Helen has been Head of Radio 2 since August 2020, previously holding the role of the station’s Head of Content Commissioning since 2018, having previously worked as the station’s Network Editor.

Growing up in Hull, Helen started her career in News working at BBC 5 Live, The Today Programme on BBC Radio 4 and then Newsbeat at Radio 1 before moving into music programming at BBC World Service, before returning to Radio 4 to produce Front Row.

In 2003 she joined Radio 2 (the UK’s most listened to radio station with 13.6m listeners each week – RAJAR Q4 2024) to produce the Johnnie Walker Drivetime Show, subsequently launching the Chris Evans Drivetime Show in 2006 and Breakfast Show in 2010, when Chris took over from Sir Terry Wogan.

Helen led the first ever BBC Music Pop Up digital radio station (Radio 2 Eurovision) and has also brokered major partnerships with the likes of the RHS, The Space and Art Fund. Under her tenure the station has mounted two record breaking fundraising initiatives for Children in Need - Vernon Kay’s Ultra Ultra Marathon Challenge in 2023, which raised over £6m, and Paddy McGuinness’ Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge in 2024, which raised over £10m.   

Helen was Creative Director of the Radio Academy’s Radio Festival in 2016 and was a founder member of the Young Audio Awards steering committee. In 2018, she was nominated as Individual Of The Year at the Arias. Helen is also Chair of the Radio Academy and is a Trustee of BBC ‘Children in Need.