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Trustees & Ambassadors
Kidz Board
The Kidz Board is our primary group of young representatives who are all beneficiaries of the charity and representative of the key regions in the UK. They are actively involved in the charity’s work and campaign to raise awareness of the importance of mobility and related issues affecting their lives.
Jamie Green (Chair)
Summer Almond
Gareth Burton
Rebecca Farren
Arthur Lawson
Laura Marks
Katie Mobbs
Edward Percival
Karl Woods
Harri Jenkins
In addition to the Kidz Board we also have a growing UK network of over 200 young people who represent the charity locally and again are actively involved in supporting the charity’s work.
Trustees
Charles Gurassa
Tony Illsley
Sarah Molony
Professor Jane Noyes
Brendan Osborne
Dr Sue Proctor
Alison Reed
Peter Scott
Zara Todd
Ambassadors
Trustees
David Reid, CA
David Reid was appointed Chairman of Tesco PLC on 2 April 2004.
He joined Tesco in 1985 and later that year was appointed Finance Director of Tesco PLC. From June 1996 to December 2003, David Reid was Deputy Chairman with responsibility for International Operations in Central Europe, Asia and the Republic of Ireland; and also Business Development and Strategic Planning.
He is a Non Executive Director of Reed Elsevier Group plc and the Chairman of the Kwik-Fit Group Ltd. He is also Chairman of SIBAC (Seoul International Business Advisory Council) and a member of IBLAC (International Business Leaders Advisory Council for Shanghai)
David is also Patron of the charity, Caravan and Chairman of the Tesco Charity Trust and Chairman of Whizz-Kidz.
Charles Gurassa
In addition to being a Trustee of Whizz-Kidz, Charles Gurassa is Chairman of LOVEFiLM International, Phones4U, Worldwide Excellerated Leasing Ltd, 7days Limited and National Trust Enterprises Ltd. He is a Non-Executive Director of Whitbread Group plc and a Trustee of The National Trust as well as sitting on the Advisory Board for York University and Alpitour SpA.
Tony Illsley
Tony is currently Non-Executive Director of GCap Media plc amongst other companies. He was formerly Chief Executive of Telewest Communications and of Walkers Snack Foods and Non-Executive Director of easyJet Plc.
Sarah Molony
Now a Non-Executive Board Director of Whizz-Kidz, Sarah joined Whizz-Kidz in 1997 as their first Director of Public Relations and was a member of the senior management team. Prior to this she was Public Affairs Director for Hertz Europe, Middle East and Africa managing internal and external PR teams across the region and where she sat on the European management board.
Sarah previously worked at Forte Plc as their Worldwide Public Relations Manager working with Rocco Forte and managed the PR for three of their national and international hotel chains prior to the takeover by Granada.
With wide-ranging experience in corporate and consumer communications and sponsorship PR she began her career with Scope Communications (now owned by Ketchum) where she worked on a variety of accounts including Allied Distillers, Hiram Walker, James Burrough Ltd, Halfords and the Beefeater Gin Boat Race.
Professor Jane Noyes
Jane is an experienced researcher and nurse who specialises in health services research, and is currently based at the University of Wales, Bangor. Jane is a previous award holder of Smith and Nephew, Medical Research Council and Department of Health Fellowships. She has held various research and teaching posts at the Universities of London, Salford, York and Manchester.
Jane currently co-convenes the Cochrane Qualitative Research Methods Group, which is part of the international Cochrane Collaboration and produces systematic reviews of evidence to inform policy and clinical decision-making. Jane has worked for the World Health Organisation and various charities as a consultant, and undertaken projects in several countries including Oman and Senegal. She has contributed to national and regional working parties, and supports a number of parents’ groups.
Brendan Osborne
Brendan is currently Managing Director of "Home Grown", providing consultancy services to all NHS Sectors. He has over thirty years of NHS experience and was previously Chief Executive of Colchester Primary Care Trust. Prior to this Brendan was Chairman of Mid Anglia Cancer Network and Chief Executive of Learning Disabilities for North Essex Population.
Dr Sue Proctor
Sue is the Director of Nursing and Patient Care at Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority. This post combines a clinical leadership role with strategic development in a broader agenda to improve health and social care delivery through partnership working. Sue leads on services for children and young people; mental health and older people; reducing health care associated infection; improving patients’ and public involvement in health care; economic partnerships and research and development. Sue has recently been on secondment to the DH as Acting Deputy CNO with a lead on public health nursing issues. Prior to this role, Sue worked in West Yorkshire SHA, and in other Health Authority, PCT and academic roles in Yorkshire and London. She has an MSc in Nursing and a PhD in Health Services Research and is a Visiting Fellow at the University of Huddersfield.
