Our board

Joe Saxton - Chair

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Joe Saxton was founder and driver of ideas at nfpSynergy a research consultancy for Charities, until he sold the business to two colleagues in November 2021. He has been the Chair of six different charities and founded two. He was Chair of the Institute of Fundraising for three years, and co-founder and Chair of CharityComms for seven years.  For six years until June 2021, he was Chair of Parentkind, the umbrella body for PTAs. He also sits on the board of two small grant-makers. In total he has worked with over 200 charities.

He was in the top ten of the most influential people in UK fundraising every year for its first decade including top of the poll on four occasions. He was named one of the most influential people in voluntary sector communications by PR Week, and has twice been named as one of the 1000 most influential people in London by the Evening Standard newspaper. He was given the Lifetime Achievement award by the Institute of Fundraising, and was highly commended in the Chair of the year category in the Third Sector excellence awards.

"I am beyond delighted to be the new Chair of the Association of Chairs. The importance of Chairs in charities cannot be over-stated, and the Association has been a pioneer in highlighting and championing the role of Chairs. They have done so much in recent years, but there is still a huge amount to do in helping Chairs and trustees guide their organisations through these difficult times. I am excited to be part of that journey."

Diane Reid – Vice Chair

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I’m Chair of Lakeland Arts – an arts and heritage organisation based in the Lake District, which has responsibility for two museums including the award-winning Windermere Jetty Museum, the Arts and Crafts House Blackwell and the Abbot Hall Art Gallery. I spent much of my career in broadcasting, in production then governance, most recently as the BBC’s Head of Outreach & Corporate Responsibility. I have worked with and for many different charities and not-for-profits and love the innovation, creativity and commitment of the sector. I’ve been volunteering since I was 11, and have held trustee and non-executive director roles since 2005. I’m a trustee of HCPT and was Vice Chair of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) which clears landmines around the world. I’m an EMCC accredited Executive Coach and hold a full Chartered Institute of Fundraising Certificate.

"I know, through my own experience and by working as a coach, that Chairing is rewarding: it can also be lonely, challenging and made vulnerable by regulatory change. I’m proud to be part of the work the AoC does in giving Chairs resources, a peer network and a voice."

Anthony Blackman – Trustee

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By profession, I am an Optician and not long after qualifying, I joined my first board, which was the Opticians professional body.  I have become very involved with education, being a principal examiner and chief practical examiner for one of the Livery Companies of London. After 6 years as a university Senior Lecturer and Programme Director, I started my own training company, offering workshops, courses, qualifications and CPD. I was involved with the new T-Level qualifications, as an adviser, then becoming a Chief Examiner; I also sit on the Department for Education’s T-Levels Action Group. I have had the pleasure of being on the board for various local and national charities, as well as membership bodies. Over the years I have also been a vice-chair, co-chair and chaired various committees.

“I am proud of the difference that the AoC makes to people from charities of all sizes; not just Chairs, but also vice-chairs/deputy chairs, and those aspiring to become chairs. We have much to learn from each other and no chair should feel alone“

Jane Hustwit – Trustee

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My board experience comes from the voluntary and community sector, at regional/Yorkshire level and locally. I’ve been a trustee, a Vice Chair and chaired York CVS, an infrastructure organisation supporting front line charities. I have a particular interest in the governance and leadership of small charities, their survival, development and wellbeing. I am delighted that this is something that AoC is well resourced to encourage and support.

"As a Londoner living in the north of England, I am aware of how different our experiences can be. I want to help AoC deliver strong, effective support for Chairs struggling with complex challenges of governance in places where needs are increasing, resources diminishing and there is considerable uncertainty."

Malcolm John – Trustee

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Currently, I’m leading a campaign - Action for Trustee Racial Diversity - to increase the racial diversity of trustee boards. I'm also a trustee of the British American Drama Academy and an independent panel member of the Ministry of Justice Public Appointments Unit. I've previously been Chair of the Young Harrow Foundation and Vice Chair of both Anti-Slavery International and Nacro. I’ve worked across the public, private and not for profit sectors where I’ve largely been involved in funding or seeking funding for charitable organisations.

"I have two key ambitions for AoC. One is that as a small charity it punches well above its weight by positioning itself as the go to place for charity Chairs across the UK for advice and support. Two, that AoC becomes a strong and passionate champion of racial diversity on trustee boards."

Francine Peyroux-Sissoko – Trustee

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I am a first-time trustee and am delighted to have joined the Association of Chairs last year. I’m an Energy Solutions Consultant at Gemserv where I provide governance and secretariat support to our clients who are trade associations in the energy sector.

Prior to this role, I worked in alumni relations at King’s College London where I led the engagement strategy for its recent graduates and students. I was also a member of the Race Equality Working Group where I worked to promote better outcomes and understanding about race in the workplace. I have previous experience administering a scholarship trust where I’ve seen how crucial good governance is.

"I am very excited to have started my first time Trustee role at AOC, the only organisation dedicated to the development of Chairs and Vice-Chairs, where I can contribute to its mission of promoting good governance and help make a positive impact in the charity sector."

