Trustees

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David is a successful former Chief Executive of a major subsidiary of a leading British bank. He has extensive experience as a non-executive director and chairman in the private and public sectors and not-for-profit organisations, including a FTSE 250 company with global operations and a major London based Housing Association.

He has a record of achievement in the management of change and currently sits on the board of other charitable organisations. A rugby fan, David is a lifelong member of the Harlequins and enjoys walking in the Surrey countryside near his home in Dorking.

In addition to having family relatives with a learning disability, Carol has worked in social policy research for many years having commissioned and managed research projects in the areas of disability, health/social care, local government, radio audience research, crime, policing and transport.

In 2009 completed a PhD in learning disability, Tizard Centre, University of Kent and has written articles on the involvement of people with learning disabilities in policy development.

Linda Ferguson was, until recently, an executive director of a charity which provides retirement services – including housing, supported living schemes and a nursing home – for people who have served the Church of England.

She specialises in customer-centred strategy, service delivery and communications and has also held a number of senior management roles in government administration, including policy development, tax and finance.

Linda is also a qualified coach, concentrating mainly on executive and leadership coaching.

Pam Barrett is a qualified teacher of Adults with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities, working in various London boroughs.

She joined Surrey County Council Adult Education Service in 1985 and was responsible for managing and developing education in the community for people with learning difficulties in North West Surrey. In 1999 she was appointed Team Manager for the Community Education department at Brooklands College of Further Education in Weybridge. This department of the college provided a wide variety of courses off campus across the curriculum for all adults.

Graduated with a business degree. Initially worked as Head of Finance and Accounting for an international development agency, then spent most of his career in international banking and investment management.

After working in debt capital markets for Bank Paribas in Geneva, he became Head of BNP Paribas Asset Management in the UK, from which he retired in 2008.

He has family relatives with learning difficulties and is involved with Special Olympics GB, as volunteer and Treasurer of the South East Region and South East Ski Group.

A graduate of Manchester University and qualified Medical Social Worker in the 1960’s.

She worked across all children and adult social services in service delivery, policy development, performance audit and commissioning. After many years with Surrey CC, Anna moved to West Sussex County Council as Head of Commissioning in 2002.

In WSCC she was joint chair of the Partnership Board, and chair of the county Audit Safeguarding Board. She managed a variety of European Projects in partnership with Carers UK, and worked with the Department of Health and In Control on the early pilots for Personal Budgets.

Now retired, Anna is also a Trustee of The Meath Epilepsy Charity and Trust.

Peter is a specialist healthcare lawyer providing regulatory and strategic advice to private and charitable care providers across the UK. He has particular expertise acting for providers in their dealings with regulators and local authorities. He negotiates on behalf of care providers with CQC, Ofsted and other national regulatory bodies, as well as commissioners and safeguarding authorities.

Peter is appointed solicitor to the National Care Association and the Registered Nursing Home Association. He is a regular contributor to Caring Times magazine. Outside the law he enjoys walking and volunteering on the Mid Hants Railway – the ‘Watercress Line’.

Chris Tailby’s professional career has spanned law, accountancy, customs and tax. In 2005, a few years before he retired, he was voted ‘VATRat’ of the Year – awarded by a panel of VAT practitioners to the person who has had the most impact in the year on the VAT world through pioneering anti-tax avoidance work.

He was awarded his CBE in 2009. Chris became involved in The Grange through his wife who is a volunteer here. He lives in East Horsley where he supports the local community by chairing the village hall committee, driving the community bus and playing an active role on the Parish Church Council.

Debbie Gowns has recently retired following a long career at Shell International. She began there as a PA and rose to Senior Procurement Manager responsible for a global team and contracts worth USD1bn.

She first became involved with The Grange through the volunteer scheme at The Grange. She has personal experience of caring for someone with a disability in her own family.

Businessman Paul Cullum is 54 and has recently moved to Bookham from London. He worked in various roles in BT for 26 years before becoming a BT Franchisee in 2005 and building up a £2.2 million turnover business. He has been successful in pairing charities with corporate donors.

He has first-hand experience of the challenges facing people on the autism spectrum through a family member and is keen to put his skills and knowledge to use to help others.

Trustees

David Turner, Trustee

Pam Barrett, Trustee

Peter Grose, Trustee

Paul Cullen, Trustee

Dr Carol Riddington, Trustee

Denis Coulon, Trustee

Chris Tailby CBE, Trustee

Linda Ferguson, Trustee

Anna Coss, Trustee

Debbie Gowns, Trustee