Board of Trustees

Our Board of Trustees is responsible for ensuring the charity is doing what it was set up to do and making decisions about how it is run and future developments. The Trustees meet regularly during the year to consider, determine and review Carers in Hertfordshire’s strategies, policies and performance. Our Trustees bring a depth and breadth of expertise to the charity as they have extensive backgrounds in finance, management, health and social care, and other professional roles. All Trustees support Carers in Hertfordshire in an unpaid voluntary capacity. We currently have nine Trustees and you can find out about them below.

 

Mark Montgomery (Chair)

Mark’s career began as a trader on the floor of the London Stock Exchange in 1986 and he has been involved in stockbroking and the evolution of share trading ever since. His work in the City has ranged from running sales and trading teams with a seat at management committee and board tables. His role has involved developing and maintaining working relationships with a number of large international, institutional investing clients. Much of his working life has seen Mark based in London but he has travelled extensively during his career, including time spent working in New York and Hong Kong during the 1990s.

His involvement in charity work to date has been through fundraising efforts for various charities in the form of running one New York and two London marathons. He has also completed two, Three Peaks Challenges: the first was Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike & Snowden within 24 hours; the other being the three Yorkshire peaks in an equally testing 12 hours.

Mark comes from a medical family with a father and brother having been GPs and his wife is a Physiotherapist both as a practitioner and university lecturer specialising in care of musculo-skeletal conditions. This proximity to medical professionals has made Mark aware of some of the daily demands in medical care and the longer term challenges faced by chronic patients and the support they often require.

Mark was elected to the Board at the 2016 AGM.

Mark says: “When I was introduced to Carers in Hertfordshire, I was immediately impressed with the work that has been done to benefit so many in the county. I feel that the experience I have gained in my career and personal life will help me to contribute as a trustee as the organisation develops in the future.”

Allison Alexander (Vice Chair)

Allison runs a Digital, Data & Design Agency called Branue, which helps clients manifest their brand and connect emotionally with individuals.

She studied a Bachelor in Business specialising in Marketing and fuses tech and data to unleash creativity. She has led on digital transformation and Customer centric innovations for 15 years driving marketing programmes and technology for Microsoft, PayPal, New Look, eBay and Best Buy.

Allison became involved with Carers in Hertfordshire after her father had an accident, making Allison and her family carers. At the start of 2020, Allison’s mother-in-law moved in with her as she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Allison also grew up with her grandmother, who had Parkinson’s and used a walking aid. These events led Allison to support Carers in Hertfordshire.

Allison also supports the British Red Cross, Action Aid and Mind. She is also a Trustee with Community Development Action, as she cares about reducing anguish for people who may be suffering from loneliness or isolation.

She is married and beyond grateful for her two girls. She also enjoys yoga, running, walks and gatherings and she plays club badminton.

Allison was elected as a Trustee to the Board in November 2020.

Allison says: “I am delighted to support Carers in Hertfordshire and their immense efforts, which are such a significant resource for thousands of carers. I look forward to bringing my Customer obsessed digital experience to the table as I seek to add value as a Trustee.”

Kevin McLennan

Kev has extensive experience in financial services, telecoms and utilities. He currently serves as a Business Manager in the Global Legal Division at UBS. Previously, he was Chief of Staff to the General Counsel at Virgin Media O2. He held various roles at Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, including project management and contact centre leadership. Additionally, he led the Business Management Graduate program at Centrica for six years, focusing on the recruitment and development of emerging talent.

In 2018, Kev became involved with the carers’ cause while working in Centrica’s Global Corporate Affairs, as they activated a long-term charity partnership with Carers UK.

Kev was elected to the Board in November 2020.

Kev says: “It is a privilege to be part of Carers in Hertfordshire. I’m proud of our work to support unpaid carers and champion the vital role they play in society. I continue to look forward to the positive impact we can make as an organisation, both today and in the years ahead.”

Miroslava Budin

Whilst Slava is not a carer herself, she has some knowledge of caring for her mother in her last years with ovarian cancer and through her daughter who was a care worker before becoming a paediatric nurse.

