Meet Our Team

Claire is passionate about supporting those who are likely to fall into the criminal justice system and how to prevent this.

Claire has a wealth of experience working in criminal justice, she has been a forensic psychologist and then later became a prison governor. Claire now teaches on the Psychology programmes at Leeds Trinity University.

Margaret is a dedicated and compassionate professional with a versatile background encompassing retail banking, mental health support, and community engagement.

Her commitment to fostering positive change is evident through active voluntary work, including skill development for children.

Dedicated to social progress and the realisation of a world where everyone matters, Margaret brings her diverse skills, experiences, and enthusiasm to the Board of Trustees.

Outside of work, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and long walks.

Vijay is passionate in supporting young people with their mental health within education and the community.

Vijay has experience in Operations Management and Business Transformation programmes which he draws on to support various charities with volunteer recruitment and fundraising.

Vijay enjoys photography in his spare time.

Olivia is a driven Solicitor Apprentice in the early stages of her career training in corporate practice. Passionate and ambitious she secured her role at a top city firm after previously studying medicine for two years. Olivia was recently invited to share her experiences as a means to inspire others in a podcast supported by her firm. She has shown commitment to charitable initiatives volunteering on her local PPG and as a tutor/mentor. Olivia is particularly passionate about social mobility and mental health, hoping to support the board by offering a younger perspective.

In her free time Olivia enjoys tennis and cooking.

Sam is a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and has worked in communications, marketing and PR for over 18 years.

She is passionate about supporting people, working with great brands and sharing great stories.

After qualifying as a journalist, Sam has worked in a range of industries, focusing mainly on charity and not for profit organisations and has spent the last nine years in social housing.

Outside of work Sam spends most of her time running and playing taxi to her two young daughters.

Sade is an accomplished Senior Human Resources Professional and Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD) with over 16 years of experience in various sectors and is currently a Board of Trustee with another Charity.

Sade is passionate about contributing to the community, especially to causes she cares about, i.e., providing HR expertise and support to organisations that provide health care services, mental health, health and wellbeing support, basic infrastructures & amenities, and better lives for all persons need.

Sade is also a certified Image Coach and consultant.

Brad is a dedicated and passionate senior IT professional with a successful track record in leading and implementing IT Strategies. He has over 16 years of experience in education, not-for-profit and the private sector. He hopes to harness his skills and experience to support the Board of Trustee’s organisational goals.

In his spare time Brad enjoys keeping active. Last year he completed the Leeds Triathlon and this year the London Marathon, raising thousands of pounds for charities in the process.

Philip is passionate about supporting various third sector organisations and improving opportunities for young people. Philip has worked in HR and has developed various transferable skills throughout his experience.

Sharon has over 25 years’ experience in the social housing sector, having worked for several non-profit housing providers. She has worked in housing management, support, social research and policy and is currently a senior manager with a voluntary sector supported housing provider.

She has a Housing qualification, a Masters in Social Policy and is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing. She would like to use her skills and experience to support Inspire North’s goals.

In her spare time Sharon likes to keep fit and is a qualified fitness instructor, teaching Pilates and spin. She also enjoys cycling.

Tell us a little about your professional background? I am the CFO at the Institute of Directors with strategic responsibility for Finance, IT, People & Culture and Risk & Compliance. I am a Chartered Accountant, hold a Diploma in Company Direction and also a Certified Data Protection Officer.

How long have you served on the Inspire North board and what motivated you to be on the board? I joined the IN board in March 25. I have a passion for supporting mental health and wanted to use my professional skills to support a local organisation in this field. The values at Inspire North really struck a chord with my personal values and the dedication of the leadership team really shone through. I knew IN was the right place to for me to give back.   

What’s one thing you're passionate about outside of work? With a busy job I don’t have much time for hobbies but I spend as much time as I can with my family, we love to going for bike rides and walks in the local countryside with the dog and occasionally a nice pub lunch along the way!

Share a fun fact or unexpected skill you have! I once worked for the Spanish Army teaching English to soldiers before they were deployed!

