Governance and Financials

Trustees within the voluntary sector in the UK are the original 'volunteers'. Before organisations began to take on paid staff they were led and run by people who gave their time freely for the benefit of others. Although the voluntary sector now employs substantial numbers, key roles continue to be carried out by volunteers and trustees.

What is their role?

Trustees have three distinct roles:

• To ensure that the organisation effectively pursues the aims of its charter, complies with the law and remains viable.
• To be ambassadors and advocates for the organisation and represent their work externally
• To offer the organisation their experience, expertise and advice.

Who are Action for Blind Peoples Trustees?

Chairman - John Spence OBE

John held many senior positions in Lloyds TSB over a 30 year career including Managing Director of Business Banking and Chief Executive of Lloyds TSB Scotland. Since retiring from banking in 2005 he has held Directorships at DTI Capital Enterprise Board, HMRC, Blind in Business, the Church commissioners and Vitalise. He joined Action for Blind People as Trustee in September 2007 and became Chairman in January 2008.

Listen to John Spence's vision of the future for Action for Blind People:

Download the interview as an mp3 (7.2 MB)

Vice-Chairman - Michael Dudgeon, OBE DL

Mike served for 37 years as a pilot in HM Royal Air Force. He spent time with NATO and with the Army. In 1999, after leaving the Air Force, he joined Mercers’ Company and after three years became Master of the Company, supervising turnover of £20 million per year and extensive charitable work in education, care of the elderly, welfare, the church, heritage and arts. Mike joined as a Trustee in November 2005 and was elected Vice-Chairman in September 2006.

Judy Smith

Judy spent her early career working as a Social Worker in the Psychiatric department of Maudsley Hospital, before joining the Social Services Consultancy Unit at the RNIB. She was previously a board member and assessor for the British Journal of Social Work and Chair of the Association for Child Psychology and Psychiatry. Judy’s interests include travel, theatre, music and literature. She joined as a Trustee in November 1993, served as Vice-Chairman of Action from 2000- 2006 and was elected Chairman in September 2006, resigning in January 2008.

Mary Biggart

Mary has worked in advertising and law. She has been Chairman of the Surrey Voluntary Association for the Blind and of the Epsom and Ewell Club for the Blind. Among Mary’s many interests are poetry, social history, history of art, gardens and gardening, the Stock Exchange and current affairs. Mary joined as a Trustee in May 1991 and served as Vice-chairman of Action from September 1993- September 2000.

Toby Davey

Toby graduated with a Photography Degree and has worked as a freelance photographer. He joined the BBC in 1998, working on a number of their radio programmes before he joined Vocaleyes as its Deputy Director. Toby’s interests include sailing and he has represented Great Britain in the last three World Blind Sailing Championships. Toby joined as a Trustee in April 2006.

Edward Hill

Edward began his career at Barclays Bank International Ltd in London and worked for over twenty with Barclays in West Africa, the Netherlands Antilles and North America. Since retiring in 1991 he has held various consultancy positions and non executive directorships with Ghana International Bank plc, and Union Bank UK plc. Edward joined as a Trustee in November 1998 and served as Chairman until July 2006.

Rita Kirkwood

Rita works as a tutor at the College of North West London, helping to develop and deliver a course for support workers and tutors working with learners with visual impairment. She has experience working with young people who are visually impaired as both a teacher and headteacher of three separate residential schools for young people with visual impairment. Rita is also a Braille tutor. She joined as a Trustee in June 2006.

Khalil Rehman

Khalil spent 10 years working in the City specialising in mergers and acquisitions. In 2001 did a Masters Degree at UCL and stayed on in a teaching capacity in 2003 he was given a Research Fellowship funded by the Thomas Pocklington Trust to look at the needs of visually impaired people and how they are being looked after by statutory bodies and housing associations. He is currently working on an Accessibility Project. Khalil joined as a Trustee in January 2006.

Clive Timms

Clive is currently a freelance consultant and the owner of his own company. His previous appointments include being Director of Finance and Resources of the Royal Opera House and Chief accountant of the BBC News and Current Affairs Division. His interests include opera, classical music and walking. Clive joined as a Trustee in April 1998.

Alistair Fielder

Alistair is an academic ophthalmologist recently retired from many years with the NHS. He has worked with RNIB, Vision 2020 UK and the Look Federation. He is Trustee of Fight for Sight. Alistair was appointed as a Trustee in November 2006.

Louise Wright

Louise is Deputy Director for PSD Strategy at the Department for Work and Pensions. She has a proven track record in strategy and policy development on a wide range of issues related to work and pensions. She has advised Ministers on a range of issues including civil rights for disabled people, disability benefits, welfare fraud strategy and the performance of DWP’s IT projects. Louise joined as a Trustee in September 2006.

David Charters

David is a partner in the investment banking firm Partner Capital and sits on a number of private and public company boards as Chairman or Non-executive Director. He was previously Managing Director in Equity Capital Markets at Deutsche Bank and has held posts at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He is a co-founder of the Beacon Prize for Philanthropy and a published author. His interests include travel, scuba diving, reading and current affairs. David joined as a Trustee in December 2003.

David Hewlett

David is Chief Executive of the Federation of Ophthalmic & Dispensing Opticians (FODO), and has also held a number of senior positions within the NHS. FODO members account for 70 percent of the UK optical market and provide over two thirds of NHS sight tests. David is a life long trade unionist who is passionate about justice, fairness and equal treatment for all. He joined as a Trustee in May 2007.

Kirin Saeed

Kirin is the Audience Development officer at See-a-Voice, runs a self help group for visually impaired people in Camden, London and is an actress. She also provides visual awareness training. Kirin joined as a Trustee in April 2007.