Our Trustees
At our charity, we pride ourselves on being a vital part of the national Citizens Advice network while maintaining our independence. Our board of Trustees play a crucial role in guiding our vision, mission and overall management.
Our dedicated trustees are responsible for;
Strategic Direction: set the overall direction and support the development of the organisation
Quality: maintain the Performance and Quality Framework established by the national citizens advice network
Legal Compliance: ensuring we adhere to all relevant charity( and other) laws and regulations
Finance: overseeing our finances to ensure we comply with legal, accounting and reporting requirements
Accountability: holding staff accountable to ensure we effectively meet the needs of our local community
Resource Management: work with the Chief Executive Officer to ensure the organisation has the resources needed to help and support the local community
Stakeholder Engagement: make sure there is regular and effective communication with stakeholders about the charity’s purposes, work, and achievements. This includes providing information that enables them to measure the charity’s success in achieving its purpose.
Meet the Trustees
Our Board of Trustees is made up of individuals dedicated to guiding and supporting our charity. Each Trustee brings their own unique experience and perspectives. Get to know our Trustees below and see how they are contributing to our community.
John
Chair of TrusteesJohn
Chair of TrusteesSince July 2021. I became Chair in December 2022, having previously been the Company Secretary.
Tell us about your working background
I’m a retired management consultant. I spent several years working in small consultancies and running my own consultancy business for a wide spectrum of public sector clients. These included clients in central and local government, housing, and in health and social care. Previously, I spent 20 years working in the IT and aerospace industries.
What skills and experience do you bring to the Board?
During my career, I worked in many private, public, and third sector organisations. I specialised in delivering change programmes and tracking how those impacted the people, processes, and technology of those businesses. At a particularly challenging time for Citizens Advice, I hope that my skills and experience will help us adapt and grow so that we can continue to deliver excellent services to those who need our support.
Why did you decide to become a trustee for Citizens Advice?
Having been a charity trustee before, I wanted to apply those experiences to an organisation that benefitted my local community. Specifically, a conversation with a friend (and CA volunteer) in a pub (where else?) convinced me that Citizens Advice was the right place.
Can you tell us something about yourself and your interests outside of Citizens Advice?
I’m married with two “adult” children and live in Fleet. I enjoy walking and cycling (slowly), and have a love of classical music. For my own enjoyment, I can occasionally be found playing the piano (just okay) and the viola (less than okay!).
Roger
Company SecretaryRoger
Company SecretaryThis is my third stint at Citizens Advice Hart, and in total I have eight years’ service behind me.
I have taken on the role of Company Secretary, providing support and assistance to our new Chair in arranging and recording board meetings. I am also responsible for making regulatory returns to both the Charity Commission and Companies House.
Tell us about your working background
Until I retired, I worked for over 45 years in the construction industry for a variety of companies. I had a commercial role specialising in procurement, contract management, logistics, and business support services.
What skills and experience do you bring to the Board?
I am a team player, highly organised, practical, patient, calm, and empathetic. Contract negotiation has given me a key eye for detail. I have also been a school governor, secretary of a local civic society, and mentor and management consultant for two other local charities. However, these days I devote my volunteering time to Citizens Advice.
Why did you decide to become a trustee for Citizens Advice?
When I retired, I was looking for an opportunity to contribute something back to society. I wanted it to be something that would keep me actively engaged with people and working in a team. Furthermore, I wanted to use the skills I had developed over 45 years of working in a business environment. I found my way to the door of CAB.
Can you tell us something about yourself and your interests outside of Citizens Advice?
I am married and have four grown up children; all have now left home. I have lived in Yateley for 40+ years. My interests include DIY, watching cricket, reading, and good food – not necessarily in that order.
Paula
TreasurerPaula
TreasurerI was appointed a trustee in January 2024 and my specific role is Treasurer.
Tell us about your working background?
I’m a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and have a broad range of experience over my career ranging from a Board level Chief Financial Officer role with a small-medium enterprise (SME), in-country finance manager roles within international aid agencies to senior finance roles within large multinational companies as well as within the UK charity sector.
What skills and experience do you bring to the Board?
As well as my experience of corporate governance and financial management, I also have strong planning and communication skills and a track record of problem solving and motivating teams and stakeholders.
Why did you decide to become a trustee for Citizens Advice?
I came to the place within my career where I wanted to apply my Finance and Board experience to a charity. Citizens Advice is an organization that I have a particular interest in, specifically the work that it does to support the local community that has a direct, and often immediate, impact on lives, as well as influencing more strategic change on a national level.
