After 6 years of being a Trustee (the maximum term Consortium’s Trustees can serve), and 3 years as our Chair, today marks outgoing Consortium Chair Helen Belcher’s last day in post.
The Board of Trustees and the staff team would like to extend a huge thank you to Helen for everything she has helped the organisation to achieve during her tenure. Helen has seen Consortium through challenging times at the beginning of her time with the organisation, through to the period of growth most recently seen.
Helen said, “I joined Consortium to serve, not to lead. It’s been a real privilege to work with Paul and the team over the past six years, seeing the organisation grow and becoming organisationally and financially secure. I learnt a lot and, while unsurprisingly sad that my term as a trustee has come to an end, am pleased to move on knowing Consortium is in good hands. I look forward to working, as chair of TransActual, with other members alongside Consortium to develop the whole LGBT+ sector.”
Helen has supported the organisation in its journey to be better connected into Government, been pivotal in building our proactive trans work and helped shape our new grant giving work. Her skills of running her own business, along with the expertise she brings across trans rights and wider voluntary sector engagement have helped position Consortium as a trusted organisation across our membership and beyond.
Paul Roberts, Consortium’s Chief Executive said, “On behalf of the staff team we cannot thank Helen enough. Her guidance, expertise and support has been simply fantastic and she has supported the staff team to position Consortium into the organisation it is today. On a personal note, to have a Chair you can build such a positive relationship with is the dream and that really has been the case. You will be sorely missed. However, I am so pleased we will continue to work together in your volunteer role with Trans Actual.”
Carina Badger, Acting Chair said, “Helen has been an inspirational Chair and will be sorely missed. Consortium has grown significantly under her leadership and her support and guidance have been invaluable. The Board wishes Helen the very best”.
Carina will step in as Acting Chair until the Board undertake an open recruitment process in the New Year following a skills audit and review of the current Board makeup to ensure it remains as representative and diverse as possible.