It gives me enormous pleasure to have joined the Southern Co-op team and it is an immense privilege to be the Chair of our Board. I have been a member of the Co-op for most of my adult life and a member of Southern Co-op since moving to the Isle of Wight some time ago.

I have significant experience across a variety of sectors which I now bring to the board of the Southern Co-op. I was Chief Executive of the Law Society from Society from 2000 to 2006, preparing it for the advent of the Legal Services Act 2007 by establishing the separate regulatory functions from its representative functions. Since then I have been and remain on various boards of both private and public and also charitable bodies variously acting as chair, vice chair and trustee. I was made a Privy Councillor to assist in my role leading the Detainee Inquiry established by the Prime Minister in 2010.

The principles of cooperative working have always been important to me in my work both nationally and internationally. They are so important in an increasingly competitive world where ethical standards so often slip. By working together in our jointly owned organisation, we have a real chance to ensure the highest standards and integrity needed for an efficient democratically governed organisation on behalf of the membership.

Having been a colleague at Southern Co-op for 19 years, I was initially hired as a Team Leader. I acquired my skills qualification in scratch bakery/ confectionery. From working first in a new concept food to go store, I have since then worked my way up through the business taking on various roles, including Deputy Manager, Store Manager, Area Support Manager and into my current role as Area Manager, where I am field based working with store teams.

As an Area Manager, it is imperative that the values and principles we as a business stand for are shared amongst our teams and the role our colleagues play being at the heart of the community, is the most fundamental driver for me. This has been no more apparent than during the pandemic, where I have been proud to see that our teams are more committed than ever to deliver excellence in stores, creating a safe environment for our colleagues and our customers.

I am also lucky enough to be a family man, my wonderful wife Laura (clearly the glue that holds this home together) and my two daughters Eva 8 and Willow 6 who are both very independent, capable, funny and very caring young ladies who alongside their mother keep me very much outnumbered and in check. It is my family that helped me take the leap into applying for the board, taking the leap into something as alien as being director is a huge step outside my comfort zone.

I felt I needed to give back to help ensure the future of our business is left in as strong an ethical and environmental place as possible, so my children and my grandchildren get to enjoy this great society for years to come.

I have extensive commercial experience gained from working in large corporate organisations on many well known household brands; which has been nicely complemented with my most recent experience as an organisational psychologist working with organisations on strategic direction, leadership development change management and workplace wellbeing.

I was originally motivated to join the Southern Co-op Board of Directors because of synergies between my personal values and those of the Co-operative. I have valued the learning opportunities that being a Board Member of Southern Co-op has given me and I do my utmost to ensure I am representing our members when making board related decisions; I continue to be impressed with how the Society operates, with its emphasis on supporting local communities and aligning to UN strategic development goals.

As part of my role at Southern Co-op, I sit on the Governance and Membership Committee and the Remuneration Committee and have played an integral role in driving forward our diversity and inclusion agenda.

On a personal note, I am particularly affectionate about the Co-operative as a brand and organisation; I grew up with my grandmother doing all of her shopping at her local Co-operative – she even planned her own funeral with the help of the Co-operative end of life services. I have myself always had a Southern Co-op as my corner shop, so have been a regular customer for many years!

As a lifelong co-op customer, and a supporter of co-operative values and principles, I’m proud to be part of this responsible, member-owned and community-focussed business.

In recent years the Southern Co-op has faced turbulent operating conditions, from rising costs and competition, to climate change and the Covid-19 crisis. It has maintained its strategic direction with updated plans to ensure long-term profitability, success and well-being support for colleagues, members and communities. Personal aims as a director have been to strengthen and promote our unique co-op ethical and operating ‘difference’, so that it is more widely recognised and valued by customers, and encourages a growing, engaged membership. Linked to this, it is vital that our strong corporate commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals is embedded and developed further across Southern Co-op business strategy and operations, cementing our responsible business leadership.

As part of my Southern Co-op role I sit on the Governance and Membership Committee, and represent Independent Co-operative Society members’ interests on the national Co-op Member Council.

