About us

Jolanta joined the Trust as Chief Executive and Principal in September 2018.

Originally from Krakow, Poland, Jolanta holds an MA as a qualified teacher of children with special needs. She went on to specialise in teaching deaf children, and on coming to the UK in 1995, she obtained an MSc qualification in educational audiology. Jolanta has been the leader of the PAN-London Children's Audiology Services network, secretary of the British Association of Educational Audiologists, and former Chair of South East England Heads of Services and Schools for the Deaf consortium.

After working with a number of Local Authorities during her career, in her previous role Jolanta held a unique post that encompassed leadership in both Health and Special Education. She combined the roles of Head of the Children's Audiology Centre at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation Trust, in London, also Head of South East London Newborn Hearing Screening, with the post of Head of Hearing Support Services for the London Borough of Southwark. Additionally, in the Evelina Hospital Community Directorate, she had leadership responsibility for children's therapy services and community outreach services.

Jolanta has a national and international reputation, particularly for the development of innovative services, and was responsible for the development and establishment of the renowned Hummingbird Clinic, to date the only UK based specialist clinic for hearing assessment for children with autism and additional special needs. She is a frequent speaker at conferences at home and abroad, and has acted in an advisory capacity to the National Deaf Children's Society in the development of UK Quality Standards for Early Years provision. She serves as a member of an international working group on the development of new approaches to family centred care and support, and is actively involved in research in the field with a number of high profile partners in academia and industry.

Outside of work, Jolanta has a passion for literature and classical music, especially opera. Interests include travel and she is a keen Nordic walker. On joining the Trust, she has moved to Cheshire from Southwark, SE London with her husband and teenage daughter.

To get in touch with Jolanta, please email her PA, Hayley Rose on hayley.rose@seashelltrust.org.uk