Jenny Watson CBE is currently a Non-Executive Director at the Financial Ombudsman Service, a governor of Mossbourne Parkside Academy, and Chair of the Independent Complaints Panel at the Portman Group.
Previously she served two terms as Chair of the Electoral Commission, between 2009 and 2016, and acted as Chief Counting Officer for the EU referendum. Until the summer of 2017 she was Vice Chair of Money Advice Trust, a leading debt advice charity.
Jenny started her career in the not-for-profit sector, has served as a trustee, committee member or non-executive director on many Boards, and has twice run her own business.
She brings to the Board extensive experience of governance and strategy, a passion for giving people the ability to shape their own lives, a love of arts and culture and a knowledge of the not-for-profit and social enterprise sector.
Simon Close has over 25 years of management consultancy experience helping organisations to define business growth and operational strategies, to shape and deliver large-scale business transformation programmes, and by performing operational and programme reviews and turnarounds. On occasion, he has under taken interim director roles for his clients.
He joined The Berkeley Partnership from Andersen Consulting in 1997 and became a partner in 2000. During his time at Berkeley, Simon has worked with senior executives from across a range of different industries in the private, public and third sector including: Amey, Barclays, the Bank of England, BP, the Financial Conduct Authority, HSBC, LIFFE, Lloyd’s of London, the NHS and Xerox.
Simon is also a qualified business coach and works with business leaders and leadership teams to support them in improving their performance.
‘My links to the House date back to the late 1990’s when my company regularly hosted corporate events there. I have stayed in touch ever since through colleagues, friends and family who have volunteered at the House. As a founding member of the Club, I very proud to now have been asked to become a trustee. I hope my consulting and coaching skills will help us to continue the success as we shape and deliver an exciting future for the physical building, the Club and, most importantly, the Employment Academy.’
Warren Colquitt is the Finance Director of Cg Restaurants and Matt Roberts Personal Training. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in 1988/9 and thereafter spent several years in the consultancy practice advising clients in various sectors including retail, insurance and manufacturing on aspects of strategy, financial management and business planning/turnaround. He also advised for several years on the East London panel of the Princes Trust
Subsequently he has spent the majority of his career as finance director of businesses in the concrete, distribution and hospitality industries.
Nigel has over 40years experience in retail financial services and payments and is Owner/Director of an established interim management company specialising in delivering transformational change. His career began in building societies; thereafter he undertook various senior roles in banking culminating in running the company behind the UK Cash Machine Network (LINK)
He has served as director of Care Plus Ltd, Woolwich Pension Fund Trust, Funds Transfer Ltd and was Deputy Chairman of LINK for 4 years helping lead the creation of the UK national ATM network. Nigel is also an active ambassador for the Pennies Foundation having been one of the original team that created “Pennies – the electronic charity box” a pioneering, multi-award winning Fintech charity that is raising £millions every year for good causes.
Charity and Housing Sector Consultant
Whilst at Westminster City Council, as Director of Housing, Frances led on all aspects of housing needs and supply and community regeneration, whilst at the GLA (Greater London Authority) as Head of Social Inclusion and Health, she led on the development and implementation of Mayoral strategies to tackle poverty, worklessness and health inequalities, and to promote refugee integration.
From 2008 till 2010, Frances was Chief Executive of a small, effective and well regarded charity Off the Streets and into Work.
Since then she has been a freelance housing and social policy consultants. Her roles include supporting the Mayor’s Housing Investment Taskforce and drafting their final report on how to use publicly owned land to create more social housing, as well as undertaking specific consultancy projects for Central and Cecil Housing Trust and the House of St Barnabas. More recently Frances has led on the development and implementation of a pan London gang exit programme, Safe and Secure and has just completed an interim appointment as Areas Director in the government’s Troubled Families Unit.
Esther has over 15 years experience working in the not for profit, social enterprise and technology sectors, primarily with a focus on external affairs, campaigning, policy, research and public affairs. She runs the The Social Change Agency, a BCorp consultancy dedicated to creating social change through movement building, networks and crowdfunding. A Londoner through and through, she is passionate about social justice, housing and homelessness and community development. She is a 2011 Clore Fellow, a 2013 Winston Churchill Fellow and a Fellow of St George’s, Windsor Castle. She is also a trustee of the MS Society.
‘I am honoured to be able to serve The House of St Barnabas as a trustee. I have been a founding member since 2011 and have witnesses the hard work and social impact the team and the members have undertaken to not only tackle homelessness but redefine the boundary of what is possible when you mix business, art, heritage and charity together to make change’.
With more than 25 years’ experience in the third sector, Rachel is recognised for transforming brands, events and service delivery. At Cancer Research UK she developed the successful Race for Life series, taking it to the £60m. She then moved on to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award as Director of Fundraising, helping them to change how they worked with business.
Currently the first CEO of Lawrence Dallaglio’s charity, Dallaglio RugbyWorks, Rachel has built on Lawrence’s passion to create a national programme for teenagers who have been permanently excluded from mainstream education. Working in over 40 Alternative Provision schools, RugbyWorks helps young people move into sustained education and employment, using a unique mix of rugby coaching, in-class teaching and employment skills training.
Karen is currently the Finance Director for the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts, where she works across 17 grant-making trust and 8 charitable companies. Karen is also the Chair of Governors for Barton Peveril Sixth Form College and a founder Trustee/Director for Dynamic Youth Theatre.
Karen brings to the Board extensive audit, risk, financial management and governance experience from a wide variety of both commercial and not-for-profit environments, and a passionate belief in the importance of social enterprises in successfully tackling some of the most challenging issues of our time.
James Townsend is an entrepreneur who focuses on using technology to unlock people’s potential in new ways. He is a Founder in Zinc’s Mission 2.
James brings over a decade of experience in education, leadership development and charity leadership. James was elected to the General Synod of the Church of England in 2010, and from 2013 to 2018 set up and led the Church of England Foundation for Educational Leadership.
