My career to date has been within many different areas of the health and social care sector, but the common thread throughout has been engaging community groups and empowering them to make a positive change that improves their health and wellbeing. This is a personal interest that I have taken through my academic studies and continue to explore in my current doctorate education. I have experience of working in several national health charities, local authority and the NHS in various management roles and hope to be able to share my skills, knowledge and experience of strategy development, comissioning, business planning, project management, funding and campaigning to support the growth of Activlives.  The values and ethos of Activlives are what led me to the role of trustee and I feel priviliged to be able help shape and steer the organisations next steps. 

I really enjoy being an ActivLives trustee and helping the charity support the local community.

I am a senior project manager with a background in events management (including the biggest event ever to take place at The O2 in London!) and marketing in both the corporate and charity sectors. I have experience helping clients achieve their vision and this means I can support the strategic growth of ActivLives and their fundraising initiatives. This is a special charity that cares and does great work to help keep people active, connected and involved with their local community through accessible sports and exercise, learning new skills and volunteering. I feel lucky to support ActivLives in their mission.

I qualified as a Certified Accountant in 1986 since then I have worked in the commercial sector covering a wide range of industry sectors from motor, various manufacturing environments, retail, technology, advertising and other service sectors, leisure, the arts, engineering, waste management, charity, injury management processes and agriculture. Most of this experience has been gained with companies ranging from turnover of £1M to £20M and employees of between 10 & 200. Previously I have taken on the role of Operations Director, Sales Director, Managing Director and have also worked in Business Development.

I have extensive experience of managing the change of businesses growing rapidly, acquisition, mergers and MBOs and the planning that goes with those changes. I have implemented systems for numerous companies and I am familiar with a wide range of Management Information Systems and preparing detailed business plans for submission to banks or other finance institutions.  I currently work with a wide range of clients and therefore can adapt  to very different financial circumstances, having volunteered as Treasurer with Ipswich Sports Club, Suffolk IOD and DanceEast.

I have been Treasurer of ActivLives since 2016 and I am passionate about supporting the charity to achieve its objectives.

To say I have had a diverse career, is an understatement, but the common thread throughout it, is that I have taken great pleasure in empowering others and seeing them thrive. Since moving into the VCSFE sector more than 15 years ago, I have enjoyed volunteering, recruiting volunteers and then moving into community development within the health and care environment. I am passionate about the diverse community of Suffolk and continue to champion the idea that there should be ‘no decision about me, without me.’ The importance of working with people at the grassroots is what really drew me to ActivLives, as everything they do, is to empower people to take control of their own lives by making what they do, as accessible as possible.

Seeing the growth of what was The Town and Bridge project, from the days that I started out as a volunteer myself, and to now be a part of supporting what it has now become, is what makes me proud now to serve as a Trustee of this amazing charity.

I’ve worked in a variety of roles over the years.  I spent 8 years working in local government (adult social care, digital transformation, and then communications) and have also worked as part of a senior leadership team as head of products, sales, and marketing.  During the pandemic, I decided it was time to follow my dreams and set up my own business utilising my experience from over the years to help business owners get more strategic and organised with the running of their businesses.  

 I was drawn to Activlives by the variety of services they provide for people in our community and the impact this has on them. Their commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals is remarkable and I look forward to our collaborative efforts as Trustees to help the charity both navigate any challenges it faces and meet its objectives.