homelessness Impact (Trustee, 2019–2022), South Yorkshire Housing Association (Non-Executive Director, 2017–2021), SCOPE (Chief Executive, 2004–2009), Sagentia (Group HR Director, 1995–2002), Southern Derbyshire Training & Enterprise Council (Head of Organisational Development, 1993–1995), Cambridgeshire County Council (Head of Human Resources, 2002–2003), and ACEVO (Trustee, 2015–2017). They earned a BSc in Management Science from Loughborough University (1986–1990).