THE CHIEF Executive of Essex-based care home group will be among the invited guests at the King’s Coronation this weekend.
Registered nurse, Joanne Balmer, who has a career in health and social care spanning more than 20 years, leads the Oakland Care company which has its head office in Chigwell.
Ms Balmer said: "I am both surprised and very honoured to be asked to attend this historic event!
"I can’t believe that I have been chosen from millions of people for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"I’m very much looking forward to it and to sharing as much as I can from the day with our residents!"
Ms Balmer was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2021 in recognition of her leadership of Oakland Care during the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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She began her career as a nurse and progressed through a number of management roles before moving into the care sector.
She has also led the first care home group, which globally received a ‘Green World’ award for sustainability, which recognises, rewards and promotes environmental best practices around the world.
Staff from its homes in Chigwell and Loughton have planted in excess of 1,100 trees as part of Essex County Council’s Essex Forest initiative, with the aim to plant at least 1,000 in the county every year.
She was also the winner of the Environmental, Social, and Governance title in the recent Health Investor Power 50 awards.
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"A passion for the environment is certainly something King Charles and I share," Ms Balmer added.
"I’m looking forward to being able to visit all of our homes and share my experience with the residents, many of whom remember the Queen’s Coronation from their childhoods.
"They have a great interest in the Royal Family and it will be lovely to tell them all about it!"
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