Until her retirement Slava was an IT Programme Director leading large IT programmes. Slava likes to keep herself busy with her many hobbies and enjoys learning new things. In addition to her qualifications in Applied Biology and IT and Management, she graduated from the Open University in 2013 with a BSc in Psychology and she continues to have a great interest in people and anything to do with psychology.

The theatre has been a part of Slava’s life since she was five when she attended dance classes. She belongs to a local theatre group and performs regularly on stage, dancing, singing and acting. When not on stage, she will be behind the scenes either choreographing, directing or producing. As well as performing on stage and attending dance classes she is also a keen photographer, enjoys walking, crafting, spending time with her two grandchildren and as a trustee of another local charity ‘Kaotic Angel Foundation’.

Slava was elected as a full member of the Board at the 2016 AGM having been a co-opted member since April 2016.

Slava says: “As I am retired (in theory), I wanted to be able to use my business (and other) skills and experience for a good cause and also to keep my brain active. I feel very privileged to have been the Chair of the Trustees and enjoy working with the excellent team of staff, volunteers, and trustees who are passionate in supporting the unpaid carer.”

 

Martin Nottage

After graduating with a degree in Chemical Engineering, Martin spent nearly two decades working globally in the food industry helping companies become more effective and efficient. The key focus was the people side of things. In the latter part of this period he found he had developed a desire to use his skills and knowledge to help improve the public services many of us depend on.

Martin joined the NHS to help design and build new patient services across Surrey and Sussex. His fantasy evolved and he subsequently spent a decade working in local government leading on new ways of delivering, and therefore protecting, services, in the face of reductions in local government funding.

During the latter part of his career, despite being a local government director, Martin became the carer for his widowed mother as she became ill with Alzheimer’s. Martin gave up full-time work and cared for his mother until her final months of life when she needed residential care.

Following the death of his mother, Martin moved to Hertfordshire and started looking for volunteering opportunities where he could use his breadth of experience to help others. He found Carers in Hertfordshire and was formally elected to the Board in November 2020.

Martin says: “In so many ways, caring for my mother was undoubtedly the toughest period of my life. I really could have benefited with some support from an organisation like Carers in Hertfordshire.”

Caroline Hedley

Caroline is working as UK Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) and Advocacy Lead for SAGE Publications; SAGE is a global academic publisher of books, journals, and a growing suite of library products and services. They produce high quality educational resources that support instructors to prepare the citizens, policy makers, educators and researchers of the future. Working for this global organisation is allowing her to put to good use her qualifications in Diversity and Inclusion as well as co-production, mentoring/reverse mentoring and coaching.

Caroline worked as a Business Manager in the private sector for most of her career and then joined Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) as a Business Improvement Project Manager in Adult Care Services at the end of 2014. The projects Caroline has worked on has allowed her to collaborate with many organisations including voluntary organisations and the NHS, she has extensive experience working with the Hertfordshire community and has led on co-production and transformation programmes.

Caroline cared for her elderly mother for many years as she had lost the majority of the function of her legs and also had dementia (Alzheimer’s), her mother remained living at home until she sadly passed away in 2018. Caroline currently helps to support with the care of her mother-in-law (95) who also lives in her own home. Caroline has organised and hosted a charity event, a summer afternoon tea party and raffle at her home in her garden, for her local Hospice in Letchworth Garden City. This was a ‘thank you’ for all the care and support they had given her family when caring for her father-in-law.

One of Caroline’s major passions is Netball and she played competitively in the past and still enjoys watching games on TV. In recent years she has taken up baking and holds ‘coffee mornings’ for charitable causes.

Caroline says: “Being of Caribbean heritage it is almost an unwritten understanding that we will care and support our parents in their homes if they are unable to do so themselves. Organisations such as Carers in Hertfordshire can offer support, information and an understanding of the experience unpaid carers are going through at a time they need it most. I am very proud, humbled and excited to be part of Carers in Hertfordshire and the exceptional work they are doing”.

Tony Seagroatt

Tony currently works for HR Fit for Purpose consultancy as the Finance Director. The role includes assisting with marketing and networking for the business.

He began his career in 1977 as a Social Worker trainee initially working with older peoples’ services for the London Borough of Barnet. After acquiring his Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW) qualification he was employed in a generic social work role. Tony worked at Barnet Council for 15 years moving from social work into volunteer management, grant allocation and ultimately as a Planning Officer working with voluntary sector organisations.

