We’re always seeking new Trustees to join us! If you want a rewarding role helping formerly homeless people have a new chance in life get in touch with us here

Victoria Fuller – Co-Chair

Victoria is a Programmes/Projects Manager currently working in information security within the insurance sector.

After starting her career with one of the Magic Circle law firms working internationally, she moved into tech and salesforce consultancy. She then worked as a consultant for many years implementing large data projects across a range of platforms for clients in retail, hospitality, non-profit, transport and infrastructure services sectors to name a few.

Gaynor Bell – Co-Chair

Gaynor is a retired Library professional, having worked in the public and private sectors both in the UK and Scandinavia.

She has been a listening volunteer with Samaritans for 20 years and until 2021 was also a branch director and trustee based here in Colchester; she now holds a regional position for the East of England and is a committed advocate of mental health and wellbeing.

 

James McElhinney – Trustee and Treasurer

James is a Chartered Accountant. He qualified in 1979, became a Partner with Hughes Allen in Ipswich in 1981.

James set up is own practice in 1997 specialising in the Haulage sector, before merging with and becoming a Partner in Scrutton Bland in 1999. James remained as a Partner with Scrutton Bland until 2013 when he took early retirement.  He now spends his time acting as a consultant to a number of hauliers in the Ipswich area. James is also a trustee and treasurer for Colchester based charity Autism Anglia.

Francis Perera – Trustee

Francis qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Baker Tilly, London and subsequently worked for KPMG.

He was then appointed as Financial Controller, Royal London Insurance for 10 years. Francis was instrumental in establishing Innovative Market Leading Pensions Company (PAFS) becoming the Finance Director & Company Secretary. Following its demutualisation, Francis joined Just Retirement PLC taking an active role in initially establishing Financing from Private Equity Funding and subsequently enabling the listing of the Group on the London Stock Exchange in the FTSE 250 segment. After 10 years Francis took early retirement in 2015 and became a trustee in December 2016. He is also Treasurer for St Mary’s Church Ardleigh.

Thomas Empson – Trustee

Thomas has been working in Higher Education since 2007 in various roles, from lecturer to project manager and business development. He specialises in running high profile industry collaborations, partnering universities with the likes of the Design Museum, John Lewis, the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust and Somerset House.

Thomas has managing marketing on a range of funded education initiatives in the charity sector. These have included a crime reduction project for the Big Lottery Fund, a learning disability project for the Department for Education, an innovation in giving project for Nesta and currently delivers a corporate training project to upskill marginalised Londoners for the digital economy, sponsored by the European Social Fund.

Additionally, he has expertise in marketing and communications for fashion retail, the third sector and higher education. He is currently writing up his PhD thesis, which looks at how creativity can foster sustainability and help achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and create local and global circular economies.

By subscribing you will receive regular updates and news from Emmaus Colchester. We will never sell or distribute your information to a third party.