Trustees are the people who lead the charity and decide how it is run. Our Trustees use their skills and experience to support Emmaus Suffolk, helping us to achieve our aims.
Our Board of Trustees meets regularly throughout the year, agreeing on strategic direction, approving and reviewing policies and procedures, appointing executive staff and ensuring we are meeting our objectives as a charity.
Jonathan Fahie – Chair
Jonathan has worked in the insurance and reinsurance industry for over 40 years based in the City of London. He was appointed COO of the Global Casualty division and a managing director of Guy Carpenter before retiring in 2022. For the first 12 years of his life he lived in Suffolk before returning 25 years ago with his family to a village outside Ipswich.
Alok Ruia
Alok has been a Director of Ruia Group, which supplies textile products into the UK, Europe and Worldwide, since 2005. He develops links into the corporate sector and oversees the Ethical Trade Policies for the whole of the Group. For the vast majority of his life he has been registered blind which has presented many challenges. He has worked with The Greater London Association for Disabled People setting up self-help groups for ethnic minorities with disabilities.
Lisa-Jane Balaam
Having worked both in the UK and overseas, Lisa brings experience from the construction industry, hospitality and education sectors, with a broad range of skills and a ‘Can Do’ mindset. Living in West Suffolk, Lisa works with Suffolk Education Appeals, in addition to England Cricket Board Suffolk, promoting cricket for both youth and women. Her main objective in any situation is to provide people with ‘opportunities’ within a safe environment, regardless of their circumstances or background, engaging interaction and encouraging others to believe in the achievable.
Hugh Wolley – Treasurer
Hugh is a Chartered Accountant who specialises in working with smaller enterprises and charities. He is a Trustee of Abbeyfield Deben Extra Care Society, another Suffolk charity which runs a care home called Highlands in Woodbridge. He has lived in Suffolk for 34 years.
Greg Dodds
Gemma Gallant