Meet the board

Sarah has worked with voluntary organisations supporting people with a learning disability for over 20 years. She started as a Support Worker having completed a degree in psychology and has carried out a variety of management roles in self advocacy, employment services, care information systems and service development.

Sarah’s role is to lead Thera East and ensure it provides high quality support for people with a learning disability in line with the vision and best practice.

Graham has been a Service Quality Director for 10 years. He works alongside the Managing Director to run the company with the Thera East board. Graham and his Executive Assistant, visit people supported by Thera East to make sure they are happy with their support and share helpful information with them.

Following a career in marketing, advertising and business consultancy, Chris joined the board of Thera East Anglia in 2014. He became Chair two years later before bringing that regional company experience to the Thera Trust board. He is currently a non-executive director on both the Trust and Thera East boards.

A Social Entrepreneur that has founded and built three multi-million dollar/pound companies spanning across New Zealand and the United Kingdom. He is currently the Founder and Group CEO of Get Set UK an organisation that delivers programmes across, Employment, Education and Health and is responsible for delivering over £50m in Government contracts, supporting thousands of individuals annually. Providing opportunity to disadvantaged people to better their lives is something Thomas cares deeply about and is excited to support Thera’s mission in doing so.

Sandy is a Senior Global Manager within the Wealth Management business. She has over 20 years’ experience of working within financial services leading teams in Wealth management, Mortgages and the Retail Network. Over the past 4 years Sandy has worked for the global team which has given her a perspective on how people in different countries focus on inclusion. Sandy is also co-chair for her company’s ethnicity ERG / employee network.

Sandy’s involvement in inclusion extends beyond the workplace as she is also a co-opted Governor at St Albans Girls School, where she supports the schools on matters around DE&I. Supporting people with a learning disability to get back into the community is a topic close to Sandy as she has two brothers with learning difficulties and has experienced first-hand the challenges that families can face in this space.

Ben has 16 years of military experience leading high-performing teams in a range of arduous and stressful operational environments. He is currently the Chief of Staff of a high readiness aviation task force, having carried out roles in strategy, emerging and disruptive technology, and intelligence. He is passionate about empowerment, leadership and resilience, and is a fervent supporter of Thera's vision to demonstrate those with learning disability can be leaders.

Ceri started her career as a secondary school teacher and later became a Music Therapist. She has since spent most of her career working in health and social care, including supported living and the NHS, with previous roles including HR Director and Director of People and Innovation.

In her day-to-day role, Ceri is the Group Executive Director – People and Culture at Thera and is passionate about making sure we get things right for staff, so that we can get things right for those we support.

Hello, my name is Jane and I am delighted to have been appointed as a new member of the Board of Thera East. I bring experience in strategic development, governance and management of charities as well as expertise in marketing, communications and fundraising. I will use my skills and experience to work collaboratively with members of the Board to support and guide Thera East in it's growth and development. I have been a Support Worker for people with learning disabilities, working in an assisted living home, supporting individuals to live their best lives, as independently as possible. My role will help shape policy and be a voice for best practice governance and management for the Trust working collaboratively with my fellow board members and with the CEO to achieve the goals of people living in Thera East assisted living homes, and the goals of the Trust as a whole.

Vince is an ex-Army Officer, over the past decade Vince has built a small to medium enterprise with his wife, providing digital delivery assurance and strategic change management guidance across both public and private sector organisations.

Vince has worked as an NHS Director leading the digitisation of cancer services, as well as having held senior roles in acute hospitals and supporting policing digital services. Vince is passionate about using technology to empower and support those with a learning disability to realise their dreams and play an active part in our community.