My name is Ros Preston, OBE. I started volunteering when I was about 22 or 23. In 1975, the United Nations had something called the ‘Decade for Women’ in the form of three or four major conferences around the world. I attended, and when I came back, I said to my husband, “I feel I know more about women in Africa and Asia than I do in England.”

I then found out about an organisation called the National Council of Women, which suited me very well. I undertook various positions and finally became president in 1988. It was only a two-year period, but during that period, I got to meet lots and lots of people at all levels in all parts of the world.

"Eventually, I got the phone call to ask me about JVN. They wanted somebody who had already had a bit of experience and asked if I’d take a position, which I said I'd be happy to do because I thought it was a great idea. And there we are!"