Our trustees

Chair of Committee

I hold Engineering, Business and Legal qualifications and have been employed in Director and Senior management roles in both large and small organisations throughout the latter part of my career. I still work as a Consultant Engineer in a large multi-national engineering organisation. The CAB provided me with valuable help at a difficult time in my life and I resolved to commit some of my time in return. I care about fairness and do not like to see people making bad decisions due to a lack of information or understanding.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead

After graduating from Dundee University, I trained in Benefit Offices and Jobcentres in Scotland before coming to Norwich as Jobcentre Manager. During a career break when my children were small, I taught adult education classes and began voluntary work as a PTA chairman and school governor. I returned to paid employment after a year at UEA retraining as a teacher and worked in several local primary schools before becoming a Deputy Headteacher and then a Headteacher. I continued my voluntary work and was appointed to the magistracy in 1993. When I retired from education, I was able to extend my JP role to include work in Youth and Family courts in Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Kings Lynn.

Treasurer

I qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2004 and since then have worked around Norwich in a variety of finance roles including auditor, project accountant, financial controller and business partner. I’ve worked for Grant Thornton, Marsh, Smithfield Foods and am currently with Aviva as part of a leadership team that run a large insurance claims centre, providing financial advice and challenge to the rest of the team. I became a NCAB Trustee because I’m proud to live and work in Norfolk and wanted to use my skills to give something back to the community.

Chair of Committee

I chair Norfolk Citizens Advice Governance Committee, working closely with my trustee colleagues, and management team. I qualified as a Solicitor in 1980. I soon focused on cases which had impact on the individual person, specialising in family law until moving into law firm management. I became the Managing Partner of two regional law firms, and a Consultant to the profession. Since retirement I have continued these connections as a tutor for a legal institute, and as a post graduate assessor to the international wealth management sector. I have a practical interest in risk management and am Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for a County Constabulary, and to a Police and Crime Commissioner, and also Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for a UK wide legal regulator (the Immigration Services Commissioner). In 2016, I was delighted to become involved with Freebridge Community Housing, West Norfolk’s largest social landlord, where I’m Vice Chair of the Board.

I have spent 38 years working in Norfolk both in business and education. I became a Trustee (initially of Wymondham and Attleborough CAB) in 2003, a role (19 years later) I continue to hold. I have served as a school governor since 2010. I believe that strong and effective Governance is key to ensuring the organisation delivers a high-quality service for every stakeholder.

Safeguarding Lead

I am currently the Head of Operations with Canada Life where my team look after our Annuity and Home Finance customers. My most recent previous role was Head of Transformation with Aviva and I’m delighted to be bringing my 20-plus years of change and governance experience from within regulated financial services organisations into my role as a trustee for Norfolk Citizens Advice. I'm passionate about helping people to protect and prepare themselves for the future and believe that Citizens Advice plays a critical role in communities in Norfolk.

Research & Campaigns Lead

I started my journey with Citizen’s Advice as a volunteer Gateway Assessor whilst studying Law at university. Following my graduation I continued to volunteer at the Dereham branch before joining the board of what was then Mid- Norfolk CAB in 2014. In a complete departure from my degree, I followed my passion for emerging technology and now work as an IT Programme Manager for the Norse Group. My work has previously focused on developing and delivering a Digital Strategy for the adult care side of the business, bringing together the UEA, NHS and international tech start-ups to drive innovation in digital inclusion and combatting social isolation. Having experienced the transformational impact of the work of Citizen’s Advice first-hand, I am committed to ensuring that free confidential, impartial and independent advice continues to be available to all of Norfolk’s residents.

I have worked for most of my career in the print industry with over 20 years as Managing Director or Chief Executive in a number of major print companies. In more recent years I have worked in management consulting, set- ting up the UK’s first specialist consultancy in Continuous Improvement and now work as a partner in a print consultancy, specialising in business planning and continuous improvement. I have a disabled son and acting as his advocate, I have come to understand how the dice are loaded against the less advantaged in our society and I am determined to do what I can to redress the balance through my work for the Norfolk CAB.

After leaving the Army I spent twenty years in the hospitality industry running an Hotel in London. In 2018 I was elected a Norfolk County Councillor, gaining valuable experience by sitting on various committees and agencies, including the People and Communities SC. For four years I have been a member of the Norfolk Foster Panel, a very rewarding role. In 2023 I was privileged to be appointed a Justice of the Peace as a Family Magistrate. I continue to enjoy being a member of the Light Cavalry, Honourable Artillery Company in my spare time and I have recently become a council member for the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and a Trustee of the Royal Norfolk Regimental museum.