Veronica Moraa Pickering
Veronica is an Executive Coach and Consultant who champions the needs of diverse communities and advises organisations on diversity and inclusion strategies and partnership development.
Veronica was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire in May 2013 and was appointed and approved by Her Majesty the Queen as an RAF Honorary Air Commodore for 504 (Nottingham County Squadron) in September 2018. Veronica is an RSPB Council Member and RSPB England Committee Member, she is also a National Ambassador for the Woodland Trust and an Ambassador/Trustee for many organisations and charities.
In March 2023, Veronica was installed as High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, becoming the first black person to hold this role.
Veronica in the Media
High Sheriff
In March 2023, Veronica became the first black person to be installed as High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire.
The Office of High Sheriff Is an independent non-political Roy appointment for a single year. Although the duties have evolved over time, the High Sheriff has always had an important role in supporting the Crown, maintaining law and order and the administration of justice.
In Veronica's words:
"I am absolutely delighted and privileged to be taking up this historic role and also to be the first woman of colour in Nottinghamshire to be High Sheriff. In my year in office I will be focusing on highlighting the achievements of young people and the communities and organisations that support them."
Areas of Work
Veronica is highly attuned to the needs of others. Her natural talent for seeing past what is presented helps people and organisations to more effectively assess their needs, review their progress and celebrate their achievements. This is a trait that runs across all three areas of her work.
Executive Coaching
Veronica is an experienced and sought-after Executive Coach. She works with people from all walks of life, sensitively and flexibly, to support their individual needs and nurture their talents. She offers a relaxed, solution-focussed and person-centred coaching style, providing a safe, supportive and open space for her clients to bring about change.
Veronica holds a Diploma in Coaching and Mentoring and is a member and Senior Practitioner of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC).
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consulting
DE&I is a passion which is integral to Veronica’s being and is a theme which runs throughout all her work, including her presence as a coach. She advises businesses and organisations on all aspects of DE&I, helping them to develop, or to build on, policies, practices and programmes that address injustice, champion the rights of all people and enable culture change.
In addition, Veronica acts as a DE&I Ambassador for organisations such as the RAF and the RSPB. She is the DE&I Chair for Nottinghamshire Lieutenancy and hosts ‘Black Women Talking’, an online support group for women of colour.
Partnership Development
For over 30 years, Veronica has been bringing together people and organisations with the aim of making a positive difference to the lives of people and communities in the UK, around the world and particularly in her birthplace of Kenya.
She is a lifelong campaigner for diversity, young people, the arts and wildlife conservation, which combined with her drive and tenacity for making things better and for ‘circumventing nonsense’, means she is often invited to partner with and advise organisations in the UK and internationally. Veronica was recently appointed Visiting Professor of Resilience and Inclusion at the University of Lincoln International Business School and is a patron, ambassador and trustee of a number of organisations, details of which can be found below.
About Veronica
Early Life & Career
Veronica Moraa Pickering was born in Kenya and moved to England with her parents in the late 60’s; settling in East London. The English language and culture was completely new to her, meaning that to understand and navigate it, she became an active observer and listener early on in life, skills which today enable her to attune to the individual needs of her clients and organisations. For more than 25 years, Veronica worked in the public sector as a Social Worker, Children's Guardian and as an International Child Protection Consultant for the UN, where she worked with non-government organisations and the judiciary, supporting vulnerable people and their families in the UK and across Africa.
Making History
Veronica is proud to be the first black woman to hold any of the following appointments:
Deputy Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire
Appointed May, 2013
Lieutenancy EDI Committee Chair
RAF Honorary Air Commodore for 504 (County of Nottingham Squadron)
Appointed and approved by Her Majesty the Queen September, 2018
High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
Appointment began April, 2023
Today
In addition to the appointments above, Vernonica now works as an Executive Coach and Consultant, supporting companies and organisations across the UK. She is married to Nottinghamshire-born artist Roy Pickering and lives in North Nottinghamshire. For many years Veronica has been a strong supporter of the arts and of wildlife conservation charities. She is an is an RSPB Council Member and RSPB England Committee Member, aswell as an Ambassador/Trustee for a number of Nottinghamshire charities and organisations.
Patron/Ambassador
Lincoln International Business School (Visiting Professor)
The Woodland Trust
UK RAF Museums
Mojatu Foundation Nottingham
Trustee
RSPB
Nottinghamshire YMCA (Robin Hood Group)
