We chat with Leesa Harwood of the RNLI about fish suppers, talking cars and extraordinary dinner guests.

What are the most important things you've learned in your fundraising career?  

If you can get the right people in the right place at the right time doing the right thing, you’re halfway there. Combine that with a long-term outlook, some original thinking and lots of empowering leadership and you can change the world.



What is the most out-of-the-ordinary thing you've ever done?

I did a radio interview with KIT, the Knight Rider car. I went to Hollywood, California, sat in the car and had a Paxman moment with a 1982 Pontiac Trans Am. 



What's been the best moment of your career? 

Last year the chief executive and directors of the RNLI emerged from an organisational review with a transformational strategy. With a mixture of excitement, trepidation and sense of purpose, we decided to set out on an amazing journey. I remember thinking how privileged I was to have that opportunity. I will always be proud to say I was there.

What do you love most about your job?

The people. The RNLI is full of amazing people who are willing and able to do extraordinary things. Every day.



What's the most exciting new thing your organisation has coming up?  

We have embarked upon a programme of transformation that will take us to our 200th anniversary in 2024. It involves some fantastic international work, embedding fundraisers into the delivery teams instead of having a single fundraising department, a programme of community empowerment, as well as significantly investing in innovation to realise the art of the possible and save many more lives. All of that makes the RNLI a very invigorating place to be.



Who is your role model/inspiration, and why?  

My grandmother, Clara. She was a gritty, northern, working-class woman. She taught me how to be resilient, trust my instincts and be brave. My headteacher was also a big influence. She was strong but graceful, authoritative but approachable, and she inspired everyone she met. When she left the school there wasn’t a dry eye in the assembly hall! 

Which three people, living or dead, would you invite to your ideal dinner party, and why? 

The charity’s founder William Hillary; Grace Darling, who rescued the sailors of the SS Forfarhsire; and the man who helped rescue 873 lives from the North Sea, Henry Blogg (with Monte his dog under the table eating scraps!). I’d like to hear their thoughts on what they think the RNLI should look like in its 200th year. We’re making a lot of brave and innovative changes, but it will be important to stay true to the original RNLI vision and values. These are the giants on whose shoulders we stand, so it is appropriate for them to be our guidestars too. We’d have a Fish Supper!


‎Leesa Harwood is director of community lifesaving and fundraising at the RNLI.