Our Trustees are drawn from across the UK
as we are a national charity
They are selected to ensure that the balance of experience of Trustees fits well with the issues that we face.
The role of the Board of Trustees is to:
- Ensure that the Trust operates in accordance with its Trust Deed and objectives
- Promote the Trust and its charitable objectives
- Support the operation of the Trust by making their particular experience and expertise available to the Chief Executive
- Oversee the operation of the agreed plans during the financial year and hold the Chief Executive and their Leadership Team to account for the delivery of the agreed plans and targets
- Agree the strategy and annual business plans and provide for the long term financial health of the Trust
- Appoint the Chief Executive (done by the Board collectively) and their direct reports (done by the involvement of two trustees with knowledge of the role.)
- Oversee compliance of Company Law and Charity Law, and meet the requirements of the Charity Commission
To find out more about our Trustees and their experience, click on their names in the list below:
Chair of Trustees
Andy has had a long and successful career in financial services, working for, amongst others, Co-operative Insurance, Direct Line and, more recently, Ageas. He was CEO of Ageas UK for 7+ years.
In the summer of 2020, Andy stepped away from executive life to do other things. He is now a Non-Executive Director of life insurer Canada Life, and general insurance broker Atlanta (owner of Swinton, Carole Nash and Autonet) and is also currently studying at Oxford University for a Masters in Social Science of the Internet. As part of his studies, he is exploring interest areas of data ethics and social mobility.
Vice Chair of Trustees & Managing Director of 3Dk Solutions
Paul is a qualified social worker, holds an MBA, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personal Development and sits on the Institute for Fiscal Studies Council.
He has been an Executive in two of the country’s largest Housing Associations. He founded his talent development business in 2004 and he and his team coach CEOs, MDs, Executives and NEDs across many business sectors.
Mark is one of the founders of Livingbridge, the UK based private equity firm, and has spent more than 20 years working with small high growth businesses to help them unlock the potential that lies within.
Outside of work, he sits on The Development Board of The Arnold Foundation, and loves walking, skiing, running, cycling, and running uphill - albeit at a very civilised pace.
Stonemason
Not only a stonemason, Marc is deputy training manager for WorldSkills UK Stonemasonry.
Marc is passionate about the impact that skills competitions have on young people and has worked with WorldSkills UK to further promote vocational careers.
He has been a Worldskills UK Alumni board member as well as a competitor mentor and performance coach. Mark has experienced first hand the personal development transformation that Brathay offers.
As a former ALP participant, Joanna spent three years on one of Brathay’s most challenging yet rewarding courses and is now able to bring that and her lived experience to our Board. Joanna has a community focus in all that she does, she has been a Local Councillor as well as a Trustee of a number of Cumbrian charities including Cumbria CVS, Cumbria Youth Alliance, Citizens Advice Carlisle and Eden and was one of the founding Trustees of Multicultural Cumbria.
Joanna’s day to day role is Public Health Manager for Carlisle within Cumbria County Council, where she also manages the Community Development Team.
Sarah has been running the Ambleside-based international tour operator, Icicle Mountaineering, with her husband since they set it up in 2001. They offer guided Alpine adventure holidays alongside a retail shop meaning that she now splits her time between the UK and France. She is involved in all aspects of the business, including logistics, accounts, and retail management, licencing, legal compliance and marketing.
A Geography graduate of UCL, she has previously worked as a recruitment consultant, a catering manager, a nightclub manager and a business development adviser and all-round trouble shooter for JD Wetherspoon. She is in fact a Fellow of the British Institute of Innkeeping!
Outside work, Sarah is an active outdoor enthusiast who offers her time as a Trustee of Friends of the Lake District and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. She is a qualified summer MTUK Mountain Leader & aspirant International Mountain Leader.
Head of Commissioning, Leeds City Council
Chris is an experienced community development worker in the voluntary sector. Originally from Maine, USA, he spent 15 years working in community and regeneration roles across Yorkshire and Humber and currently commissions all youth, family and housing support services for Leeds City Council.
A keen gardener in his spare time, he likes to grow his own veg and enjoys walking and camping with his family.
Lucie is a Management Accountant with over 20 years’ experience working within the property industry, initially in the private sector but most recently within Social Housing. She is currently the Strategic Finance Manager at Wythenshawe Community Housing Group.
In her spare time, she is either enjoying the outdoors – walking, swimming, paddle-boarding, attending live music events and festivals or on the Yoga mat.
Beth is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years' experience working in large and complex organisations in both private and Higher Education sectors. She is currently the Director of Finance at the University of Strathclyde, where she completed an MBA in 2020.
In her free time, she enjoys trail running and has completed two ultra marathons: one in the Lake District and one on the West Highland Way.
Fellows
Founder, Campaign for Learning
Chairman, Talent Foundation
Former Chancellor, University of Derby
Founder 10in10e
Chairman, CN Group
Member, House of Lords
President, Cumbria Tourism
President, Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Chief of the Air Staff, 1997-2000
Former Governor and Constable, Windsor Castle
Chairman, Brooks Macdonald Group
Former Managing Director, Deutsche Bank
Personal Finance Editor, Mail on Sunday
Former Army Officer
Former charity Chief Executive
Managing Director, Lakeland
Former High Sherriff of Cumbria
Estates Manager, Matson Ground
Trustee, Francis C Scott Charitable Trust
Former Director of Charities and Community, Balfour Beatty
Patron, Brathay 10in10
Semi-retired Professor of Management Learning, Lancaster University Management School
Associate at Ashridge Business School
Associate at Henley Business SchoolFellow of the Leadership Trust
Irish international rugby league player for Halifax in the Championship. His usual position is Prop.
Made full début with the Salford City Reds in August 2008. In December of the same year, following the expiry of his contract with the Reds, he signed on for a two-year contract with the Leeds Rhinos.
Played for Harlequins during the 2011 Super League season, and moved to Halifax in 2012.
Made his Ireland debut against Serbia in 2009. Named in the Ireland squad for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
In October and November 2014, played in the 2014 European Cup tournament.
Director, Showcase
Award Winning Chocolatier & Patissier
Former World Skills competitor and Brathay Alumni
