A career grounded in people and purpose. 

Jennifer’s life has been anything but linear. After studying economics at university, she began her career on the graduate scheme at John Lewis, eventually moving into Human Resources and training. Over the years, she’s worked with major organisations including Tesco, Legal & General, and Pfizer, and even spent time lecturing in personnel management. Now retired, she devotes her energy to volunteering with organisations like Age UK, and, more recently, participating in Voice research opportunities. 

“I’ve probably worked my way through my bucket list,” she laughs. “I used to travel a lot, but now places are overcrowded. I spend more time with friends, walking, going to galleries. I’m fortunate — financially independent, in reasonable health, and I just want to keep learning.” 

Embracing the freedom that comes with age. 

For Jennifer, ageing is not something to fear — it’s a phase of life she approaches with pragmatism and gratitude. “What excites me about getting older is the freedom,” she says. “I can go to events when I want, do voluntary work, keep learning. I’m still trying to master French  — been learning for years and still can’t speak it properly!” 

She chuckles at the admission, but there’s seriousness beneath it. “I know I speak ungrammatically and forget words, but the brain still seems to be working. I do worry about how long that will last. You hope you can stay healthy. I don’t want to move into a care home, but that might happen eventually. There’s nothing I can do about it, so I try not to get too worked up. You just need to enjoy what you can, while you can.” 

Giving back through research and volunteering

Jennifer joined Voice after retiring, keen to stay engaged and contribute to causes she believes in. Her background at Pfizer gave her unique insight into how hard it can be to recruit people for research —something she now helps with from the other side. 

“I’d worked in R&D at Pfizer and knew how hard it was to get trial participants. I thought, ‘I’ve got the time now — I can help.’ I signed up, and I get the Friday updates. If something comes up that I can do, I do it.” It’s not just about filling in surveys. “I like feeling that I’m contributing to something. You think about all the health and medical advances in my lifetime — it’s a way of giving something back.” 

Staying mentally active and connected. 

So, what does Jennifer get out of being involved with Voice? “I think it’s about staying personally engaged,” she says. “Some of the research is fascinating — especially the tech side. I remember when I was volunteering in East Africa with VSO, the hospital I worked with was off the beaten track. The medical director had a system where he could send photos to experts in Europe for diagnosis via smartphone. It was revolutionary then. That stuck with me — how tech and human collaboration can change lives.” 

Why listening to lived experience matters. 

With her extensive HR background, Jennifer has seen the impact of both listening — and not listening —to people. She’s a firm believer that businesses and researchers need to hear from real people if they want to create products and services that truly work. 

“There’s so much market research aimed at selling you stuff,” she says. “But how much effort goes into designing something people actually need? Very little. Especially for women and minority groups. I’m not a minority myself, but I’ve worked in industries that were very closed to their customers, and I always thought: why are consultants giving answers without asking the right questions?” 

Encouraging others to get involved. 

Jennifer is passionate about encouraging others to join Voice  — especially those who think they don’t have anything to contribute. Everyone has their own experience, and it’s important we hear from all walks of life — not just the rich, white, privileged people.” 

And for younger people? 

“What you do when you’re 30 will show when you’re 70,” she says. “Start thinking about your health and environment now. I remember getting into whole foods when my kids were little. I used to say, ‘You’re pumping vitamins into your children — but what about you?’” 

Final thoughts: A life of purpose 

She adds, “It’s about being part of something bigger. The more people who come in, the more representative it becomes. It’s easy to get stuck at home, only seeing people like yourself. This keeps you in touch with the world.” Whether she’s helping people with benefits claims at the library, ambling around London, or filling out surveys that shape the future of healthcare, Jennifer Taylor embodies what it means to age with curiosity, purpose, and generosity. 

“I think I did something right,” she says with a smile. “And now, I want to give something back.”