♀️Swindon & Wiltshire’s Most Inspiring Women 2026 | Kellie Chandler

To mark International Women’s Day 2026, we’re celebrating Swindon & Wiltshire’s most inspiring women.

Through our website and social media channels, we asked our readers which women in our community inspire them and created a list of 20. The list will be featured in our Spring magazine and every weekday throughout March we are profiling and championing each of these fantastic women online and via our social feeds.

Today we put the spotlight on Kellie Chandler, Director of People and Wellbeing at Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance charity.

Tell us about you and your work…

I have worked at Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance for nearly seven years and am Director of People and Wellbeing. It is a privilege to be part of such an incredible charity. Our workforce includes charity staff, paramedics, pilots and doctors, all united by a shared commitment to serving our community. I am passionate about creating a positive, supportive workplace where individuals and teams feel valued and able to thrive.

What are you most proud of?

I am proud to be raising three incredible, independent-thinking daughters who are each finding their own paths. It is not always an easy time to be growing up, with so much focus on social media and outside pressures, but watching them grow in confidence, develop their own values and make their way in the world is a constant reminder of what really matters.

How does it feel to be recognised as one of Swindon & Wiltshire’s most inspiring women?

I feel genuinely humbled. Working in HR, you can sometimes be seen primarily as the enforcer of policy, so it is incredibly touching to know that the wider, human side of the role is noticed and valued. To be recognised in this way means a great deal, particularly knowing it comes from the people I work alongside and support.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

During lockdown, I joined Business Women in Wiltshire, whose motto is “When women support each other, incredible things happen.” Since then, I have celebrated several International Women’s Days with them, and the energy in the room is always remarkable.

For me, International Women’s Day is about collective strength – women championing one another, sharing experiences openly and lifting each other up. It is both a celebration and a reminder of how powerful it is when women intentionally create space for one another to succeed.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme asks us to think about how giving benefits everyone. What’s an example from your work or community life where supporting another woman led to something meaningful in return?

At Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance, around a third of our paramedics and doctors are women, and our CEO, Director of Finance and Infrastructure, Medical Director, Director of Income Generation and I are all female. Many have progressed within the charity over time.

By creating a culture that supports development and encourages women to step forward into leadership and clinical roles, we have seen the impact ripple outwards. Visible female role models strengthen confidence, influence recruitment and bring diverse perspectives that ultimately benefit the whole organisation and the community we serve.

What piece of advice would you share with your younger self?
It is a long game – things tend to work out. Trust your instincts and try to enjoy the moment more.

This feature is sponsored by Goughs Solicitors. The team at Goughs believe in championing ambition, celebrating achievement and creating opportunities for women to connect, lead and thrive.