At Success Works, we believe real change is led by real insight. We are proud to welcome Tove to our Board, a lived experience advocate whose journey reflects resilience, growth, and purpose.
Tove brings more than governance expertise. She brings a perspective shaped by firsthand experience of the challenges many of the women we support face. Her voice is grounded in authenticity and driven by a deep commitment to dignity, opportunity, and meaningful employment.
In this conversation, Tove shares her journey, what inspires her work, and why lived experience belongs at the heart of leadership and decision-making.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey?
I had a stable upbringing and attended university but over time I became involved in violent relationships that affected my wellbeing. During this period, my alcohol and drug use increased, eventually leading to involvement with the criminal justice system. Although this was a difficult chapter, it became a turning point.
Since rebuilding my life, I have faced the barriers to employment that many women with justice system involvement experience, despite being qualified and capable. These experiences shaped my passion for helping women rebuild confidence, rediscover purpose, and achieve financial independence. I believe meaningful employment is one of the strongest pathways to restoring dignity, fostering independence, and reducing recidivism.
What inspired you to get involved with Success Works?
I was inspired by the passion of the team and the meaningful impact Success Works has on women’s lives. Their focus on dignity, independence, and employment strongly aligns with my values and lived experience. I’m also motivated by the opportunity to contribute at a governance level, bringing a lived experience perspective to support impactful decision-making.
How does your lived experience shape the perspective you bring to this role?
My lived experience gives me a deeply personal understanding of the barriers many women face when rebuilding their lives, particularly after involvement with the justice system. It has shaped my awareness of how identity, confidence, and opportunity can be impacted and how critical the right support at the right time can be.
It also brings a strong sense of empathy and authenticity to my role, alongside a clear belief in the power of employment to restore dignity and independence. I am committed to ensuring that the voices and realities of the women Success Works supports are reflected in decision-making, and that services remain grounded in what truly makes a difference.
Why is it important to have people with lived experience involved in leadership and governance?
Having people with lived experience in leadership and governance brings authenticity, depth, and accountability to decision-making. It ensures that strategies and services are grounded in the realities of those they are designed to support, rather than assumptions.
Lived experience perspectives also challenge systems to be more inclusive, responsive, and compassionate. They help highlight barriers that may otherwise be overlooked and identify what truly makes a difference in practice.
What impact do you hope to help achieve through your role on the board?
I hope to bring a perspective that inspires decisions grounded in dignity, possibility, and real-world impact. By combining lived experience with professional insight, I aim to help shape inclusive strategies that expand opportunities for women to rebuild their lives through employment.
Ultimately, I want to contribute to a board that continues to lead with purpose, challenge barriers, and create lasting change for the women Success Works supports.
What message would you share with others who may be considering stepping into leadership roles with lived experience?
Your lived experience is not a limitation – it’s a strength. It brings insight, courage, and authenticity that organisations genuinely need. If you’ve ever questioned whether your voice belongs in leadership spaces, it does. I am not saying that everyone needs to know your whole story; – they don’t. But if there is an opportunity to create pathways for others, shaping better systems, and showing what’s possible. Your perspective has the power to influence meaningful change.
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