Lesley Spuhler OBE DL
Chief Executive Officer
Meet the Team
We care about our communities.
We have over 140 full and part-time staff working for the Foundation, supporting 20,000 people a year across Sunderland, South Tyneside and County Durham.
We are led by a dedicated, knowledgeable board of trustees who have a passion for making the North East the best it can be.
They, alongside a number of board committees, steer our Chief Executive and senior leadership team on strategic direction, who lead our employees in carrying out the day-to-day activities of the organisation across the region.
Royal Patron
Her Royal Highness Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, GCVO
Our Trustees
Sir Bob Murray CBE (Chair), The Hon James Ramsbotham CBE DL (Vice Chair), Steve Cram CBE (Treasurer), The Rt Hon The Baroness Estelle Morris of Yardley PC, Kate Adie CBE DL, George Clarke, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE DL, Sir Tim Rice, Martin Hibbert, Jill Scott MBE
Programmes Committee
Joan Atkinson, Andrew Bainbridge, Sue Brent, Lynda Brown, Mike Chapman, Ian Green MBE, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE DL, Ian Kershaw, Kumareswaradas Ramanathas (RAM), Karen Marshall, Estelle Morris, Toni Rhodes, Denise Taylor, Gerry Taylor, Jamie Wright
Finance, Audit and Risk Committee
Martin Hibbert (Chair), Mark Hetherington, Paul Kingsmore, Hayley Wardle
Meet the Team
Jamie Wright
Managing Director / Safeguarding Lead
Clare Wilson
Development Director
Ciaron Brunning
Financial Controller
Deb Hamilton
Assistant Director (Compliance)
Liz Barton-Jones
Head of Impact and Insight
Andy Grant
Head of Education and Football
Kate Smith
Head of Marketing & Communications
Jemma Dowson
Head of Altruism
Lynn Cuthbertson
Head of Support Services and EDI Lead
Lucy Todhunter
Interim Head of Informal and Community Education
Fiona Murphy
Head of Events
Emma Carter
Designated Safeguarding Officer
Melanie Jones
Deputy Safeguarding Officer
Got a question or want to get in touch?
For general enquiries please call us on 0191 563 4777 or us the contact form below to get in touch.