Deaf Direct Board of Trustees
Mr Robin Caley
Chairperson (June 2009) - Hearing
Previously Chief Executive of BID (large organisation for Deaf people) for 18 years, Chair of CACDP (national examination body for Sign Language), Chair of social work professional group (NCSWD), Chair of forum for Domiciliary Care, currently Chair of Governors of Longwill School for the Deaf, Tribunal member for Mental Health Tribunals.
Mr John Purser
Trustee (June 1975) - Deaf
Extensive experience within the deaf community, a service user and a retired professional, Social Worker within the Local Authority Sensory Impairment Team. Steeped in the deaf community.
Mr Barry Ross
Trustee (September 2008) - Hearing
Has a son who is deaf and works in marketing / previous experience as Chair of local deaf children society.
Mrs Chris Bucknell
Trustee (March 2002) - Hearing
Extensive experience at Senior Management Level for statutory sector. A former Senior Manager of a Further Education College who is now working with Town and Parish Councils across Herefordshire.
Ms Donna Brayley-Willmetts
Trustee (September 2009) - Hearing
A Facilities manager from the University of Birmingham. Student for British Sign Language level 3.
Ms Lin Jonsberg
Trustee (September 2009) - Hearing
A solicitor who is head of legal services for Herefordshire PCT / Tribunal Judge for Mental Health Tribunals.
John Maidens
Trustee (March 2010) - Deaf freelance TV / film director / extensive experience in media. Uses interpreters extensively for his work. Previously producer / director for the BBC.
Mr Andrew Deakin
Trustee (September 2009) - Hearing
A manager of the voluntary organisation, Scope.
Mr Philip Gerrard
Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary (January 1999) - Deaf
CEO for 12 years at Deaf Direct, extensive management experience and specialist knowledge in the field of deafness as well as a user of services regularly.
Oxford Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre Board of Trustees
Nick Martell-Bundock
Chairperson (June 2011), Trustee (May 2010) - Hearing
Extensive management commercial roles with a large budget remit. Served as a school governor and has fundraised £7,500 for National Deaf Children Society. Has two young boys of whom one is deaf. Currently works for Oxfam as head of purchasing and supply.
Mr John Harmsworth
Trustee (June 2000) - Deaf
Extensive experience within the deaf community, a service user and previously a professional Social Worker within the Local Authority Hearing Impairment Team and steeped in the deaf community, a nuclear energy research scientist and BSL examiner. Currently retired.
Rev Ben Whitaker
Trustee (June 2000) - Hearing
Local part time Chaplain for deaf people as well as a prison Chaplain. A qualified psycho-therapist / counsellor.
Hilary Grime
Trustee (March 2011) - Hard of Hearing
Former Local Authority Manager, including Sensory Impairment Services, with local and national work and committee experience. Member of Quality Assurance Board for New Born Hearing Screening programme (Medical Research Council.) Qualified Occupational Therapist.
Jason Gurney
Trustee (June 2003) - Deaf
Extensive experience within the deaf community, a service user and born into a deaf family. Employed in the accountancy department of Oxford University.
Oscar Van Nooijen
Trustee (March 2011) - Hearing
Lived in Oxford for eleven years, since arriving to study history and politics at The Queen's College. An Oxford City Councillor since July 2006, and represents the Hinksey Park ward just south of St Ebbe's. A member of the City Executive Board from 2008 to 2010, with responsibility for service transformation, customer services and asset management. Currently serves as Chairman of the West Area Planning Committee and Convenor of the Central, South and West Area Forum, as well as sitting on the Finance & Performance Scrutiny and Audit & Governance Committees. From September 2011, employed as a history teacher at The Abbey School in Reading, having previously worked for various colleges of Oxford University, most recently as Academic Registrar of University College. Married with one cat, and lives in East Oxford. His interests and activities include swimming, walking, history, typography, and architectural history.
Roles and Duties of Deaf Direct’s Trustees and Chief Executive
Roles of the Trustees
- Set and maintain vision, mission and values
- Develop strategy
- Establish and monitor policies
- Ensure compliance with the governing document
- Ensure accountability
- Ensure compliance with the law
- Maintain proper fiscal oversight
- Respect the role of staff / volunteers
- Maintain effective board performance
- Promote the organisation
- Where staff are employed:
- Set up employment procedures
- Select and support the chief executive
Duties of the Trustees
- To comply with the governing document
- Duty of care - to act reasonably and prudently according their own expertise
- To comply with charity and company law as appropriate
- To protect the charity’s property
- To act in the best interests of beneficiaries and avoid conflicts of interest
- To act collectively
- To seek advice where they do not have the expertise to take a decision
- Not to financially benefit unless authorized to do so
Role of the Chief Executive
- To provide leadership, support and advice to Deaf Direct, its staff and Trustees, and all stakeholders, at a strategic and operational level ensuring that systems and procedures are robust and optimised and meet all regulatory standards so that Deaf Direct achieves its vision
- To promote and develop Deaf Direct’s reputation and the interests of Deaf people through external relations with all stakeholders
- To promote and encourage participation from users to shape and assure the services provided
- To act as Company Secretary and ensure compliance with the Companies and Charities Acts
