Duncan is a partner in a national law firm and has over 30 years’ experience in advising company boards on delivering their strategic goals. He has particular skills in delivering complex projects and guiding organisations through some of the challenges they face to deliver growth. Duncan has been a trustee of SJOG since 2020 and became chair of the SJOG board in 2025. He is also the vice-chair of another charity in the healthcare sector.

Abigail has over two decades experience in social care and local government. As well as winning awards for her response to domestic abuse and modern slavery, she has also led on organisation wide digital transformation programmes. Abigail was Interim Chief Executive at Refuge, the charity for women and girls who have experience of domestic abuse.

Emma is a qualified accountant with vast experience across many different industry sectors. Emma specialises in risk management, assurance, compliance and governance and works alongside senior executives to facilitate and drive change within businesses.

Lesley has director level nursing experience both nationally and internationally. Lesley was Head of Clinical Operations and Quality, and Regional Director of Nursing at NHS Direct, and now has a portfolio career working with the CQC, on leadership, quality governance and patient safety. Lesley also provides advice to the legal profession on whether organisations have breached their duty of care.

Jack is a fundraiser with experience of raising and distributing funds for community groups, environmental charities and to support individuals. Jack has over ten years of experience as a trustee for local third sector organisations and has been involved with the UK Youth Parliament. Jack was a torchbearer for the 2012 Olympics and has autism and dyspraxia.

Claire brings over 20 years’ experience in the voluntary sector in a career which has spanned research, policy and service delivery. Currently Claire is a charity chief executive at Carers Leeds, and previously held senior roles at The Joseph Rowntree Foundation and The Centre for Ageing Better.

This is Claire’s first trustee position but she has worked with a several boards and has led numerous strategic projects and programmes. She has extensive experience of influencing at a local and national level and working in partnership with health and care decision makers.

Melanie's career has been as a professional problem-solver, where she uses data to find answers to the problems confronted by organisations with their marketing, stakeholder communications, user experience and business strategy. Her former employers and clients include L'Oréal, UBS, Jane's Information, Brands Hatch Leisure, Lloyds TSB, the Department for Justice, and People Tree, among others.

Melanie is a neurodivergent wheelchair user who holds an MA in Modern Languages and Literature and has completed a MSc in Applied AI and Data Analytics.

Mark has over 30 years’ experience in marketing and communications, and in recent years his work has been focussed on business transformation.

Mark leads on sustainability as Group ESP Lead at AND Digital.

Steve has the lived experience of having a son with autism. He has been the Director of IT at Newcastle University and Sunderland City Council, as well as leading teams in finance, strategic planning, partnerships and mergers.

Steve is an experienced trustee with a particular focus on governance and audit.