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• All Board Members
  • Lindsay Burley
  • Lynne Cadenhead
  • Ian Jackson
  • Ali Jarvis
  • Grenville Johnston
  • Neena Mahal
  • Anne McNeill
  • John Mulgrew
  • Elaine Noad
  • Liz Robertson
  • Andrew Thin

Who am I?  I’m a bit of a hybrid having done a number of different jobs in the private, public and voluntary sectors over the last 20 years. I started out in marketing, moved into human resources and then became more involved in strategy planning and organisational development. I now work freelance as a consultant and coach. This means I can apply the different transferable skills I’ve gained on things that really interest me. I specialise in leadership, strategic change management and equality and often end up working with clients and projects where helping develop people is at the heart of success. I’ve worked globally and am still learning ‘what I want to be when I grow up’ – but one thing I know is that keeping achieving keeps me happy.

Why did I want to become a board member?  Being a member of a Board gives me a chance to put my skills into practice on issues that are important for the society in which I live. It’s a great opportunity to learn and develop personally but also to make a real contribution to the way decisions are made and public money is spent. I wanted to become a Board member to get involved and try and add value – there are too many people who either complain or assume it’s someone else’s responsibility.

What do I bring to the role?   My varied background means I have insights and experiences that don’t fit any one mould. From this I think I bring creativity, strategic clarity and a real preparedness to look at and do things differently. I’m not scared to challenge the status quo, I take personal responsibility where appropriate and invest a lot of energy into getting the right results.

What do I get out of it?   I’m sure I get at least as much as I give – and that’s with me already well exceeding the time commitment expected. I get to work with and learn from interesting and insightful people. I can apply myself to decisions and problem-solving that makes a real difference. And I think all that raises my game and standards which benefits me right across my life.

What advice would I give someone who is thinking of applying?  Go for it! It’s not necessarily easy but then it probably shouldn’t be too easy either. The key thing is to value the strengths and skills that you personally bring and to remember that everyone has useful things to offer. Match yourself carefully against what an organisation is looking for and don’t be shy about showing how you could transfer skills and experience from one environment to another. If you put the thought in and do your homework, you’ll find a place where you can make a positive contribution to public life.