Chair of Trustee Board – Gilly Conway

Background

I am a freelance management consultant with a broad skill-set developed over a varied career spanning more than 25 years in managerial positions within the private and public sectors. I have particular expertise in strategy development, corporate governance and risk management in the public and not-for-profit sectors, and I currently work predominantly with NHS Trusts to help them improve their governance and leadership. I am also an Associate with NHS Providers, delivering training for their Board Development Programme.

My role and what’s important to me

I have a particular interest in the not-for-profit sector and based research for my MBA dissertation on CACW. I was keen to carry on my involvement by volunteering and I jumped at the chance to become a Trustee in 2017. I was made Vice Chair in 2019 and then Chair in 2022. I am committed to using my skills and expertise to support the CACW team develop its services for the future and further the charitable aims of the organisation. The services offered are so important and I am passionate about ensuring they remain relevant and useful for generations to come.

As a Trustee I help set the future direction of the organisation, ensure the charity remains relevant and financially sustainable, and that it is well run for the benefit of people who need our services. As Chair, I have the additional responsibility of supporting and supervising the CEO, and ensuring that the Board carries out its duties effectively.

My hobbies and interests

I am mum to an incredible five year old who keeps me on my toes constantly. We enjoy days out and exploring the different areas of the UK during our holidays. I have recently started writing for fun after many years of writing solely for business, and this is something I will be doing a lot more of whenever I can make time for myself. They say there’s a book in everyone, and I’m hoping I can find mine!

Vice Chair of Trustee Board – Andrea J Dodds

Background

Since starting my marketing career at Unilever, I have spent more than 27 years building and leading marketing teams all over the world. Most recently I have been fortunate to work at Colgate and Dechra Pharmaceuticals, following my passion to improve the health of people and their pets. Living abroad I have experienced how difficult it can be to navigate life in a country other than your own, when not understanding the processes or not speaking the language well.

I was delighted to be appointed to the Trustee Board in October 2019 at a time when the organisation is exploring many new ideas how to provide even better service to those who need it most.

My role and what’s important to me

Together with the Chair and my fellow Trustees, I am helping to ensure business priorities and plans as well as advice quality and finances are sustainable. With my marketing background I am also especially interested in any communication Citizens Advice Cheshire West has with clients, external contacts and the organisation’s volunteers and employees.
I am immensely proud to be part of this great team and seeing the fantastic volunteers and staff give such a wide range of high-quality advice, making sure nobody needs to face tough challenges alone.

My hobbies and interests

My husband and I enjoy experiencing different cultures, places and their food. We have recently moved to Mid Wales and spend a lot of time and muscle restoring a large field and orchard into a beautiful wildlife area. Our cats Mika and Kimi are enjoying their countryside retirement after 6 overseas moves and are getting on well with the sheep and pheasant neighbours.

Treasurer – Debra Hough

Background

I’ve been a qualified accountant for over 20 years.

I initially worked in the banking and tech sector as my knowledge and experience built before I moved to being a business partner where I got closer to the operations and decision makers and saw more clearly the impacts that change business implement bring. I’ve worked for businesses that prioritise profit to those that prioritise people and so I now consider myself more balanced in how I approach things.

I am now a Senior Finance Director for a company with a key value around sustainability and my main tasks are to ensure compliance is met and while supporting its growth in UK, Ireland and Nordic region.

My role and what’s important to me

Along with the rest of the board I see my role as protecting the financial health of this service to ensure it’s available for a long time to come for its clients and can remain a free service for all.

It’s important to me that the community I also live in, has access to the resources and support provided by the volunteers and staff. As my mum used to volunteer for the service, I’m also keen to understand how as Trustees we can support the network of volunteers that donate their time so generously.

My hobbies, and interests

I’m an avid reader of fiction, whether it’s mysteries or romance which also flows to my TV habits where I prefer to watch a true crime documentary and avoid all reality TV if I can.

For exercise I love hot yoga as it relaxes me and I walk before work over the Spring to Autumn months.

Otherwise, my time is taken up by my family and trying to spend as much time with them as my husband and 2 grown up kids will allow.

Dr Max Griffiths

Background

After starting my career in the University and Public Sector, I have worked in Financial Services and Utilities for over 20 years; leading analytical teams to develop strategies preventing customers getting into debt and helping them out of debt as quickly as possible. During that time, I have seen the invaluable support and help Citizens Advice are able to provide to their clients.

I was delighted to be appointed to the Trustee Board in June 2016 and have been very proud to support the work of the charity in helping the local community.

My role and what’s important to me

The Trustee Board are responsible for overseeing the work of the charity, ensuring it meets its aims and delivers for the needs of its clients. We are there to support the leadership team, ensuring that the organisation is being well managed and operating within agreed policies, the law and its budget.

I value the difference we make to people’s lives.

My hobbies and interests

I have lived in Cheshire since 2007 with my family; my wife, Marie, and children, Joel and Lucy. Outside of work, I run a taxi firm that specialises in driving Joel and Lucy to their sporting events!

When I have some free time, I enjoy walking and cycling in the fantastic countryside we have in the region, allowing me to feel less guilty when enjoying a curry.

