Samantha Carpenter

My story...

I’ve never taken a straight path through life or work, and I think that’s where my strength lies. I started my career in the Royal Navy, then aboard the River Thames passenger boats, patrol boats, worked in environmental protection and regulation, and eventually found my purpose in equality, diversity and wellbeing. I’m not someone who arrived in this field through textbooks - I arrived through people, challenges, and a belief that work should feel fair, human and supportive.Today, I’m an Equality, Diversity and Wellbeing Officer based in Wales, but I still carry everything I’ve learned from the roles that came before. I understand pressure, responsibility and the importance of being trusted. I’ve worked in rooms where people need rules, and others where people need compassion. Somewhere along the way, I realised my role in life is to make workplaces kinder, clearer and more equitable - not in theory, but in practice.I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I care deeply about asking the right questions: Is this fair? Does this help people? Would I feel safe here? That’s the thread that runs through my whole story, and it’s the reason I do what I do.

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What I do and why it matters

I work in equality, diversity and staff wellbeing, but to me it’s never been about policies on paper. My work is about people and making sure they feel seen, supported and treated fairly at work. I help shape how organisations talk, listen and respond, especially when it comes to inclusion, dignity and mental wellbeing.At WCVA, I manage our EDI and wellbeing work from the inside out: developing clear and humane policies, delivering training, supporting managers and making sure our decisions reflect real human lives, not just procedures. I keep up to date with Welsh and UK legislation so that what we do isn’t just legal, but genuinely fair.In practice, my work includes:• Delivering equality and inclusion training for all staff• Writing and reviewing policies in plain, accessible language• Supporting staff wellbeing and individual adjustments• Advising leadership on culture and inclusion decisions• Managing the EDI and wellbeing budget responsibly• Tracking Welsh and UK legislation to keep us accountableWhat matters most to me is creating workplaces where people don’t have to hide who they are to feel safe. A place where someone can ask for help without fear, raise concerns without being dismissed, and feel valued for more than their job title. That’s why I do this work - because inclusion should be lived, not just written.

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What I do and why it matters

I didn’t arrive in EDI through theory. I arrived through people, responsibility and real-world work. Every role I’ve held has shaped how I support others today.Equality, Diversity and Wellbeing Officer (July 2021 to Present)
WCVA, Cardiff
At WCVA I lead work to enhance inclusion, wellbeing and culture across a workforce spread throughout Wales. I deliver organisation-wide training, update policies into plain, human language, support staff through personal challenges and keep us aligned with Welsh and UK equality legislation. My role isn’t just strategic; it’s personal. I’m often the person someone turns to when they need fairness, understanding or simply someone who will listen.Senior Equalities Advisor (August 2014 to December 2019)
Natural Resources Wales, Cardiff
Before WCVA I worked on equality and inclusion at a national level. I supported the delivery of Strategic Equality Plans, worked with Welsh Government and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and collaborated with staff networks and trade unions. This role taught me how policy and culture interact, and how easily one can fail without the other.Senior Permitting Officer and Environment Officer (1998 to 2014)
Environment Agency Wales
I spent many years working across permitting, regulation and community engagement. These roles were demanding and technical but they grounded me in public service, accountability and the importance of earning trust.After leaving military service I spent time adjusting to civilian life and gaining my licences to work on the River Thames, which led to my role as a Boatmaster.Boatmaster (1995 to 1998)
French Brothers, Windsor
I captained passenger vessels on the River Thames, taking full responsibility for safety, crew management and public service. It was a role that required calm judgement, leadership and care for others, qualities I carry with me to this day.Leading Aircraft Controller (1985 to 1993)
Royal Navy
My working life began in the Royal Navy, where I served at sea in high-pressure operational environments. It was here I first learned what responsibility truly means. When people rely on you, you don’t look away. That experience has stayed with me in every role since.

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What I care about

I care about creating spaces where people feel safe to be themselves. Not perfect, not polished - just human. I believe that work should never cost someone their dignity or wellbeing, and that fairness should be felt, not just written into policy.In every role I’ve held, I’ve seen how powerful it is when people feel heard. I’ve also seen how damaging it can be when they don’t. That is why my work is rooted in listening, plain language and practical kindness. I do not believe inclusion is about statements; it's about everyday decisions that show someone they matter.For me, equality work is not about ticking boxes. It is about making sure no one is left out of the room, and that the door is held open for those who have not always been invited in.I believe inclusion should be something people feel, not something they are told.

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Beyond work

Away from job titles and policies, I carry the same values into my life that I bring to my work. I believe in responsibility, calm in difficult moments and treating people with respect, whatever their story. Much of that was shaped during my time serving in the Royal Navy, where I learned what it means to be relied on and to stand steady for others.I am grounded by ordinary things. Quiet moments, good conversations and the company of my cat, Solomon. I do not believe in rushing life. I believe in showing up, listening properly and leaving people better than I found them.

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