Experienced Trustee, NED & Chair

Enthusiastic, flexible & a fast learner. I have experience with director/trustee roles with several charities and the chairing of committees; as well as running my own business since 2017

My professional background is as a qualified optician and I have been involved with optics since 2004. During this time I have studied several optical qualifications, including my MSc. I spent over 5 years as senior lecturer & professional lead at a University, where I chaired several committees and demonstrated great skill in working with collaborative partners to achieve shared goals, working as an effective team.

Over the years I have become used to dealing with governance and regulatory frameworks (both educational and healthcare/optical) which have been helped by my ability to think creatively, analytically and a willingness to modify my thinking in the light of new information/dialogue and to respect the differing views of others. My most recent qualification is a Certificate in Charity Law and Governance.

I continue to keep up-to-date with what is happening in the sector and complete CPD on a regular basis. This is achieved though my membership of several professional bodies, including the Institute of Directors, where I am working towards Chartered Director status.

I am currently a non-executive director/trustee for the following charities: -

• Carers Support East Kent (Vice chair and Chair of the People & Governance subcommittee)
• Vision Care for Homeless People – A national charity where I also chair the PR and Fundraising subcommittee
• Kent Association for the Blind
• Communigrow - I am the business development trustee and also have responsibility for governance
• The British Contact Lens Association – Council Member. I also sit on the Membership committee and the Education committee. As well as being chair of the Fellowship subcommittee.

I also sit on the Education & Learning Committee of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) as a Lay Member.

Previous roles

• British Council for Prevention of Blindness (as well as sitting on the advisory panel which scrutinised the applications we received)
• Emmaus (Medway) as well as being a trustee/director I sat on the Finance, Audit and Risk committee
• Bemix CIC – Interim Co-chair for the Supported Employment programmes. I spent 6 months implementing changes to strengthen the governance and to implement an action plan following an Ofsted inspection
• The Association of British Dispensing Opticians – a member of the board of directors, as well as being secretary for the South East and sitting on the Continuing Education and Training committee.

I have developed a wide range of skills including:

• fundraising strategy
• communication
• social media
• strategic planning and business development
• digital implementation
• leadership, coaching, and mentoring
• compliance (safeguarding, GDPR, health, and safety)
• change management 
• governance 
• working with regulators and local authorities
• a good understanding of balance sheets, cash flow forecasts and budget setting