Who or what inspires you personally or professionally? Another passion I have is promoting women in leadership. There is still so much to do to break down bias and achieve equity but I’m encouraged and inspired by the growth in female leadership which has changed dramatically over my 20 year career. I remain committed to promoting female leadership and hopefully inspiring others to achieve their potential.

What advice would you give to someone looking to make a difference in their community? I think a lot of people think of volunteering in the traditional sense and feel they may not have the qualities or skills to support services directly. I would encourage everyone to recognise that whatever skills or experience you always have something to contribute. There are many ways you can make a difference so just reach out and see how you can help!

Tell us a little about your background (skills / experience)?

I have worked in social housing for 35+ years holding senior positions for 20 years. My experience has been with local, regional and national Housing Associations with a focus on housing services to diverse communities. With responsibility for housing operations including housing management/landlord services, asset, tenant engagement and regulation, I’ve worked with Board Members, professionals, stakeholders and customers to continuously improve services. I am passionate about social housing and the broader links with health, education, family, social skills, and employability determining a safe space to call home should be a basic right.

I am a Trustee of an anti-poverty charity in the North West offering services to people who are at risk of or transitioning through homelessness, financial hardship or crisis.

What’s one thing you're passionate about outside of work?

Walking in the Lake District (to keep reasonably fit!)

What motivated you to join the Inspire North Board?

My values align with Inspire North’s ethos to support people facing homelessness, domestic abuse, mental health problems and dementia. This area of work is so important to guide people when they need it. The focus on collaboration, integrity, people and passion is key to improving quality of life for those accessing services.

Share a fun fact or unexpected skill you have!

Although scared of heights, I climbed Sydney Harbour Bridge for my 50th birthday.

Who or what inspires you personally or professionally?

Colleagues working tirelessly for those needing support. The sector has a huge number of talented individuals who go above and beyond every day to help people manage in their homes, or to access services to improve their situations.

What advice would you give to someone looking to make a difference in their community?

Get involved! Find out what’s going on and join in.

You can make a difference, have fun, and motivate others to take part too.

Tell us a little about your background (skills / experience)?

By background I am clinical practitioner which covered areas of social work, complex safeguarding and mental health. Housing was a common theme for many of the patients I saw. Whilst I don’t do front line work anymore in a substantive role I do keep up my skills by doing this on a casual basis. I have worked in HR for a decade now, initially taking a more junior real borne out of my passion for EDI. I completed my HR qualification obtaining Level 7 Charter of Institute of Professional Development MCIPD and working my way up to Head of People. I am currently in an equivalent HR role which I really enjoy. I am also a Non-Exec Director in a regulator provider organisation and an Elected Director in a professional membership Organisation.

What’s one thing you're passionate about outside of work?

This has to be the great outdoors and all the freedom and inclusivity that Great Britain has to offer. I can often be found outdoors, all be it in my camper van, up a mountain watching the world go by.

What motivated you to join the Inspire North Board?

IN demonstrates a passion for supporting people with a clear baseline of values in all that you do. I saw housing was a constant battle for people and used social housing myself after leaving school. Without that little stepping stone I would not have got on the housing ladder myself and I am now in a position where I own my own home.

Share a fun fact or unexpected skill you have!

A fun fact (and one my friends comment on) is when going on a holiday there is one very important thing I must have. Not my own bathroom, a pool view and definitely not a gold star style restaurant. It must be a somewhere with a LGBT community. As a gay man with a disability this is a must for me and something I am not afraid to share.

Who or what inspires you personally or professionally?

My late mother was strict but fair and taught me a lot. I was diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis) at the young age of 21. I recall my mum’s words “Son MS or not you need to work hard in life if you want to have nice things” and she meant it. Sadly, mum passed away in my arms in 2016 with very aggressive dementia. This is another reason why I want to join the board as there will be people like my mum who are vulnerable and need IN.

What advice would you give to someone looking to make a difference in their community?

Use your skills and energy, see past the numbers; often you can make a bigger difference outside the salary or payslip you may get.