Trustees

My entire career was spent teaching in a number of primary schools in Whitehaven, and as headteacher at Seascale and then in Cleator Moor. Over the years I used many of Howgill’s excellent services to support children and families.

I became a trustee 12 years ago since retiring from primary school headship and became chair in 2015. The organisation expanded during those years as contracts were awarded and then lost and we are now at an exciting stage of regrowth and development.

I look forward to being involved as Howgill moves forward.

I am a chartered HR Professional, having spent over 20 years in HR roles covering all aspects of People Management to support the business.  For the last few years I was a Business Relationship Manager in IT, where I developed the ICT Strategy and supported key areas of the business on their journey to digital transformation.  I have recently taken on a new role of Business Improvements Leader where I am supporting the Executive Team with their improvement initiatives to enable more efficient and effective delivery of priority work.  Throughout my career I have relied heavily on childcare providers to allow me to go to work, with the peace of mind that my children are being well cared for. I therefore recognise and respect the value that Howgill Family Centre brings to the local community, by providing vital support and childcare services for families across West Cumbria.  As a newly appointed trustee I am excited to be part of Howgill’s transformation journey and I am looking to support this wherever I can.

A retired Primary Headteacher who has been a Trustee of Howgill Family Centre since September 1999. He is a former Chair of the Howgill Board.  Chair of The Whitehaven Foyer, a charity that provides supported housing for homeless young people. Howgill is a founding member of the charity alongside Riverside Housing.  Chair of West Cumbria Child Poverty Forum of which Howgill is a founding member.  Chair of the Steering Group of the Transforming West Cumbria Family Wellbeing Partnership in which Howgill is a partner, working with Cumbria Community Foundation.  Trustee of West Lakes Research Ltd, a charity and not for profit company that supports the work of the University of Central Lancashire's (UCLan) community-based research work in West Cumbria.  Has an acute interest in ensuring that Howgill makes the widest possible contribution to the wider community by promoting collaboration and partnership working with both statutory and third sector bodies.  Awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2020. The Investiture, by the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria, Mrs Claire Hensman, was held at Howgill on 10th December 2021.

I have spent most of my career in both commercial and operational roles, initially in West Cumbria’s chemical industry then moving into Nuclear where I have spent time working at a number of locations across the country (including a period on the Board of Directors at the Dounreay site at the very top of Scotland).  I am really looking forward to supporting Howgill as the team move the business forward into the next stage of its development and growth and will hopefully be able to bring my facilities and business management experience to bear in support of its mission.

Majority of my working life has been working in HR within a number of different industries, from retail to real estate, manufacturing and education. In my current role as Social Value Manager, I work to support the development and implementation of social impact activities in response to social value needs within the local area, including education, employment and skills development.

During this time I have developed a wealth of business, community and public relations knowledge and experience and I look forward to sharing my skillset on the Howgill Trustee Board during this period of digital transformation and growth. I thrive on helping businesses grow through recruitment, community sponsorships and positive client interactions.

I work in senior business development role, focused on nuclear power engineering and construction across the UK and Europe. I am passionate about social value, with previous commitments including my time as Chair of Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC), President of Women in Nuclear UK, Trustee of Phoenix Youth Project, and Mentor at Bolton Lads and Girls Club. I'm really looking forward to working with the team at Howgill, as we seek to ensure that every child in our community has equality of opportunity'.

I am a Chartered Accountant with significant experience in finance, governance and project delivery in the public, private and third sector. I am the Chief Operating Officer at BEC, where I work on strategy, governance and regeneration projects that creating lasting benefits for communities in West Cumbria. I am passionate about making a positive difference in our communities and ensuring everyone has access to opportunities - no matter what. 

As a working mum, I understand first-hand the challenges families can face, which is one of the reasons I feel so strongly about supporting organisations like the Howgill Family Centre. I’m passionate about community-led work that brings people together, offers practical support and helps families thrive.

As a Trustee, I bring my financial experience and a collaborative, down-to-earth approach, and I’m proud to support the Centre in the important work it does for local families.