Jobs

The Abbeyfield Society today

Michael Staff – Chairman of the Trustees

Michael has an extensive banking background and retired in 1990. During his working life, he was involved in a number of charities in the Eastbourne area and since his retirement, has been Chairman of the Abbeyfield (Eastbourne) Society Ltd and an active member of The Abbeyfield Society at a national level.

Bruce Picking - Treasurer

Bruce was treasurer of the Abbeyfield North London Society until 2003 when he became a trustee of the Abbeyfield Ilford Society until it merged with Abbeyfield UK. He has been a board member of Abbeyfield UK since July 2003. Bruce is a chartered accountant who currently holds a number of non-executive directorships, as well as teaching and examining at the London School of Economics.

Maurice Butler - Abbeyfielder Trustee

Maurice qualified as a solicitor in 1968. He worked initially in private practice in Belfast specialising in conveyancing and company and commercial matters, becoming managing partner in 1995. He has lectured in conveyancing and has been a member of the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal in Northern Ireland for a number of years. He became a Deputy County Court Judge in 1990 which role he continues to undertake.

Mrs H Dawson - Abbeyfielder Trustee

Mrs Dawson began her career in Canada, gaining business management experience in several companies before moving to London in 1993. She has specific experience in human resources, finance and the management of change. She is currently a partner in a firm which provides coaching, team facilitation and board advice to business, as well as the public and not for profit sectors.

Mrs A Gregory - Abbeyfielder Trustee

Mrs Gregory started out as PA to the Managing Director of IBM, before taking various roles in the NHS. She has run her own business providing interior decorating services. She has a sound knowledge of care issues, with a particular interest in dementia care.

Miss M Holt - Abbeyfielder Trustee

Miss Holt began her career in stockbroking, qualifying as a barrister in 1977. She worked initially as a local authority solicitor specialising in property, planning and housing matters. Miss Holt is currently a member of a barristers’ chambers in Liverpool and is a board member of another housing association.

Mr G Stringer - Abbeyfielder Trustee

Mr Stringer is a chartered accountant. He has lectured in accountancy and set up the training division of a major accountancy firm, developing training and technical procedures for staff. In 1977 he moved into general practice, later buying a small practice in Plymouth which acted for a number of small charities.

Mr M White - Abbeyfielder Trustee

Mr White’s working career has been spent in the public sector in Scotland where he was involved in education management and managed a budget of £124m. He has also specialised in personnel management and equal opportunities issues.

Mr J Agass - Independent Trustee

Mr Agass has 43 years’ experience in social housing at all levels, initially in local government where he acted as Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Housing in a large Metropolitan Council. He is currently the part-time Chief Executive of a small housing association in the North West providing accommodation exclusively for the elderly and where he has succeeded in securing CSHS accreditation, being the only UK recognised accreditation for sheltered housing.

Mr J Taylor - Independent Trustee

Mr Taylor is a chartered engineer and managing director of a practice of consulting engineers and surveyors with wide experience in development, construction and business. He has worked in this field for 44 years. He has been a board member for 5 years within parts of the Yorkshire Housing Group which owns or manages approximately 15,000 homes and has extensive experience in the housing sector and care services.

Mr J Robinson - Independent Trustee

Mr Robinson is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineers. He has been Chairman of George Wimpey plc since 1999 and is currently also Chairman of Bespak Plc and Affinity Healthcare Limited. His previous chairmanships have included Railtrack Group plc, UK Coal plc and Paragon Healthcare Group. He has acted as President for the Institution of Chemical Engineers and Chartered Institute of Management. He was appointed as Chief Executive of Smith & Nephew plc in 1990 becoming its Chairman in 1997.