Bev Spicer

Background

As a Local Government Officer and then a Civil Servant for over 20 years I gained valuable experience in the fields of information and advice provision and of delivering and developing services in the public sector.

During this time I worked collaboratively with Crewe and Nantwich Citizens Advice on a year long major benefits advice project and was asked to join their Management Committee, which I did for 5 years, gaining a good knowledge of the Citizens Advice Service.

I was so taken with the ethos of Citizens Advice that when an Advocacy position was advertised at Cheshire West Citizens Advice I made the move into the third sector where I spent 16 years till retirement.

My role and what’s important to me

Having previously been a proud and happy employee of Cheshire West Citizens Advice for 16 years, I have a lot of affection for the organisation and remain passionate about its aims, principles and values. I am absolutely delighted to be appointed to the Trustee Board.

As trustees we oversee and are ultimately accountable for the activities of Cheshire West Citizens Advice, ensuring it meets its aims effectively and sustainably.

It is important to me that every member of the workforce (paid and volunteers) feels supported and valued in their roles as they continue to provide a great and much needed service to the local community.

My hobbies and interests

I very much enjoy keep fit classes – currently Zumba and Clubbercise – it is good loud music and great fun!

Keeping up with current events, news and politics has always interested me.

I love spending time with family and with friends. I’ve been married to John for over 40 years and we have two wonderful children.

Boyd Hope

Background

I started my career in Engineering and then the Automotive industry and then moved into Retail in the late nineties where I have worked for several large national retailers.

My Retail career offered the opportunity to become involved in delivering large scale business transformation programmes which is what I have been doing now for over twenty years.

I was appointed to the Trustee Board in June 2022 and delighted and proud to be part of a fantastic charity.

My role and what’s important to me

My role is to support the Citizens Advice Cheshire West senior management team and help set the strategic direction and help to ensure the charity remains effective, relevant and sustainable.

I took the role of Trustee to help the charity continue to offer great advice within the community and to ensure that it continues to run for the benefit of the people who need our services.

I am proud of the difference we can make to people’s lives.

My hobbies, and interests

I love nature and going for country walks with my wife, Cheryl and the family labrador.

Having three children Jordan, Dominic, Lily and three grandchildren means there is always some family event happening.

I enjoy Art and Design and being creative, reading, going to the gym and cooking

Mags Allan

Background

I started my career in the charity sector managing the marketing and community fundraising departments of a charity supporting patients with rare genetic diseases. I developed the charity’s social media presence, growing their Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn pages from their conception to built-up communities. I also supported dozens of London Marathon runners to raise funds to support the charity’s community.

I worked in the charity sector during the pandemic, witnessing the pressures of the pandemic on the charity sector and the communities charities support, increasing my passion to support communities in need.

My role and what’s important to me

I applied to become a Trustee of Citizens Advice Cheshire West, as I am passionate about helping people. With my experience from the charity sector, I wanted to use my knowledge from my professional experiences, in addition to my lived experience as a young adult in the ever changing political climate, on how Citizens Advice Cheshire West can have a real positive impact on people in the community.

My hobbies and interests

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my chaotic puppy on walks and adventures to different dog friendly spots. When I have a moment to relax, I love nothing more than cosying up with a book or watching a musical with a cuppa and a bar of chocolate!

David Briggs

Background

After qualifying as a Barrister I went to Business School in the US and then spent 30 years running Dawsons Music, a company which had a chain of shops selling musical instruments.

In 2010 I was appointed as Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire, The Queen’s representative in the County – a role which I held until retirement age in 2021. During my time as Lord-Lieutenant I was very involved in setting up Cheshire Community Foundation and Cheshire Connect.

My role and what’s important to me

Whilst Lord-Lieutenant I became involved in many charitable activities and came to realise the vital importance of Citizens Advice as the first port of call for many in need. I helped to set up “Community Connectors” as a new Citizens advice service where full time paid advisers can meet the same person as often as is necessary to make sure that they get the help and advice which they need.

As a Trustee I am keen to do all I can to further improve the service which Citizens Advice provides to the most needy in our community.

My hobbies and interests

My main activity and interest is now supporting numerous charities and good causes in Cheshire – particularly those which help young people. My main sporting activities are Tennis and Skiing.

Steve Miller

Background

I have spent a lot of my career building and managing risk management teams in a variety of financial services companies. I started my career with a summer job on the London Stock Exchange some forty years ago. Since then my career has included working in asset management, investment banking, corporate and transaction banking, specialist lending, retail lending and also in public service. I also spent time working at the Bank of England as well as a stint in academia and running my own business.

I was appointed to the Trustee Board in October 2023 and am proud to be part of such an important charity.

My role and what’s important to me

As a member of the Trustee Board my role is to provide oversight of the management in achieving its strategy and objectives. This includes helping to give support and guidance to the leadership team as it meets the ongoing challenges faced in an ever changing environment.

My hobbies and interests

I have at times been an avid scuba diver which I combined with my interest in archaeology, a personal trainer and a photographer.

These days I am more interested in getting out into the countryside with my wife and my dog, and visiting the wide variety of wildlife and bird reserves the area has to offer.