Paul Mugford – Chair of Trustees

Having retired from a portfolio management career spanning the Civil Service, banking and the NHS, Paul maintains an active interest in voluntary work and was Team Leader of our Read Easy Bristol group for over three years. He continues as a Reading Coach.

Harriet Ayles

Harriet is a Consultant at EY, where she helps clients to manage people strategy, large-scale L&D programmes, and organisational design. Prior to Consulting she worked for 10 years in Education Publishing, while also teaching English to pre-literate adults as a volunteer for the charity Kalayaan. Harriet holds a Master’s in Education and Technology from UCL and a CELTA Teaching qualification.

Chris Bale

Chris is a retired charity director and has worked in the non-profit sector for 35 years both nationally and internationally. He has experience as founder, chief executive, chair and trustee of a range of charities. He was awarded the MBE for services to charity in Hong Kong.

Pierre Espinasse

Chief Executive of a research funding charity, non-executive director of a small company and a Parish Councillor, Pierre has significant charity management expertise and very relevant experience of ‘scaling up’ in response to demand-led growth.

Giota Koulouri

Giota is an ACCA, MSc finance professional with more than 10 years of diverse and international experience in finance and business. Giota believes in continuous learning and equal opportunities.

Caroline O’Connor

Caroline has been a lawyer for over twenty years, working both in the UK and the US, leading legal teams at technology companies. She is currently Group General Counsel at Tractable where she heads up a team providing support on all legal matters. This is her first trustee role and she is very excited about bringing her commercial and legal expertise to support our objectives.

Jane-Emma Peerless

Director of People and Board Director for Fintech company, Caxton FX Ltd. Jane-Emma is responsible for all people-related strategy, planning and policy, talent acquisition and development, learning and development and people-related processes, policy and management.

Liz Hopes – Volunteer Member Trustee

Liz brings a wealth of knowledge from 30 years’ experience gained from working with the NHS, private sector healthcare, and as an ex-big 4 accountant. She is an experienced project manager and facilitator, a trained business coach, a Myers Briggs Practitioner, and runs her own consultancy company. Liz is the Team Leader for our Merseyside Group.

Current Vacancy:

Adult Literacy Specialist Trustee

Our Adult Literacy Specialist Trustee has professional experience and expertise in adult literacy and appreciates the impact of not being able to read. This individual brings support, advice, and an active network of contacts to our Board of Trustees.

Current Vacancy:

HR Specialist Trustee

Our HR Specialist Trustee will ensure the HR functions of the charity are conducted within legal requirements and best practice. This individual will bring advice, recommendations, and support to our charity and Board of Trustees.