Dame Kate Barker (Ambassador) Expand Dame Kate Barker accepted SeeAbility’s invitation to become an Ambassador in August 2015. "SeeAbility works in a specialist area and it meets the very specific needs of groups who otherwise could be neglected. It's a real joy to see how young people can be helped to realise their potential through better eyesight, it sounds so simple! I look forward to working to spread the word outside of the South East as SeeAbility becomes a truly national organisation." Kate is a business economist, a former member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, and now a holder of a number of non-executive posts.
Adrian Waddingham (Ambassador) Expand Adrian Waddingham accepted SeeAbility’s invitation to become an Ambassador in June 2015 saying: “I am flattered to be asked to be an Ambassador for such a wonderful charity.” Like many supporters Adrian was alarmed to realise just how often eyesight testing is overlooked when working with disabled children – even though it is obviously the right place to start. Adrian qualified as an actuary in 1975 and is a founder partner of Barnett Waddingham LLP, now the largest independent firm of actuaries in the UK. A Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Actuaries, one of London’s 110 Livery Companies who collectively do so much for charitable causes, Adrian was awarded the CBE in 2012 for services to pensions and the actuarial profession. In 2014 Adrian served as a Sheriff of the City of London and is a member of the Council of City & Guilds, a Director of the Epilepsy Society and the current President of the Association of Lancastrians in London.
Michael Buckingham (Ambassador) Expand Michael became a SeeAbility Ambassador in July 2015 after stepping down as Vice Chair of Trustees following eight years on the Board. He retired in 2008 from his position as Chief Executive of Care Management Group. “In 2015 when my period of tenure came to an end I left behind a highly efficient charity within which “passion” is evidenced every day throughout the organisation. I was delighted to be offered the position of Ambassador and look forward to being involved with new service openings, fundraising events, discussions with corporate gifters - really in any way I can. SeeAbility has recently pioneered the practice and development of specialist eye tests within special schools for children. I have been fortunate to visit one of these schools to observe the sight testing for myself and to see how immensely valuable our Children in Focus Campaign is."
Mike Barnes (Ambassador) Expand Mike became a SeeAbility Ambassador in February 2016 and has worked at Wyvern Partners since 2010, establishing the firm's Debt Advisory business. “I am proud to have been asked to be an Ambassador on behalf of SeeAbility, a charity that does amazing things for people with visual impairments and multiple disabilities every day. Everything SeeAbility does is about empowering people and enriching their lives. I have supported SeeAbility since 2008 when my wife's cousin, Neil, a resident of SeeAbility's Heather House, passed away at the age of 26. This position allows me the privilege of assisting with SeeAbility's fundraising events and raising awareness of their fantastic work.”
Elizabeth Wagstaff (Vice President) Expand Elizabeth became a SeeAbility Vice President in 2012, having previously been Chairman from 2007, and a Trustee since 2005. She trained as a nurse, health visitor and midwife, and was also the founder and former CEO of Robina Care, which she developed from a small enterprise into the largest independent specialist care group of its kind in the UK. "Little did I know that when I joined SeeAbility as a Trustee it was going to become one of the most important and meaningful things in my life. The commitment and dedication of all the highly trained staff to ‘see beyond disability’ and empower people who have sight loss and other disabilities is something that I am very proud to have been associated with. During my time with SeeAbility I have seen lives empowered and enriched by the specialist knowledge and understanding of the SeeAbility Staff. We continue to grow and expand our services - most recently offering sight tests to children in special schools and training other professionals to support the work of this excellent organisation. I look forward to continuing to support these and all the other initiatives in any way that I can."
David Newlands (Vice President) Expand David became Vice President of SeeAbility in 2008. Before this he was Chairman of Trustees from 2001 until 2007, during which time we established our vital work to prevent avoidable sight loss among people with learning disabilities. David is a founder member of SeeAbility’s Sight Pioneer programme, which recognises individual philanthropic support in pursuit of better lives for those with sight loss and multiple disabilities in the UK. As a chartered accountant with an extensive business career, David trained at Deloitte and Touche where he became partner in 1977, specialising in large international clients. He was Group Finance Director at Saatchi & Saatchi plc from 1986-89 and Group Finance Director of The General Electric Company plc from 1989-97. Among his numerous board positions, spanning large and mid-cap listed companies, David was formerly Chairman of Paypoint plc, Tomkins plc, Britax International, Kesa Electricals plc and HellermanTyton plc. His experience spans flotations, mergers and acquisitions, and growth companies. Living in Surrey, David regularly returns to Scotland to visit family, watch rugby and play golf.
Lady Judith Colman (Vice President) Expand Lady Colman became Vice President of SeeAbility in 1998. Living in Hampshire, she has a particular interest in SeeAbility’s Heather House and Fir Tree Lodge, both in Tadley. Lady Colman has been involved with Heather House since this unique service began. Over the years she has generously supported SeeAbility’s fundraising activities and attended a number of official engagements where our Patron HRH The Duchess of Gloucester has opened newly extended buildings. "I’ve had a busy life raising five children, training dogs, being a magistrate and advising on the management of the family farm’s woodlands and speciality trees. I am also a keen gardener. Although I do not have direct experience of visual impairment I know about the importance of providing the best environment for encouraging growth and development."
The Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH (Vice President) Expand The Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH has been a Vice President of SeeAbility since 2013. Sir John first became involved with SeeAbility when he joined our 200th Birthday Party Celebration in 1999 at his beloved Chelsea football club. Dame Norma then visited our unique Heather House and the couple’s interest in SeeAbility grew. In 2006, Sir John accepted the new role of Patron of SeeAbility's Sight Pioneers which he held for six years. During this period he kindly hosted annual dinners, inspiring our major donors and sharing the devastating impact of sight loss upon his own father when he was a young child: “Absurdly, my father felt that he had failed; that he was a burden; that he was of no use to the family. That is never how we felt: to us, he was the same – but to himself, he was not. I daresay many other blind people feel similar emotions.” “Put your hands over your eyes for a moment, and imagine a world of perpetual darkness: it is a frightening prospect. No sun, no sky, no sea, no flowers, no faces. “What colour is the wind?” – asked a blind man. How do you respond to that?” During his patronage Sir John has helped the charity to recruit a cadre of Sight Pioneers, high level benefactors who have raised over half a million pounds.
James Deeley (Vice President) Expand James Deeley became a Vice President in 2019 and has supported the organisation for over 20 years, most recently as Chair of the Board of Trustees from 2012 and as a Trustee since 2005. James has first-hand knowledge of SeeAbility’s work as he volunteered in Leatherhead for 6 years as an independent advocate for some of the people supported by SeeAbility before becoming a Trustee. He is currently Chief Executive of Alina Homecare, a provider of high quality care services to people in their own homes across the South of England. James is a qualified solicitor, whose early career was with Slaughter and May, before taking up senior legal and corporate positions in several public companies gaining wide ranging legal and managerial experience. Until 2012 he was Commercial Director of Charter International plc. From the early days as a volunteer, SeeAbility gave me a passion for care well-delivered; its about being aspirational for people’s abilities and providing support that encourages choice and independence. SeeAbility is an amazing organisation that does truly extraordinary things every day