“It struck me then that I had to do something different – a business hybrid between the commercial and the state. I wanted to build a social model of great nurseries which could operate in poor neighbourhoods and be truly outstanding.”
About june
An inspiring speaker, author and regular media commentator on all things Early Years, Social Business and Child Poverty, for the past 10 years June O’Sullivan has been instrumental in driving a major strategic, pedagogical and cultural shift for Early Years education— introducing a new childcare model and stronger social impact through her work at the award-winning London Early Years Foundation (LEYF).
A League of Her Own
Currently Chief Executive of LEYF, the UK’s largest childcare charitable social enterprise with a family of 37 nurseries across London, June continues to break new ground with LEYF’s scalable social business model.
She is a tireless campaigner, seeking new ways to influence policy and make society a better place for all children and families.
June’s vision and passion for the long term social impact of community-based, multi-generational Early Years education means she regularly advises Governments and the Mayor of London, plus a diverse range of organisations, academics and services, at home and overseas.
June is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Trustee of London Hostels Association, Director of Social Enterprise UK, Founding Member of International Early Years, a board member of the Early Years Nutrition Partnership and Generation Success and also the Early Years advisor to the London Child Obesity Taskforce.
She was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours in 2013 for her services to London’s children, won the Social Enterprise UK Women’s Champion Award in November 2014 and, in February 2015, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Middlesex. In 2016, June was voted one of Debrett’s most influential 500, in 2017 she won the NMT Most Influential in Early Years Award and was the runner up for the 2018 Veuve Clicquot Social Purpose Award which honours female leaders whose organisations are championing social purpose.