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Introducing our Trustees and Executive Team

Our Trustees

Helen Charlton

Position: Chair

Helen has over 20 years’ experience working in the utilities sector in consumer advocacy.

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Albert Chong

Position: Vice Chair

Albert is passionate about making a meaningful and lasting impact on our society.

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Kirstie Berridge

Position: Board Secretary

Kirstie joined British Gas Energy Trust as Board Secretary in April 2021, providing high quality and efficient Board and CEO secretariat support.

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Mark McGillicuddy

Position: Treasurer

Mark graduated in Economics before moving on to complete a training contract with KPMG Chartered Accountants.

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Susan Deacon

Position: Trustee

Susan was awarded a CBE for services to business, education and public service in the 2017 Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

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William Gillis

Position: Trustee

William was Managing Director of Warm Zones community interest company (WZcic) until his retirement in March 2018.

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Laurie Lee

Position: Trustee

Laurie is the Interim Chief Executive of the Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation, which works to reduce health inequalities in south London and to support the patients and staff of the Guy's and St Thomas' NHS hospitals.

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Sheila Wheeler

Position: Trustee

Sheila has spent much of her career to date in the public and not for profit sectors. She is a qualified CIPFA accountant and has worked in local government.

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Our Team

Jessica Taplin

Position: Chief Executive Officer

As British Gas Energy Trust’s first full time CEO, Jessica brings with her significant sector leadership and grant making experience.

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Juliah Mackenzie-Luck

Position: Head of Finance

Juliah trained as an accountant and has been in finance for all of her working career.

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Ros Halley

Position: Head of Programmes

Ros leads on the development of the Trust’s funding programmes and is passionate about empowering communities through innovative and accessible initiatives.

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Jenny Wilcox

Position: Head of Services - Direct Grants

Jenny acts as the managerial point of contact between the Trust and our remote grant assessment team.

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Catherine Cook

Position: Communications Manager

Catherine leads on communications for the Trust. With over ten years’ working in media and communications, she brings multi-sector communications experience.

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Hannya Hunter

Position: Programmes Manager

Hannya is responsible for the Trust's funding programme for organisations. She ensures projects, delivering services funded through BGET across England, Scotland and Wales are effectively supporting the most vulnerable within local communities.

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Kim Greenfield

Position: Programmes Manager

Kim has worked in the charity sector for over seven years, working within operations management and individual grant funding.

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Paula Crymble

Position: Administration Manager

Paula is responsible for the day-to-day running of the virtual office.

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Amy Wright

Position: Outreach Programme Manager

Amy is British Gas Energy Trusts Outreach Programme Manager with several years' experience managing anti-poverty projects and initiatives.

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Rkia Sayar

Position: Programmes Assistant

Rkia assists the operational management with the development and maintenance of efficient operating and reporting procedures, ensuring a smooth delivery of Programmes.

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Beatrice Morris

Position: Communications and Administration Assistant

Beatrice assists in the implementation and delivery of communications. She also supports the administration manager with office based tasks.

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