Alison Reed
Alison was most recently Group Finance Director of Standard Life Plc, where she was responsible for floating the company on the London Stock Exchange. Prior to that she was Group Finance Director of Marks & Spencer Plc. She is a Non-Executive Director of British Airways Plc and was previously a Non-Executive Director of HSBC Bank Plc. Prior to joining Whizz-Kidz, she was a trustee for BBC Children in Need for six years.
Peter Scott
Peter is Managing Director of Medicentre Developments Plc and Chairman of Medibureau – Healthcare Management Solutions. Co-founder and former Chairman of Hemmington Scott, the financial publisher and information provider.
Zara Todd
Zara Todd was a member of the charity’s Kidz Board from 1998 to 2002 and became the Chair in 2000. In that time she worked tirelessly to increase awareness of the charity and the issues faced by young disabled people. With Whizz-Kidz’ support Zara set up a website for young disabled people in 2002 which went on to win an international web award in 2004. Zara completed her studies at Lancaster University and a summer work placement at the Home Office in 2006. Zara plans to undertake a Masters in European and Russian studies and her career goal is to work for UNICEF. She is currently an Ambassador for Whizz-Kidz.
Ambassadors
Charlotte Grobien
After graduating with a degree in Business Studies, Charlotte joined British Airways and followed a career in Marketing, Management and Sales Promotion. She then spent two years in the European Commission in Brussels returning to London to work in conferences, exhibitions, events and corporate communications. Charlotte became involved in voluntary work in Wandsworth organising the Borough’s Young Enterprise initiative in schools and running an education business programme in Wandsworth prison.
After a successful domestic building project Charlotte decided to look at property development as a way of making money with the sole purpose of "giving it away." Charlotte formed the company "Give it Away Ltd" in 2006 undertaking to build three new houses from scratch. The final profits were in excess of £700,000 and this money was given to local charities involved in the care, help and welfare of children and young people who do not receive Government funding.
Charlotte was delighted to include Whizz-Kidz in this project and provided powered wheelchairs for a significant number of children. Charlotte remains actively involved in the work of the charity and the welfare of its beneficiaries.
Bob Wigley - Business Ambassador
Bob is the Chairman of Europe, Middle East and Africa at Merrill Lynch. He chairs their EMEA Region Management Committee and sits on Merrill Lynch’s Global Operating Committee and Client Coverage Council.
Bob is a member of the Court of the Bank of England and a member of its Audit and Risk Policy Committee and a Non-Executive Director of LCH.Clearnet and of Euroclear PLC. He is a Deputy Chairman of Business in the Community (the UK corporate social responsibility organisation) and Chairman of BITC’s Education Leadership Team. He is a member of the Senior Practitioner Committee of the Financial Services Authority, a member of the Chairman’s Committee of the London Investment Banking Association, a member of the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, a member of the Chancellor’s "wise men" group representing key financial stakeholders in London, the EU Advisory Board of the London Corporation, the Advisory Council of Business for New Europe and Chairman of Oxford University’s Centre for Corporate Reputation. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce and is a member of the Court of the Guild of International Bankers. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and has a business degree from Bath University. He is married with three children.
Adrian Pitts - Business Ambassador
Adrian is a founding partner of Lydian Asset Management, a global hedge fund with over US$3bn under management. Lydian specialises in convertible bonds and credit strategies. He manages international trading activities and is based in the London office. Until July 1999, Adrian was a managing director at Bankers Trust, an American investment bank. He held various trading-related roles at Bankers Trust including managing the risk and distribution of international convertibles in Hong Kong (1997-1999) and London (1995-1997); senior trader of the International Convertible Bond Arbitrage Group (1992-1995); and equity derivatives (1990-1992).
Adrian was awarded a BSc (Hons.) in Banking and International Finance from the City University Business School, London, in 1989. He is married with three children.
Adrian continues to be a major supporter of Whizz-Kidz, and through Lydian Asset Management, has contributed invaluable funds to the Tower Hamlets PCT 'Making Mobility Happen' partnership.
I would like to make a regular donation!
As an ambassador I can highlight the need of the provision of suitable mobility equipment for children and make others aware of the opportunities available to young people in wheelchairs