One of the joys of being part of the Consortium family is seeing the impact we have across the sector. Whether that be from Consortium’s grant-giving work, or its support for Members in numerous ways, both seen and unseen. I joined Consortium as a trustee in 2019. I am passionate about infrastructure work and immensely proud to play a part in the valuable work of Consortium in supporting LGBT+ communities. It can feel – particularly at the moment – that the onslaught of challenges is unrelenting. Yet I do believe we are stronger when we come together, and I see that so clearly in Consortium’s mission and work. One of my favourite aspects of being a trustee is reading the annual Insight Report, and the reports and case studies following a grant-giving round. I am naturally curious and get a great deal of pleasure finding out what Members around the country are up to!
I have a long history working as a Solicitor. I used to tell myself that my mother wanted me to be a lawyer and I had little choice in the matter. I confess that’s not entirely true – in later life I have come to make friends with my inner governance and regulatory geek. I enjoy pouring over Constitutional documents, the finer points of data protection law and a nicely-constructed contract. Nor is my legal background all I have to offer. Life is a journey, and my journey has had some bends in the road. I bring with me all those twists and turns: legal knowledge and skills, experience of working with young people, experience of working and volunteering in LGBT+ communities, coaching, passion and training for mental and emotional wellbeing. Being a trustee is a legal responsibility but also deeply rewarding.
So who am I? I am passionate about ecotherapy and spend a great deal of time worrying about climate change. I was indoctrinated from a young age to support Spurs, which I have found to be a lifelong exercise in patience and resilience. I am often found trampling in woodland undergrowth foraging for edibles accompanied by Olive, my exceedingly patient Labrador. My favourite meal is toast with real butter, and a decent cup of tea. I love Marmite. I am a lesbian. I am a governance geek. I love Star Trek (TNG) and West Wing. I am an intersectional feminist. I am someone friends turn to for a non-judgemental, friendly ear. I am also a good person to have in a pub quiz team only if there is a round on Capital Cities. We have a challenging year ahead, but I am excited about future developments for our sector.