From Abuse to OBE: Alison Lowe’s Story of Resilience and Power

The brilliant Alison Lowe OBE joins the We Are PoWEr Podcast - bringing energy, honesty, and a lifetime of serving others with courage and compassion. Based in Leeds and named on the 2025 Northern PoWEr Women Awards PoWEr List, Alison has spent her career challenging injustice, leading with heart, and showing that authenticity is a strength, not something to dial down.From growing up in a political household to becoming Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime in West Yorkshire, Alison has always refused to be a bystander. She shares how her mum’s confidence inspired her to embrace her true self, why living your values matters more than titles, and what receiving her OBE meant as both a daughter and a proud Black woman.Alison also opens up about the pain of childhood abuse, her journey through healing, and how honesty and openness helped her turn wounds into light – for herself and for others. Whether through her leadership at mental health charity Touchstone, her advocacy for inclusivity, or her belief in kindness above all, Alison reminds us that poWEr is not about status, but about creating spaces where people can thrive.In this episode:From political roots to Deputy Mayor for Policing and CrimeWhy bringing your whole self to work is a superpowerLiving your values, not just talking about themHealing, honesty, and transforming wounds into wisdomThe day she received her OBE and why it mattered so deeplyBuilding thriving communities through openness and kindnessWhat she’s learned as a mum, nanna, and leader⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of childhood sexual abuse.Find out more about We Are PoWEr here.  💫