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 Spence was appointed as a new Trustee in September 2007 and Chairman in January 2008. John has had an impressive career in a range of senior-level roles over 30 years, including Chief Executive of Lloyds TSB Scotland and Managing Director of Business Banking. Since retiring in 2005, he has developed an impressive portfolio of non-executive experience; at the DTI Capital Enterprise Board, HM Revenue and Customs, Blind in Business (Chair), the Church Commissioners and Vitalise (Chair).

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 worked for 37 years as a pilot in HM Royal Air Force during which he spent time with NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) and with the Army. In 1999, he joined Mercers’ Company and became Master in 2002, supervising a turnover of £20 million per year and extensive charitable work in areas including education, care of elderly, welfare, the church, heritage and arts. Michael joined as a Trustee in November 2005 and was elected Vice-Chairman of Action in September 2006.

Judy Smith

Judy spent her early career working as a Social Worker in the Psychiatric department of Maudsley Hospital and later as a Manager for the Social Services Consultancy Unit for the RNIB. She has worked as a Board Member and assessor for the British Journal of Social Work and was Chair of the Association for Child Psychology and Psychiatry between 1985-6. Judy joined as a Trustee in November 1993, served as Vice-Chairman of Action until 2006 and was elected Chairman of Action in 2006.

Mary Biggart

Mary has worked in advertising and law and has undertaken legal training. She has been Chairman of the Surrey Voluntary Association for the Blind and of the Epsom and Ewell Club for the Blind (a fortnightly social club). 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.

Toby Davey

Toby graduated in photography and worked as a freelance photographer until he joined the BBC in 1998. Having worked on a number of BBC radio programmes he moved to Vocaleyes as their Deputy Director.
Toby’s interests include sailing and he represented Great Britain in the last three World Blind Sailing Championships. Toby joined Action for Blind People as a Trustee in April 2006.

Edward Hill

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

Rita Kirkwood

Rita started as a part time tutor at College of NW London in April 2006. She is 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. Rita joined as a Trustee in June 2006.

Khalil Rehman

Khalil spent 10 years working in the City specialising in mergers and acquisitions. In 2001 he decided to change career and did a Masters Degree at UCL. He was asked by them to stay on in a teaching capacity and 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. Khalil joined as a Trustee in January 2006.

Clive Timms

Clive is currently a freelance consultant and runs his own company. His previous appointments include Director of Finance and Resources for the Royal Opera House and Chief Accountant of the BBC news and current affairs division.

Clive’s interests include opera, classical music, and walking.
Clive joined as a Trustee in April 1998.

Alistair Fielder

Alistair is an academic ophthalmologist who has recently retired from the NHS.
He has previously worked with RNIB, Vision 2020 UK and the Look Federation and is a Trustee of Fight for Sight.
Alistair's retirement will allow him more time for other projects and he is keen to act as an advisor to the visual impairment sector.
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 and presentation on a wide range of issues related to work and pensions.
Louise 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.

David Charters

David is a partner in the investment banking firm Partner Capital, and also sits on a number of private and public company boards as Chairman or Non-executive Director. His previous appointments include Managing Director in Equity Capital Markets at Deutsche Bank and posts at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He is a co-founder of the Beacon Prize for Philanthropy and a published author. He invests actively as a business angel in technology and property. David joined as a Trustee in December 2003.

David Hewlett

David Hewlett was appointed as a Trustee at the Board meeting on 23 May. David is Chief Executive of the Federation of Ophthalmic & Dispensing Opticians (FODO), and has 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.

Kirin Saeed

Kirin was appointed as a Trustee in April 2007. She is currently the Audience Development Officer at See-A-Voice and runs a self help group for visually impaired people in Camden. She provides Visual Awareness training and tests public places for their suitability for visually impaired people. Kirin is also an actress and has been involved in Cabaret in the Dark at Dans Le Noir. Kirin finds it interesting to work with people with other disabilities. She finds the knowledge gained, can make your own group more positive.