Alex Xavier – Trustee

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This is my first Trustee role, and I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to make a difference. I spent 5 years working closely with Chairs, Vice Chairs and Trustees – as an Executive Director - at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment. I worked across a number of areas including membership, training, qualifications, events and partnerships.

Prior to this experience, I spent 9 years working for prominent private sector organisations including Servoca Plc, GovNet Communications, and Incisive Media. I have also volunteered for the Redbridge Night Shelter and Ashford Shaw Trust. I now run my own ecommerce business outside of the charity sector.

"I’ve been well supported by Chairs and Vice-Chairs in my previous roles, and I have seen first hand how their effective leadership can transform the work of charities for the better. I am optimistic that the AoC’s best years are yet to come, and I am excited by the opportunities that will emerge, particularly in areas such as digital and our EDI work’"

Julia Tybura – Trustee

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Following 20 years in executive director of HR/workforce roles in healthcare/charity sectors at local, system, regional and national level, I now have a portfolio of consultancy, NED/Trustee, teaching and coaching roles. I’m the Managing Director of Zenon Consulting, a boutique people management and development consultancy, and Senior Teaching Fellow at the University of Greenwich. I’m a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Chartered Management Business Educator and member (and judge) of HR in Hospitality.

My current board roles in addition to AoC are Non-Executive Director at the Liaison Group (finance and workforce digital specialist consultancy), where my key focus is on growth strategy and senior stakeholder engagement, and the Healthcare People Management Association London Academy, where I am a Founder member and now the Education lead Board member. From 2010 to 2019, I sat on the Board of a Southwark charity, United St Saviours, as Chair of Housing and Chair of Governance. I was a Board Trustee at Borough Market, from 2015–2019, where I was the non-executive lead on Learning and Entrepreneurship. I was also Chair of Hammersmith and Fulham CAB from 1997-2001.

“I am delighted to join the AoC’s Board, having been a member since 2016.  A Chair’s role is tricky and can be very lonely, whilst being exciting and transformational.  As an executive coach and former People Director in healthcare and charities, I would like to further build our community of Chairs to amplify our voice and develop our skills and knowledge which, in turn, will strengthen our positioning in the wider community.”

Rashmi Rungta – Trustee

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I bring over 25 years of international experience to the table, including 7 years of board experience across diverse not-for-profit organisations, including a UK university. My career journey has traversed both technology and business domains in the private sector. I have held various leadership positions, ranging from Business Unit Head to spearheading large-scale digital transformations, global change management initiatives, crisis and risk management, executive hiring, and business development. Throughout my board tenure, I have served on several committees, such as Audit and Risk, Governance and Resources, Marketing, and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), as a Non-Executive Director (NED) in various not-for-profit entities.

I earned my Sloan MBA from London Business School (LBS) in 2012, further solidifying my expertise and knowledge in the field. I have found much satisfaction in my diverse board and committee engagements and am keen to broaden my portfolio career, leveraging my extensive professional skills and lived experiences. Currently, my focus lies on Governance and Sustainability, areas where I aim to make meaningful contributions and drive positive impact.

“In today's ever-evolving dynamic world, the pursuit of learning is constant. With early experience as an interim chair of a committee and serving on the boards of various not-for-profits, I've experienced a variety of chairing styles, ranging from effective to ineffective. The role of a chair can indeed be daunting, at times even solitary. This is where AoC plays a pivotal role, offering invaluable peer collaborative mentoring support. Such support ensures that chairs are equipped to guide their boards effectively, steering them towards decisions that serve the best interests of the organisations' stakeholders. I am very excited to have joined the AoC board.”

Stephen Craker – Trustee

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With a leadership background spanning the Private, Public, and Third sectors, I currently serve as the Chief Executive of Communities 1st, a local infrastructure charity that supports around 450 charities across Hertfordshire. My career reflects a commitment to social change, community engagement, and thoughtful strategic planning. My experience in enhancing operational efficiency and programme development has made meaningful contributions to the sectors I have been involved with. I am an active participant in the broader community, holding trustee positions with the Community Transport Association (CTA), Voluntary Sector Studies Network (VSSN), Trustee and Vice-Chair of the National Association of Community & Voluntary Action (NAVCA) and now proudly join the Association of Chairs (AoC). My work is driven by a belief in the power of collaborative leadership and the importance of strong governance in enhancing the effectiveness and reach of organisations within the voluntary and community sector.

"I am honoured to join the Association of Chairs, recognising the pivotal role that effective governance plays in empowering organisations to achieve their mission. My vision is to foster collaborative leadership and innovation within the sector, ensuring that together, we can navigate the complexities of today's challenges and make a lasting impact on the communities we serve."

Pradeepan Velayuthan – Treasurer

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I am a Chartered Management Accountant and an Associate of Taxation Technicians.

For the past 15 years, I have been managing an accountancy practice, offering comprehensive services in compliance, taxation, and advisory. With a passion for assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), I work closely with clients to optimise their financial processes, mitigate risks, and maximise profitability. I am confident that my commercial acumen will be a valuable addition to AoC’s board.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join the board in the role of treasurer, and I eagerly anticipate collaborating with fellow board members to help achieve AoC's objectives.”

Our co-founder Ruth Lesirge stepped down as Chair in September 2019. She has taken up the role of Honorary President.