Time. Patience. Understanding. Respect.
The building blocks of trust

I am a writer and specialist in strategy and corporate governance, writing two books on that subject and dozens of research papers and reports on that subject. During nearly 20 years in academia and more than that as a financial journalist and business strategist, I have examined the work of boards of directors across a wide range of sectors and countries. At Bournemouth University, I worked on projects on dementia, including one concerning leadership of health and social care organisations across the southwest. A native of Chicago, I have lived in Germany and Switzerland, and have been resident in the UK for many years. After Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Illinois, I earned an MBA at Warwick Business School and a PhD in Management Studies at the University of Liverpool and a second PhD in creative writing from the University of Exeter.

I have over 30 years of experience working in the social housing with care environment. I specialise in support, housing management, procurement of estate services, and rent and service charges processes. I’m a Chartered Member of the Institute of Housing and a Fellow Member of the Chartered Management Institute. I am very proud to be one of Milestones’ Trustees. As a dyslexic person myself, I believe in championing awareness of neurodivergent people and people with disabilities. My passion for good quality housing with support and care services was initially driven by my experiences as a child with a parent with enduring mental health issues. That drew me to work in an industry where I could help to improve the life opportunities and outcomes of some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

I’m a retired musculoskeletal physiotherapist. I’ve spent my entire career in the health and social care sector and have established my own healthcare consultancy, J Lawry Healthcare Management. With a Level 4 qualification in multi-agency safeguarding and Level 2 in Patient Safety Investigations, my work now focuses on service reviews, evaluations, policy writing, governance and serious incident investigations across the NHS, private providers, government, local authorities and the third sector. To date I have written 10 major reports for a variety of health and social care commissioners and providers. I’m a Safeguarding Governor for a school in my adopted hometown of Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, and an active member of the Gloucestershire Emergency Support Team. I’m delighted and honoured to be a Trustee for Milestones and to have the opportunity to be of service to this brilliant organisation.

I am a US-qualified lawyer with 25+ years’ international experience providing leadership and strategic advice. I have worked as in-house counsel for US, Japanese and French investment banks in London and began my career working on privatisation in Poland. I have extensive experience leading legal strategy, managing risk and adapting to evolving business environments. I work collaboratively with stakeholders at all levels to deliver pragmatic strategic solutions. I am solutions-driven. I am passionate about making a difference for people and the Trust’s mission to help people live better lives. I have experience supporting expanding businesses and tackling unanticipated crises. I am on the Advisory Board of Link Up London.

I have 21 years of experience in Financial Services. Working at NatWest Group, I have served in several leadership roles and am a trusted advisor providing coaching and consultancy to senior leaders across the bank. In 2019 I was elected by colleagues to be one of the Global Co-chairs of the Multicultural Network driving the bank’s agenda on racial equality. In 2020, in response to the events surrounding the death of George Floyd, I was appointed to co-lead NatWest’s Racial Equality Taskforce to examine the key issues facing Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic colleagues, customers and communities. My passion lies in driving purposeful change, to challenge inequality and build a better future, one where the richness derived from diversity is valued, and an inclusive society where everyone is given equal opportunity – a society where everyone thrives.

I am a finance professional with a Professional Qualification from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. I have worked across a range of different sectors over 15 years including Financial Services, Media, Telecoms and Manufacturing. I am currently Senior IT Cost Manager at SSE, working on complex cross functional projects involving planning, executing, controlling and closing projects. I have lived in Bristol for the last 10 years having relocated for a job. I have previous charity experience including an assignment in South Africa with ActionAID and more recently as treasurer at Bristol A.R.C.

I am an independent management consultant specialising in helping organisations with changes in regulation, culture and processes. I am also an accredited Executive and Team Coach and currently studying a post-graduate qualification in personal coaching. My background and experience has mainly been in the financial services sector in senior management positions in Operations, HR and Distribution. I also am a volunteer coach and mentor with the Cranfield Trust, an organisation that provides professional services and support to small and medium-size charities. I am a proud Bristolian who passionately believes in helping others and supporting charitable causes, therefore I am delighted to be working with Milestones as a Trustee.

In search of opportunities to give something back to my adopted city of Bristol, I joined the Trust as a Trustee in 2021. Born and raised in Ghana, I came to Bristol approximately 20 years ago to study at the University of the West of England (UWE), where I received my BA(Hons) and PhD in Strategy and Innovation Management in 2010. I previously held a lectureship post at UWE Bristol where I led the Bristol MSc International Management programme. I am currently Professor of Strategic Management at Brunel University London, and an elected Vice Chair of the British Academy of Management (BAM).

I am a chartered accountant with over 30 years of experience across a range of sectors, including nine years as a Finance Director in social care organisations. I am currently Head of Finance at the Office for Students, the regulator of the English higher education sector. I have lived in Bristol since I came here to the University in 1984 where I studied Chemistry. I am married and have four grown up sons. In my non-work time, I like to play hockey (South Glos Hockey Club) and I am the Group Scout Leader at the 77th Bristol Scout Group.

I joined as a Trustee following retirement after 39 years working in the NHS. My clinical practice was in children’s nursing before progressing into nursing leadership and management roles. I am an experienced Director with nine years’ experience as a Director of Nursing and Quality, firstly at Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, then six years at North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT). This was during a time of great change, moving two hospitals into one new PFI on the Southmead site. More recently, after returning to a different role following illness, I led on international recruitment of nurses, worked with the safeguarding team and developed the NBT Learning Disability Strategic Plan.

I’ve spent 40 years working in the voluntary sector, 25 of them with first-hand experience of senior executive management and board level governance. In 1990, I set up the Robert Owen Communities (ROC) charity for people with learning disabilities, which grew into a highly regarded organisation. ROC merged with a national charity in 2016 and I changed career to train and qualify as an Executive Coach and Mentor. In fact, it was my commitment to helping people with learning disabilities to discover and realise their aspirations that led me into coaching. I bring this same commitment to the board of Milestones Trust.