It is only through the enthusiasm, expertise and commitment of our staff, volunteers, executive leadership team and Board of trustees that we can deliver on our commitment to blind and partially sighted people.
We are governed by a Board of Trustees which has ultimate responsibility for the overall control of the charity.
Mervyn is the Chair of the Board of Trustees. As a Chartered Accountant, he has served as Finance Trustee since 2006 and has been instrumental in reshaping the charity to where it is today. Mervyn has enjoyed a successful career in the business travel sector and still continues to act as a global advisor to various companies.
Graham was appointed to our Board in July 2017. After being diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at 22, he began working for the Grampian Society for the Blind, where he later returned as Chief Executive. Graham was, until retirement, Chief Executive of North East Sensory Services, an independent local charity and the first integrated joint sensory service in Scotland.
Helen is a senior People and HR leader, with experience in governance, coaching and mediation and with over 17 years’ experience advising executive leadership teams and leading organisational transformation across complex UK and international organisations. Helen is passionate about inclusive leadership, equitable opportunity, breaking down barriers to opportunity and enabling organisations and individuals to realise their full potential. Alongside her executive career, she has held several voluntary trustee appointments, bringing expertise in governance, organisational effectiveness, leadership, safeguarding and inclusion.
Starting her career as a national news journalist, Louise has used the skills and experience she gained to change attitudes and inspire action to challenge society and support great causes. She has worked in senior positions for charities with a focus on disability, including Guide Dogs, Sense and Sense International.
Matt was the first blind student at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester. He went on to study the lute at the Royal Academy of Music where he received the London Student of the Year award. Matt developed the app GoodFoodTalks which makes restaurant menus accessible to blind and partially sighted people. He became a trustee in March 2017.
Raj joined the Board in December 2019. He retired from BP several years ago, having held senior leadership positions in IT and procurement. Since retiring, Raj has been pursuing his passion in furthering health matters and promoting the capabilities of disabled people, specifically sight-impaired individuals. Blind himself most of his life, Raj brings a unique and diverse perspective to the many roles he currently holds within the health, education and voluntary sectors, serving as advisor, non-executive director and trustee.
Robert joined the Board in March 2021. He works for Wellcome Trust’s Investment team, on its property portfolio. He trained as a chartered accountant at Deloitte.
Peter has been Managing Director at Protiviti responsible for International Insurance business since January 2023 and was Chair of London Vision. He is a specialist in change management and operational transformation with a particular interest in culture change, possibly stemming from his interest in other peoples and cultures and linguistic skills (speaking French, German and Portuguese). He has acute retinal necrosis impairing the vision in his left eye.
Jamie Ward is currently Head of Talent and Learning at Channel 4 Television. His main interest is in helping individuals grow and develop in organisations. He has previously held similar roles in the BBC and other media organisations. As an HR consultant he worked in the public and private sectors in this country and internationally for organisations such as DHL, Carnival, Rio Tinto and Sony Pictures. He has a PhD in organisational behaviour and an MBA from Imperial College, London and a degree in French and Russian from Leeds University. He has been visually impaired for three years due to a genetic condition and is a strong supporter of the work of the Thomas Pocklington Trust.
Following a regulatory career in the City that spanned more than a decade, Sarah now works as a coaching psychologist who specialises in wealth and careers. Sarah has also worked as a journalist and and news editor and has won multiple awards for her investment commentary.
Ramneek is an AI researcher pursuing a PhD in the applications of AI for the visually impaired at University College London (UCL). She holds a First-Class degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s with distinction in AI and Robotics from UCL. As a visually impaired person, Ramneek has been part of the Thomas Pocklington Trust community since February 2022, supported by the education team throughout her undergraduate studies before becoming a student volunteer. In this role, she has delivered speeches at Parliament for the All-Party Parliamentary Group and championed legislative discussions on support required for students within higher education. Ramneek’s passion and drive to transform the lives of the visually impaired community has been recognised internationally, including winning Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow Competition 2022, being featured in CNN and Samsung’s ‘Generation Change’ Campaign, and being selected as a global ‘Together for Tomorrow’ Ambassador at the Paris 2024 Olympic games.
Charles joined us in 2016 as Director of Resources and was appointed Chief Executive in 2019. He joined the Royal Mail graduate scheme in 1986 and his last role was Head of Corporate Finance at Post Office. He was also Treasurer for the Greater London Fund for the Blind (now called Vision Foundation). He graduated from Leeds University and qualified as an accountant in 1990.
Cathy re-joined us as Director of Partnerships in May 2021 following four years as CEO of London Vision. She was previously Director of Stratford Renaissance Partnership and had various roles in Local Government, including partnerships, regeneration and community development. Cathy has lived experience of sight loss and was diagnosed with Stargardt disease as a teenager.
Reproduced by kind permission of Acuity and College of Optometrists.
Emma has been at the forefront of the development and delivery of all our services. Since she joined us in 2008, she has influenced positive change across core areas as well as volunteering, technology, communications and special projects. Previously she led and delivered the Prince’s Trust Volunteers programme and was responsible for the development of services for young people including establishing the Millennium Volunteers programme at YMCA.
Louise qualified as an accountant 25 years ago working in the commercial sector until 2016. Since then she has done various roles at Thomas Pocklington Trust and other sight loss charities becoming Director of Resources in 2020. She has two children.