Can you tell us something about yourself and your interests outside of Citizens Advice?
I’m a working mum of 2 boys, living in the Hart area. I’m a big fan of independent travel and have spent much of [my pre-child] life backpacking around the four corners of the world. I also enjoy hiking, especially hill walking. I now spend my time persuading my children to join me in hiking and travelling (to varying degrees of success!). When not up a hill, I can be found on a treadmill (not quite the same, but needs must).
Martin
TrusteeMartin
TrusteeI am in my second spell as a trustee, and have done five years in total. My roles are Vice Chair and Lead Trustee Covering Service Delivery and Quality.
Tell us about your working background
I have been a performing musician and computer systems programmer. I’ve also worked in software sales and marketing management, and general management, but am now retired.
What skills and experience do you bring to the Board?
That is for others to judge; I volunteer my time, energy, and commitment.
Why did you decide to become a trustee for Citizens Advice?
To benefit the local community.
Can you tell us something about yourself and your interests outside of Citizens Advice?
I enjoy music and playing the piano, keeping fit, spending time with family, and local travel.
Robbie
TrusteeRobbie
TrusteeSince January 2024.
Tell us about your working background?
I currently work as a Programme Lead for the NHS; working to improve recruitment and retention for the cancer workforce. I have worked in the NHS for just over 3 years, working in project management, strategy, continuous improvement and service development. Prior to this I worked in microbiology and quality management.
What skills and experience do you bring to the Board?
Throughout my career, I have had the privilege to work with private, public and third sector organisations and have developed a wide network of colleagues across these sectors. Having served positions on a research group board previously, and my work in supporting patient discharge from Frimley Park Hospital, I understand the responsibilities of being a trustee but also the complexities that face the population of Hart.
Why did you decide to become a trustee for Citizens Advice?
I strongly believe in working as a system to support the needs of the population, and collaborating across organisations to achieve goals. The values of Citizens Advice align with my own personal values, specifically to continuously improve, promote equality and fairness and to work together. Having grown up within Hart and having immediate family here, it is important to me to support the community in the best way that I can.
Can you tell us something about yourself and your interests outside of Citizens Advice?
Outside of my employment and this role, I am keen on keeping fit and am an amateur artist and photographer.
Gareth
TrusteeGareth
TrusteeNew to the role I have been a trustee since January 2024
Tell us about your working background?
I have been in the RAF as an aircraft engineer for the last 21 years and have another 8 years to serve. Undertaking a wide range of roles from instructing to engineering and safety management.
What skills and experience do you bring to the Board?
In a previous volunteering role, I worked alongside the ambulance service responding to front line emergency calls so have seen the outcomes of health inequalities and long-term health conditions. Coupled with my day-to-day work where I have sat on various committees and done a wide range of roles means I am pretty adaptable which is probably my greatest strength.
Why did you decide to become a trustee for Citizens Advice?
My time volunteering with the ambulance service had come to an end and I wanted a role where I could work to head off some of the causes of crisis that I saw on the front line. Citizens Advice fits that description perfectly.
Can you tell us something about yourself and your interests outside of Citizens Advice?
Obviously spending time with my family and dogs in our camper van, alongside racing triathlon (poorly) and generally keeping my self-fit. I also like reading and am currently learning to speak French (terribly)
Clare
TrusteeClare
TrusteeI am new to the trustee role having joined in April 2024.
Tell us about your working background?
My career is mainly in marketing, focussing on existing customers although I have spent a few years working in more commercial trading type roles. I have worked across a variety of sectors including Energy, Telecommunications and Financial Services.
What skills and experience do you bring to the Board?
Along with my marketing and commercial experience I have am a logical thinker and like to make insight and data led decisions. I consider myself a good communicator and a people person who works well collaboratively. I also used to be a parent governor when my children were at primary school and so I have some experience of contributing to a strategic plan and working within a framework.
Why did you decide to become a trustee for Citizens Advice?
I have lived in Fleet for 17 years and my husband was born here, as were our children. I wanted to give back something to the local community and honestly couldn’t think of any charity more worthy than Citizens Advice, who help so many people navigate through such difficult times. Also, the values of customer focussed, promoting equity & fairness and value each other really resonated with me.
Can you tell us something about yourself and your interests outside of Citizens Advice?
Spending time with my family, travelling to new places and when I have time I enjoy reading a good book. I also try to fit in some exercise now and again!
I wanted to give back something to the local community and honestly I couldn't think of any charity more worthy than Citizens Advice Hart who help so many people navigate through such difficult times.