James Deeley, Chairman Expand James became Chairman of Trustees in 2012. He is a member of the Finance and Audit Committee and chair of the Remuneration, Nomination and Governance Committee. James first volunteered at SeeAbility’s Leatherhead service in 1999 before becoming a Trustee six years later in 2005. He is a qualified solicitor, whose early career was with Slaughter and May. He went on to take up senior management and Board positions in several listed public companies. He is currently Chief Executive of Alina Homecare, a business providing care to people in their own homes. "I believe passionately that everyone with sight loss and multiple disabilities has the right to an enriched life with as much choice and independence as possible. This is what SeeAbility is about and how we make a difference."
Gordon Ilett, Vice-Chairman Expand Gordon became a Trustee in February 2010 and sits on our Services and Quality Committee. He is an optometrist with his own practices in Bexleyheath and Sevenoaks. He is a National Councillor with the Association of Optometrists and also a long-standing advisor to the Special Olympics. Gordon is one of the country’s leading experts on eye care and vision for people with learning disabilities. "I have been working for many years to raise awareness of the importance of eye care for people with learning disabilities. My work in this field makes being a Trustee for SeeAbility a perfect fit – we are helping to shape and develop how eye care is delivered for this group of people."
Gareth Mostyn Expand Gareth became a Trustee in July 2010 and was appointed Treasurer at the AGM in the same year. He chairs the Finance and Audit Committee. He is a Chartered Accountant with substantial experience in senior finance roles at major public companies. Currently Gareth is the Executive Head of Strategy and Corporate Affairs at De Beers Group, having previously been Chief Financial Officer from 2012 - 2016. "I am privileged to serve as a Trustee for SeeAbility. It's a wonderful organisation with great people doing great work to enable others to live their lives to the full."
Paul Ursell Expand Paul became a Trustee in February 2010 and is a member of the Services and Quality Committee. He is an internationally respected cataract surgeon and Consultant at the Epsom and St Helier Hospitals. He has lectured throughout the world and runs specialist clinics covering corneal disease and advanced cataract surgery. Paul has developed the quality standard for people with sight loss and dementia in an ophthalmology department, for which he was nominated for a Vision 2020 UK Astbury Award in 2016. He is the UK representative to the EU for Ophthalmology on the UEMS committee and an Honorary Consultant at the Royal Marsden Hospital. "I see a lot of the people SeeAbility support in my clinics. Being a Trustee has been a fantastic experience and really helpful in improving the service we offer."
Mary Heathcote Expand Mary became a Trustee in 2014 and sits on the Services and Quality Committee. She was Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames from 2012 to 2013 and, as a Councillor, was Disability Champion for the Borough from 2010 to 2014. She is registered blind and for many years has championed the rights of vulnerable groups like the young, disabled and elderly, addressing many issues including the provision of health and social care. Her civil service career included roles in the Department of Energy, the Cabinet Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office among others. Whenever I visit a SeeAbility service I always leave inspired by the quality of the staff, their ability to create a "home-from-home" and their commitment to those in their care.
Francois Delbaere Expand Francois became a Trustee of SeeAbility in December 2015 and is a member of the Finance and Audit Committee. He is a Chartered Accountant who has held senior finance roles in a range of private and public equity businesses. He is currently Group Finance Director of Phoenix Learning and Care Group, a Devon-based provider of services to disadvantaged children and young people. "SeeAbility provides a first class service to the people it supports and I am delighted to be able to contribute my experience and time to such a wonderful charity. Based in the South West, I enjoy visiting the services, seeing the specialist support we provide and contributing where I can at our Exeter, Honiton, Wellington and Bristol locations."
Mary Moore Expand Mary became a Trustee of SeeAbility in March 2016 and sits on the Services and Quality Committee. She is an Organisational Development consultant with experience supporting organisations to develop positive work environments, good teamwork and effective leadership teams. She was a partner in Sheppard Moscow, the organisation development consultancy in the UK and established their business in Asia before becoming an independent consultant and executive coach in 2010. Mary is also a non-executive director of Devon Partnership NHS Trust in Devon.
Deborah Hale MBE Expand Much of Deborah’s career has been in marketing and communications, and major events in both the UK and internationally. As Head of International Marketing for London Unlimited, she was responsible for the London House in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics. This led to her role as Producer of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays. After leaving the Organising Committee she became Business Marketing Director for Facebook in Europe, Middle East and Africa. She now runs her own company, Brightpath Communications Limited, and is currently Lead Producer for the GREAT Festival of Innovation in Hong Kong, March 2018, on behalf of the UK Government.
Rona Nicholson Expand Rona has had a long career in social housing and is currently Deputy CEO of Hanover Housing, one of the leading providers of housing for older people across England. Previous roles Rona has held are London Director of the Housing Corporation, where she was responsible for regulation and investment in London’s affordable housing, and Managing Director in the South East for Orbit Housing Group. She also has an extensive track record as a Non Executive having held positions in housing, health and charitable organisations. She is currently the Chair of the Equality & Diversity Board Advisory Group for the Homes & Communities Agency.