Two new starters will shortly be joining our diocesan Transformation support hub, adding to the level of support that the team can provide to parishes.
Sharon Boardman will be joining us as Transformation Project Manager, and Fiona Edlington as Parish, HR and Recruitment Adviser. Sharon and Fiona will both walk alongside church teams, supporting clergy and lay leaders as they work to grow their churches both spiritually and numerically. As with the rest of the Transformation support hub team, both roles are funded by the national church’s Diocesan Investment Programme.
Sharon Boardman – Transformation Project Manager
Sharon is an active member of her local church in Pershore, Worcestershire. In this role, she will provide strategic project management support to those leading church and transformation initiatives—ensuring that projects are rigorously planned, financially sustainable, and well-equipped to enable meaningful impact. By taking responsibility for the operational demands of these initiatives, Sharon will enable project leads to focus more fully on their primary calling of mission and ministry.
Sharon has been working for the Diocese of Birmingham in a very similar project management role, for the past two and a half years. In that time, she has supported multiple different diocesan projects, including Church Plants and Renewals, the Children and Families Missioner Programme, a Safe Spaces project, and a new church build.
Prior to this Sharon worked for the RSPB for many years in a variety of roles, including as a Project Manager. In this role she managed two Covid response projects, one of which was a health and wellbeing project, which won an external award for the team.
In her spare time Sharon enjoys the gym and exercise classes, reading and crafting and is co-lead of the monthly craft group at her church.
Sharon said:
“I am delighted to be joining the Diocese of Worcester Transformation support hub team and am really looking forward to getting to know the different project teams and how I can support individuals with their project management processes and reporting.”
“My current role is remarkably similar; I love the variety, working with and supporting different people and making project reporting a straight forward and smooth process.”
Fiona Edlington - Parish, HR and Recruitment Adviser
Fiona went to school in Worcestershire and currently lives in Upton upon Severn. As HR and Recruitment Adviser, she will support parishes as they implement new roles created through the transformation programme. With many posts being introduced to increase capacity and enable new missional activity in parishes, Fiona will provide church leaders and PCCs with expert advice and hands-on support in recruitment, onboarding, and staff management, helping to ensure these changes are embedded effectively and sustainably.
Fiona has over 25 years of HR experience, working in both the public and private sectors. She has held positions within the NHS, Public Health England, The Priory Group and more recently with a Bristol based consultancy within the defence sector. This has given her exposure to a wide range of HR issues. To support her career, Fiona is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
In her spare time Fiona volunteers at Malvern Hills Foodbank where she also provides HR advice to the trustees. She can also be found some Saturdays in the local St Richard’s Hospice shop sorting out the donations!
Fiona’s hobbies include going to the gym, and she also enjoys getting outdoors, camping, walking and cycling.
Fiona said:
“I am really looking forward to joining the Diocese and having the opportunity to meet everyone. I am excited to visit the parishes, meeting people in their work locations and helping advise and support with recruitment and any HR issues. I have a great passion for HR and am very pleased to be able to support the Diocese in achieving its vision.”