Past employment has included leadership and senior management roles in heritage, funding and consultancy work, with local authorities, charities, government agencies and the Heritage Lottery Fund. I am an experienced CEO and Company Secretary and have broad cross-sector governance and management experience, with particular interests in sustainability, equalities and communities. This has been supported by formal qualifications and study in management, marketing, business administration and project management.

Outside work and family, my personal passions are wildlife, museums and the arts. I have served on several charity boards, including my local Wildlife Trust, and as a DEFRA appointed National Park Authority member. I am currently a national museum trustee and a volunteer for my local climate change group.

My first ever job was as a 16-year-old youngster, stacking shelves on Saturdays in our local Co-op store, which seemed to me to play an important role in local community life. I remember feeling safe, respected and valued and enjoying interaction with the customers and colleagues. Sometimes I was allowed on the checkout, where I gained my first experience of handling the cash!

The die was cast – my professional life was destined to be in finance and management. I started as a clerk in the cashier’s office with British Rail. They gave me an incredible opportunity to study and work in their full time fast-track Management Training Scheme, helping me to qualify as a professional accountant and equipping me for my first management role.

A career in corporate finance and commerce developed, moving into the private sector and working at a senior level for both large blue-chip PLCs and in board roles for small and medium sized companies. It culminated in my role as CFO of a young, high-tech company, which I floated on the London Stock Exchange.

Following my time in the corporate world I changed tack to embark with my partner on a period of exploration and an entrepreneurial career, firstly in yacht-chartering and then in land-based hospitality combined with growing and selling our own agricultural products in a co-operative environment. Through our local farmers’ co-operative, I sourced plants, organic treatments and fertilisers, accessed equipment, training and assistance and processed and marketed my crops. In turn I provided financial expertise to local growers.

Having settled back in Southern England some four years ago, I now divide my time between helping local charities (both as a trustee and providing them with independent financial guidance), engaging in community activities (cycling, reading and film groups), pursuing an artistic practice in painting and drawing and rediscovering my lifelong love of sailing.

I have been committed to the values of the co-operative movement since joining the Co-op bank in 2002. Raising my three children in Overton in North Hampshire – where we have a large Co-op store, meant that I inevitably became a Southern Co-op member. For 20 years I read the annual reports and thought about joining the board and now the kids have grown, that time is right!

In the past, I lived in Sydney for ten years and ran a successful importing business with my brother. As a start-up, in our early years we literally did everything ourselves – from accounting to marketing as well as lugging the stock around! The experience got me interested in finance and business, and the importance of keeping an eye on the bottom line.

On returning to the UK, I spent 17 years working within Hampshire Hospitals as their patient liaison lead for maternity services. My role was to work with families and the senior leadership team with a focus on service improvements. Hearing the voices of all women was a priority and instigating change was our ambition. I am looking forward to taking this interest and experience in to my role with the Co-op to hear from members. I have been a professional breastfeeding counsellor for 18 years and continue to work with families across north Hampshire, alongside charity partners.

Outside of my professional roles, I have a range of community organisations I volunteer with and support. The project I am most proud of, is leading the fundraising team, to raise sufficient funds to completely renovate our local Overton Community Swimming Pool, with work completed in Spring 2025. For leisure you will find me with family and friends swimming in the community pool, walking locally, at a Parkrun or down at the beach at Hayling Island.

I first encountered the Co-op as a child following my parents to the grocery store during my holidays. I always looked forward to the kids’ section for all my sweets, toys etc and I was amazed how pleasant the staff were even as a kid.

As a student at business school during my post graduate studies, I was able to acquire my own membership card. The savings from the offers and all the deals did help, living on a tight budget but above all I always wanted a company that supported British farmers etc with ethical values. This is what I got from Southern Co-op all over the years.

When I saw the opportunity to join the board, I applied, and I can say it is the best decision that I have made to able to contribute to the success of this company that has been around for nearly 150 years.

