Dave Ahlquist– Business Development Manager, Tower Hamlets Community Transport

Kathryn Burgess – Executive Director, CALS

I have been involved in the field of social welfare law advice since 1980, during which time I have worked as an adviser, supervisor and manager, before taking on my current position as Executive Director in 2000. I am a Trustee of Advice UK, the co-ordinating body for independent advice providers in the UK.

I have always looked for new opportunities and our organisation was the first not-for-profit agency in Leicester/Leicestershire to contract with the Legal Services Commission; I lead the successful bid for the East Midlands Money Advice Partnership, which has 25 delivery partners across the region and for which CALS is the lead agency managing an annual budget of almost £3m. CALS has established a Community Interest Company to support its long-term sustainability as a free social welfare law advice provider.

I enjoy identifying and pursuing opportunities for the development and improvement of social welfare law advice services, and passionately believe in the role of the not-for-profit sector in delivering these services. Recent changes within the sector involving partnership and collaborative working with other providers covering a range of areas of work is new, innovative and exciting, which is why I believe in Reaching People’s potential to make a difference. Even after so many years in this field, my enthusiasm remains.

Tony Cusack – Emerald Centre

Peter Davey – the Bridge

Amanda Hack – Independent

Miriam McKee

Miriam has over 30 years working in the engineering sector for major multi- national companies including Dunlop, Hunting Plc and BBA Plc – achieving positions as Commercial Director, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer.

Miriam also has a long record with the charitable sector with15 years experience as a non-executive director for a variety of charities; in health, supporting adults with learning disabilities, credit union etc. The largest of these charities has a turnover of £55m.

She was recently elected to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, taking on duties including Finance portfolio holder, ICT and children’s services.

Joanna Fleetwood-Smith – the Y

Joanna is a dynamic, highly skilled and experienced professional manager and leader, having managed and developed a number of community based organisations and services across the cultural, education and young person’s sectors in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and the South East Wales region. Joanna is grounded in, and passionate about, the importance of developing good quality practice and sustainable business models within the Voluntary and Community Sector that strive to increase the life chances of our young people and their communities. Joanna is someone who likes to inspire change and innovative development by encouraging and empowering teams; this has resulted in many years of influencing policy, risk management and managing effective change processes.

On a personal level Joanna is a keen advocate of the arts and creative sector, alongside having a passion for all things outdoorsy and making novelty celebration cakes!

Sujata Sabharwal – Giving World

As an experienced and proven social entrepreneur Sujata has a successful track record of creating social impact through innovation and persistence. Along with her sister Rama, Sujata has established and run a successful charity for the past 14 years, along the way establishing projects, securing major national revenue streams (Lottery and Dept of Health), building partnerships and creating continuous social impact.

With her ability to innovate, develop new ideas and make things happen, Sujata focuses on delivery assembling and motivating teams towards common social objectives.

Along with Rama, Sujata won a Leicester First Leadership Award in 2009; Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce Women of Achievement Award (2009); were finalists in the Guardian Charity Awards (2009); Unltd Social Entrepeneur Award (2010); Commended by the Beacon Fellowship (2010); and winner of a Santander SEDA Catalyst Award (2015).

She is a member of the University of Leicester, School of Management’s External Advisory Board

Angie Wright – b-inspired

Angie Wright has been the Chief Officer at b inspired since 2012.

b inspired is a Community Business in Leicester; a charity with a wholly owned trading company that is the successor body to the highly successful regeneration programme “New Deal for Braunstone” (2000 to 2010). With a large asset base (of £2.5 million, trading primarily in commercial and residential letting) b inspired is a growing business, expanding its range of training, apprenticeship and employment services to provide even more social return and impact to its local community.

Previously, Angie has been a Programme Manager on large scale regeneration programmes in Leicester including New Deal for Communities, Sure Start, Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative and Children’s Centres. Angie also worked in Local Government for 14 years managing grant programmes including e.g:
• managing a citywide community/small grants programme delivering over 300 awards per year for Leicester City Council, including co-ordination of 120 city-wide Play schemes.
• setting up the Community Childcare team and programme in Leicester, devising strategy and implementing bespoke support services and business consultancy to childcare providers, including Co-ops and Social Enterprises.
• project managing the city-wide Out of School Childcare programme – developing a 3 year strategy and securing 7 Lottery awards to set up 65 out-of-school clubs across the public, private, voluntary and independent sectors.
• project managing the DfES funded Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative in Leicester; devising strategy for ministerial sign-off through to implementation – resulting in 15 new nurseries; managing both capital and revenue programmes, working across the public, private, voluntary and Social Enterprise sectors.

Angie graduated from Loughborough University with a BSc in Communications .In her spare time she enjoys cooking, dog-walking and playing the Ukulele!

Jenny Hand – LASS/Well for Living

I began my dedicated role as CEO of Reaching People in July 2017, having previously held this position one day a week under a management contract with LASS (Leicestershire Aids Support Services), alongside my role as CEO of LASS.

I have a long track record of supporting and developing partnerships, setting up CEO support networks and leading on partnership and consortia bids.

I am committed to continuous improvement across the voluntary sector and in managing change to make a difference. I intend to continue to be a lead Ambassador for Reaching People and to raising our profile, promoting the value of partnership membership with and on behalf of others. I truly believe that this can and will make a difference to all of our current and future service users across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

I have an active interest in social policy, equality, partnership, leadership and management of change. I am an active member on many local and regional boards/groups and until recently was a regional member of the NCVO Assembly and Chair of One East midlands Health steering group.

Away from work, I am on the Board of Leicester Symphony Orchestra – where I spend some of my spare time playing the cello.