I work at the intersection of social impact and governance and have supported The Charities Advisory Trust for over 20 years. I currently serve as a Trustee and Executive Director.

In my role I support our initiatives that make charitable giving simple and meaningful, helping to plan the strategy, develop the organisation and engage the stakeholders that are critical to sustaining our success.

Alongside this, I serve as UK Coordinator for Survivors Fund (SURF), which supports survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda through programmes focused principally on mental health, livelihoods, and long-term wellbeing. My connection to The Charities Advisory Trust comes through my work with SURF, which was one of the first charitable partners of Good Gifts back in 2004.

In my professional work, I also consult with organisations on sustainability and social impact strategy and have worked with Unilever for over a decade advising them. In a voluntary capacity, I also support the work of an array of other organisations including Network for Africa and Parent Club.

Across these roles, I’m particularly interested in how strong governance, thoughtful partnerships, and innovative approaches can help charities deliver lasting impact. What motivates me most is helping create the conditions where generosity, good ideas, and great organisations come together to improve people’s lives.

When not working, I love to run.

After more than 10 years working in the banking and commercial sector, I began looking for a role within an organisation that was family-friendly and dedicated to enriching and improving the lives of others. I believe I found that and much more, when I joined the Charities Advisory Trust, where I have now worked for over 25 years.

Alongside my role as Finance Manager, I have greatly enjoyed supporting Dame Hilary Blume in developing the wide variety of projects the Trust has created over the years. These initiatives have not only improved lives, incomes, and health for many people around the world, but have also provided the first step onto the career ladder for hundreds of graduates.

I have always had a passion for dressmaking and knitting and rediscovered my enthusiasm for knitting when Knit for Peace was founded. This renewed interest has also inspired me to teach others and inflict my creations on relatives.

In addition to my work with the Trust, I volunteer at my church and community centre supporting activities such as the community café, exercise programmes, and the provision of a homeless shelter during the winter months.

I retired from the business world a few years ago after working as an in-house international corporate tax director for over 25 years, latterly for a French advertising group.

I became involved with Charities Advisory Trust through Knit for Peace.   Taught to knit by my mother when I was very small, I knit constantly as a teenager and young adult.  Professional life took over and I only returned to the craft when dealing with the aftermath of a bereavement 10 years ago.  Like many of our Knit for Peace donors I discovered the charity when no-one in my acquaintanceship or family wanted any of my knitting and I was looking for somewhere to donate.

I started volunteering, opening the incoming parcels and packing the clothes and blankets to send to partner organisations, and subsequently joined the Board of Trustees.

I still volunteer regularly and now do the social media for Knit for Peace which allows me the opportunity to celebrate the wonderful knitting and crochet sent to us and to show off the fruits of my exploration of the history of knitting.  I strongly believe in the health and social benefits of handcrafting, both for the crafter and the recipients.

When not knitting I enjoy theatre and making a mess in art classes.

I joined The Charities Advisory Trust in late 2025, supporting the day-to-day running of the organisation and the Knit for Peace programme. My background is in brand consultancy, with an earlier focus on fashion, which shaped my interest in craftsmanship and how people connect to what they make. After several years of working and travelling, I found myself drawn towards something more purposeful and people-focused, which led me to The Charities Advisory Trust. In my role, I support the team across a range of areas and am often the voice at the other end of the phone or email, helping to ensure that the many generous donations we receive are thoughtfully directed to where they are most needed.

I support the team at Charities Advisory Trust as an Admin Assistant while also bringing a creative touch as our resident illustrator and designer.

In my role, I enjoy the behind-the-scenes tasks - answering emails, processing orders, and handling the many small but important jobs that keep the office organised.

Alongside this, I design graphics, create illustrations, manage our social media, and put together newsletters, helping to share our work in a way that feels engaging and accessible.

My background blends administrative experience with a love of art, and I really enjoy being able to use both sides in a role that supports a meaningful cause.

Outside of work, I’m happiest curled up with a good science fiction novel, a cup of tea, and some toast!

I've spent the last 15 years designing and leading cross-sector partnerships across the UN system, foundations, government and the private sector, working on social sustainability and inclusion. My work has focused on livelihoods, gender equity, inclusion and on building the kinds of partnerships between NGOs, UN agencies and corporate actors that can move real resource and attention towards people who need it most.

What draws me to The Charities Advisory Trust is its belief that charitable giving should be simple, thoughtful and genuinely useful, and that small, well-designed initiatives can create outsized impact. It's a model of philanthropy I believe in, and one I'm learning more about with over time.

As a Trustee, I hope to bring what I've picked up over the years on partnership design, stakeholder engagement and telling stories that move people, alongside a deep curiosity about how the Trust can grow the reach and impact of its work.

Beyond this, I'll take any excuse to be creative: photography, pottery, art, collage. And rather inevitably, since joining the Trust, I've started to learn to knit.