Baroness Jolly

Biography

Baroness Jolly was appointed as the Lords Whip at the Department of Health; the Ministry of Defence; and at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (except on broadcasting) in October 2013. At the same time she was also appointed as a Baroness-in-Waiting.

She is a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords.

Education

Baroness Jolly attended school in Warwick before studying at the University of Leeds where she gained a degree in Engineering, then Nottingham University where she trained to teach mathematics.

Political career

Joined the Liberal Party in 1984.

Appointments:

  • 2007 Chair of Devon and Cornwall Regional Executive
  • 2010 appointed to the House of Lords
  • 2011 appointed as Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Committee on Health and Social Care

Career outside politics

The majority of her professional life was spent in the far southwest of England. She taught mathematics for over 15 years and then became a pioneer of IT in schools.

Whilst in Oman for 3 years, she worked in the British Council teaching English as a foreign language and mentoring NVQ management students.

In 1997 she was appointed as a non executive director for an NHS Trust for Mental Health and Learning Disability and then an NHS Primary Care Trust, finally chairing the North & East Cornwall NHS Primary Care Trust Board. She was a Lay Inspector for the Commission for Health Improvement.

She has been very active in the community and not for profit sectors - on the boards of Citizens Advice Bureau, Credit Union, regeneration organisations and a member of the Diocesan Synod.

Personal life

Baroness Jolly lives in Cornwall. Her husband is retired, they have 2 sons.