In 1992, Tony was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at Age Concern Enfield (later Age UK) where he was responsible for its development and progression until 2016. He also had budget responsibility for £1.3m. Under his leadership and management the charity grew from just providing an information service and dementia day care service to delivering 13 projects and services across the borough of Enfield and employing 70 members of staff supported by 200 volunteers. Tony is experienced in strategic management, business planning and working with key commissioners to shape service provision.

In 2016, Tony held an interim five-month position of Chief Executive Officer for Age UK London that supported Age UK organisations in the London Boroughs.

An avid rugby fan, Tony played for the Old Ashmolean Rugby Club for 50 years and was Club President. He is now the Vice President of Southgate Rugby Club where he gets to watch his sons play. His interests include his family, walking, cycling, travel and vintage cars. When required he also volunteers as a Cook for a homeless shelter project and is a volunteer for Love Your Doorstep community group providing a lunchtime and after school service to help keep school children safe during the lunch period and whilst waiting for buses to go home. This was set up after several children were victims of crime during these times.

Tony has been a carer for his late mother and father-in-law who both had dementia and currently supports extended family members when needed.

Tony was elected to the Board as a Trustee in October 2022.

Having been a carer and working with carers who attended his Day Centre at Age UK he has worked with carers and past carers to develop services to support them.

Tony is currently employed as an invigilator for The Broxbourne School, is a Director of HR Fit for Purpose (HR consultancy) and is a Friends of Whitewebbs Park committee member.

Tony says:  “Since joining Carers in Hertfordshire I have been impressed with the professionalism and quality of the Trustees, Staff and Volunteers and range of support services that have been co-developed by consulting carers of all ages. I feel privileged to have been accepted on to the Board and hope to be able to contribute to the work of the organisation.”

Richard Lewis

Richard is a lawyer in the Government Legal Department, where he has worked in a number of roles supporting policy in consumer law, state aid, further education and labour law. He worked in private practice in the City of London before joining the Civil Service and has also worked as a volunteer with Waterloo Legal Advice Service.

Richard’s work on further education helped him to appreciate the importance of technical education and skills and he has served as a governor of West Herts College since 2017.

Although he is not himself a carer, Richard has some family experience of the importance of caring roles. He has also been a telephone befriender for Age UK since 2021.

Richard was appointed as a Trustee in March 2024.

Richard says: “When I was introduced to Carers in Hertfordshire, I was immediately impressed by the commitment of its team and by the fantastic variety of help it provides for unpaid carers through its practical care, training and advice and many support groups. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to contribute to the work of such a positive organisation.”

Lauren Mackenzie

Lauren is a dispute resolution lawyer and mediator, who specialises in will and trust disputes. She deals often with cases involving those requiring care, as well as with unpaid carers themselves. This gives her an insight into some of the many issues that unpaid carers and those requiring care face on a daily basis.

Lauren was a part-time carer for her father, before he passed away from Parkinson’s Disease in 2024. She has also witnessed family members care for others with Parkinson’s during the same period. This really brought home to her the crucial role that unpaid carers play in meeting the needs of loved ones, while trying to maintain other areas of their life, such as a family and a job. The experience also impressed upon Lauren the fact that being a carer is not an active choice for many, but rather a way of life that they have often gradually been initiated into, with little idea that they are, in fact, carers.

The value and importance of the incredible work that Carers in Hertfordshire does is therefore of huge resonance to Lauren, both personally and professionally.

Lauren has two young children and spends much of her free time with them. She is also a trained dancer, and likes to keep fit by attending regular Pilates and Bounce classes. Lauren has travelled extensively in South America and Asia, and has lived and worked abroad in France and Belgium. She has also volunteered in the Human Rights Law Network in Delhi, supporting victims of childhood marriage and discrimination on the grounds of having been diagnosed with HIV or AIDS. This experience offered Lauren an interesting insight into the key role not just of legal advice to those in need, but also of education and opportunities to teach or support others in a similar position.

Lauren was elected to the Board in February 2024.

Lauren says: “I feel privileged to be able to bring my personal and professional experience to the Trustee role. Unpaid carers’ voices must be heard and their needs supported, at a time when more and more people require unpaid care.”