Sandra Horley CBE, has worked with women and children escaping domestic violence for over thirty years. Since 1983 she has been chief executive of Refuge, the world's first refuge founded in Chiswick, for women escaping domestic violence.

Sandra is a committed campaigner on behalf of abused women and lobbies for changes in policy and legislation. She frequently acts as an expert witness in murder cases where the accused is an abused woman. She has published two books (Power and Control and Love and Pain) on the subject of domestic violence and has written numerous articles for the national press and professional journals. She also frequently gives talks and interviews and has conducted award winning advertising and media campaigns.

In 1999 she was appointed OBE for ‘services to the protection of women and children’.

On the 15th November 2006 the London South Bank University conferred upon Sandra the award of Honorary Fellow in recognition of her dedication and commitment to the protection of women and children both nationally and internationally.

Sandra was named the Voluntary Sector Achiever of the Year at the Dods and Scottish Widows Women in Public Life Awards 2008 and she was also chosen by the panel of judges to receive the prestigious Outstanding Achiever of the Year Award in recognition of her commitment and leadership over the last 25 years.

Sandra is on the judging panel for the Guardian’s Public Service Awards 2010.

She was named one of the 100 most influential women in the UK today by National Magazine Company and Hearst UK in 2010.

In 2011 Sandra was appointed CBE for ‘services to the prevention of domestic violence’.

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