I am a graduate of Economics from Lagos State University and additionally, obtained an MBA in International Business Management from Cardiff Metropolitan University, Wales. I have attained various qualifications from the London School of Economics and City University in Project Management and Operations Research. I am also certified at green belt level as a Lean Six Sigma Practitioner.

With over 10 years’ experience within the financial, telecoms and technology sectors. I have a successful background in delivering cutting-edge product and service solutions to prominent global clients, such as Amazon, Google, INEOS, NBS and Microsoft. I specialise in delivering improvements to overall business performance, through the implementation of lean and value-adding processes with a proven track record in leading dynamic teams, as well as delivering innovative outcomes that transform business capabilities, accelerate strategic company revenue growth, and achieve cost savings. I have also held various account management and project delivery roles at DNC UK Ltd, Sky and the last role at Lumen where I was responsible for renewals and sales before joining Teradata. At Teradata, I work and contribute to the diversity and inclusion ERG group across EMEA acting as a certified CIPD advisor in addition to my daily duties as an Account Manager under the “one company – one culture theme”.

Outside work and in my spare time, I maintain a healthy lifestyle by attending the gym regularly. I also have a passion for football and I hold a red level membership at the Arsenal Football Club which allows me to watch the game from time to time at the stadium with friends and family. I have a passion for travelling and have visited almost 40 countries so far as my family live in different parts of the world and I try to visit them on a regular basis.

I enjoy volunteering with various local and international charities as I continue to support and donate to causes that I am passionate about globally e.g., UNHCR & Tearfund. I also have a passion for languages and currently perfecting my French and Spanish language skills for the future.

I am honoured and grateful to have been elected as a Southern Co-op board member and look forward to joining the Board and taking up any opportunities to sit on committees. I strongly support co-operative values and firmly believe in the strength and added value of partnership working.
My past employment has included being an Assistant Director for an economic regeneration project, a Policy Manager for a strategic regional partnership and a Scrutiny and Performance Manager for a local authority. These roles included project and programme management, monitoring performance against key milestones and managing business start-up support and grant funding schemes.
With a background and qualifications in environmental health and sustainable regeneration, I am looking forward to contributing my knowledge in these areas to the Southern Co-op board.
Through my Bachelor of Science degree in Computing for Business, I have a keen interest in the development and implementation of robust IT systems to support business efficiency and growth. I also have an MBA from Durham University Business School and an MSc in Urban Policy and Regeneration from the University of Northumbria.
On a personal note, I moved to Hampshire nine years ago with my husband and we became members of Southern Co-op. I also joined a local running group, have enjoyed water sports on the Solent and have held a volunteer role with Oxfam, which aims to fund projects to support communities in building better lives for themselves. I actively support the community work of my local parish centre and sit on the building development group with a focus on reducing the environmental impact of the building.

I moved to the UK 21 years ago from South Africa and some 19 years ago started a part time job at my local co-op – little did I know that it would be the start of my career. My first role was as a customer service assistant following which I worked on the internal stock take team within the Loss Prevention department. Over the years I have had many different roles within the department up and until my current Regional Loss Prevention Analyst role.

It is my core belief that everyone has the right to be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their circumstances, not least when they are working. No one should have to deal with the level of abuse that some people seem to think is acceptable in retail. I am grateful that my job gives me the opportunity to help stores and look at things that can improve our store colleagues’ safety.

I am married to a wonderfully supportive husband who encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and apply to be on the Board of Directors. I have a stepson and am also an aunty. We have a big family and they mean the world to me. I love travelling, nature and animals and I am lucky enough to have three mischievous little dogs that I wouldn’t change for the world. I love watching rugby and joined with a braai (BBQ) with friends and family makes for a perfect weekend.

There are two charities that are close to my heart; Alzheimer’s Society and Cancer Research. I strive to help raise money and awareness for them and have completed the Stonehenge Trek and the Race for Life and make a point of donating our unwanted clothing for local Cancer Research charities and will continue to do so.