This week I am delighted to share a very special milestone — the 80th episode of Success Is Never Accidental.

Reaching this point feels significant, and I want to sincerely thank every guest who has so generously shared their wisdom, experiences and leadership insights over the years, as well as all of you who continue to listen, watch, support and encourage the podcast journey. Your engagement and feedback mean a great deal.

In Episode 80, I am joined by Patricia Lewsley-Mooney CBE, whose lifelong commitment to public service, children’s rights, inclusion and social justice has left an extraordinary impact across Northern Ireland and beyond. Patricia’s leadership combines conviction, practicality and persistence in a way that is both inspiring and deeply grounded.

Some of the key themes from our conversation include:

• The importance of bringing positive energy and focus as a leader
• Why practical action matters just as much as vision
• Building collaboration across differences to create meaningful change
• Leading with values, fairness and inclusion at the centre
• Understanding that sustainable change happens step by step
• Remaining open-minded, resilient and persistent even when facing resistance

One particularly powerful reflection from Patricia reminds us that dignity and inclusion are often found in the simple everyday experiences many people take for granted.

As always, I hope the conversation encourages reflection on your own leadership journey and the difference each of us can make through persistence, compassion and collaboration.

Thank you again for being part of the Success Is Never Accidental community.

I am pleased to share the latest episode of Success Is Never Accidental featuring Dr. Raul Mercer — an internationally respected leader in children’s health, public health policy, and children’s rights.

Dr. Mercer’s work spans clinical practice, global policy, and academic leadership, with collaborations involving WHO, UNICEF, the Lancet Commission, University College London, and major international child development initiatives.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The importance of collective leadership and global collaboration
• Why effective leaders must think systemically across sectors
• The role of respect and partnership in driving meaningful change
• Creating environments that enable wellbeing and innovation
• Why children’s rights must move beyond policy statements into everyday practice

This episode offers practical leadership reflections for anyone working in health, education, social care, public policy, or organisational leadership.

One particularly powerful challenge from Raul:
Where are children’s voices currently absent in decision-making — and what can we do to change that?

I hope you find the discussion thought-provoking and valuable.

I wanted to share the latest episode of Success Is Never Accidental, which was a particularly meaningful one for me.

Recently I had the opportunity to host a very distinguished ambassador for children’s rights in our studio in Newry, Northern Ireland.

Dr Ali Shaar is an expert in child health and public health in Palestine and a founder member of the International Network on Peacebuilding among Young Children. His work focuses on shaping national and international policy, actively promoting children’s rights and creating more stable societies.

Our conversation explores the importance of international collaboration, the need for countries to learn from one another, and the critical role of children as active participants in building peace.

It is a thoughtful and, at times, challenging discussion, with clear relevance across leadership, policy, and community settings.

As always, I would value your reflections.