Simone Roche MBE – Champion of Gender Equality and Social Value in the UK

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Simone Roche MBE, a proud Liverpudlian, is one of the UK’s most influential advocates for gender equality, inclusion, and leadership development. Born in June 1969 in Liverpool, England, she grew up in the North West of England and attended Scarisbrick Hall School, followed by KGV Sixth Form College. Her Northern roots remain central to her mission of empowering individuals and communities across the region.

Career Beginnings – Service in the Royal Navy

Simone’s professional journey began in 1988 when she joined the Royal Navy at just seventeen. Over seven years she rose from Radio Operator to Lieutenant, gaining invaluable discipline, leadership, and resilience. Her military background shaped the inclusive and team-centred approach that defines her later ventures. Decades later, her enduring connection with the Royal Navy was recognised through appointment as Honorary Lieutenant Commander in 2020 and later Honorary Captain in 2021, honours personally approved by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Corporate and Event-Leadership Roles

After leaving naval service, Simone entered the leisure and hospitality sector. She worked in leadership positions at Aintree Racecourse, Southport Theatre & Floral Hall Complex, Pleasure Beach Blackpool, and ACC Liverpool, where she built expertise in events management and client engagement.

Her ability to connect people and orchestrate memorable experiences led her to senior roles at People 1st International and as Client Services Manager – Marketing Partner for London 2012 (LOCOG), one of the world’s most complex and diverse event projects. These experiences shaped her understanding of how collaboration and inclusion create impact.

The Birth of a Movement – Northern Power Women

In 2015, Simone Roche MBE founded Northern Power Women (NPW), a social-impact organisation designed to accelerate gender equality and close the gender pay gap across the North of England. Under her leadership, NPW has grown into a powerful network connecting thousands of professionals, businesses, and changemakers.

The organisation’s aims include:

Recognising the North of England as a force for good in achieving gender balance.
Promoting positive change for women in business and leadership.
Tackling the gender pay gap and empowering female entrepreneurs.
Encouraging organisations to invest in female talent pipelines.
Creating opportunities for both women and men to collaborate, learn, and lead.

The Northern Power Women Awards became one of the UK’s leading platforms for celebrating role models who drive equality and inclusion across sectors.

Expanding the Vision – The Power Collective and We Are Power

Simone’s passion for connection and empowerment gave rise to several sister initiatives forming the wider “Power Ecosystem”:

The Power Platform

Founded in 2020, this community brings together people and opportunities through guiding principles of “Pay it Forward, Be Generous, Make a Difference.”

The Power Collective CIC / Northern Power Futures

Launched in 2018, this social enterprise hosts festivals and interactive sessions exploring the future of work, community, and wellbeing. It provides a forum where young professionals discuss how they will lead the North’s future.

We Are Power

Established in 2024, We Are Power unites all of Simone’s initiatives under one banner, promoting social value, role modelling, and leadership development. As Founder and CEO, she curates events, mentoring circles, and digital platforms connecting diverse voices across industries.

Recognition and Honours

Simone Roche’s contributions have earned her widespread recognition:

Awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to gender equality.
Named Honorary Captain, Royal Navy, acknowledging her exemplary service and ongoing advocacy.
Regularly listed among the most influential Northern leaders driving diversity and inclusion.
A frequent keynote speaker at conferences such as She Leads for Legacy, promoting authentic leadership and allyship.

Her social-media presence (@SimoneRoche on X and @simoneroche on Instagram) reflects her authentic voice—celebrating everyday role models, highlighting women’s achievements, and encouraging kindness and connection. She is known for the line, “bringing great people to great people, in a great place, at the right time.”

Leadership Philosophy – Connection, Purpose, and Inclusion

Core Beliefs

Simone Roche MBE believes in creating power with, not power over. Her work embodies collaboration rather than competition. By elevating others, she strengthens communities and organisations alike.

Her leadership style blends military discipline, event-management precision, and social-enterprise empathy—a rare combination that makes her both strategic and compassionate. She emphasises that true progress arises when people are seen, heard, and supported.

Focus on Social Value

Through We Are Power, Simone promotes the integration of social value into business decisions—ensuring that inclusion, wellbeing, and equity are measured alongside profit. She encourages companies to consider how their choices impact communities, not just balance sheets.

Championing Representation

Simone’s vision extends beyond gender. She actively supports intersectional inclusion, amplifying voices from different ethnicities, faiths, and social backgrounds. Her participation in events like She Leads for Legacy exemplifies her belief that diversity is the foundation of innovation.

Personal Life

Simone Roche MBE is based in Liverpool, England, where she famously lives on a boat, symbolising independence and creativity. She is married to Rob Monks, who works closely with her ventures as Operations Director at We Are Power. Together they have children, and she often references how her work aims to build a fairer world for future generations.

Away from her public role, Simone enjoys community volunteering and being part of Colla Jove Tarragona, a Catalan human-tower group (“Castellera”), reflecting her love of teamwork and cultural collaboration.

Impact and Legacy

Simone Roche MBE has redefined what it means to lead with authenticity and heart. Her initiatives have:

Connected thousands of professionals through mentoring and events.
Empowered women to take leadership positions across sectors.
Influenced corporate and public-sector policies on gender balance and inclusion.
Built bridges between business, military, and community leadership.

She remains a key voice in shaping Britain’s equality and social-value agenda—proving that regional action can drive national change.

Simone Roche MBE – A Vision for the Future

Simone’s next chapter focuses on scaling the We Are Power movement globally, fostering international partnerships, and integrating social value metrics into organisational performance. She envisions a world where power is shared, not hoarded—where leaders at every level pay it forward to create lasting impact.

Her story is more than a biography; it is a call to action. Simone Roche MBE reminds us that leadership is not defined by titles or authority but by the courage to connect, include, and uplift others.

Quick Facts

Attribute	Details
Full Name	Simone Joanna Roche MBE
Born	June 1969 (aged 56)
Residence	Liverpool, United Kingdom
Occupation	Founder & CEO of We Are Power and Northern Power Women
Military Honour	Honorary Captain, Royal Navy
Education	Scarisbrick Hall School; KGV Sixth Form College
Spouse	Rob Monks
Children	Two (undisclosed names)
Known For	Gender equality, social value advocacy, and leadership empowerment
Personal Motto	“Bringing great people to great people, in a great place, at the right time.”

Simone Roche MBE stands as a symbol of modern British leadership—courageous, compassionate, and committed to progress. Through her networks and her own example, she continues to build a movement that proves the true measure of power is how generously it is shared.

FAQs

1. Who is Simone Roche MBE?

Simone Roche MBE is a Liverpool-based social entrepreneur, Honorary Captain in the Royal Navy, and the Founder & CEO of We Are Power and Northern Power Women, organisations promoting gender equality and social value across the UK.

2. What does Simone Roche MBE do?

She leads nationwide initiatives that connect and celebrate women in leadership, tackle the gender pay gap, and inspire inclusive business practices through awards, events, and mentoring programmes.

3. What is We Are Power?

We Are Power is a social-impact platform founded by Simone Roche MBE to unite individuals and organisations committed to equality, authenticity, and community-driven leadership.