As an independent charity and not for profit company we are governed by a board of trustees who serve as volunteers giving their time and expertise freely. The Board are responsible in law for managing the organisation and ensuring that we operate effectively and to high standards of professional practice. The Board work with the CEO to set the strategic direction of the organisation and to provide public accountability for the work that we do.
There are currently 8 Board members each bringing particular skills and expertise into their role including specialist knowledge in relation to charity finances, law, personnel management, delivery of advice services, health and safety.
The Board meets formally about 6 times per year and is supported by Finance, HR and Leadership/Equality Sub Committees.
The Auditor appointed by the Board is Albert Goodman.
Lin Cousins
Chair of Trustees and member of the Governance, Leadership and Equalities Committee
I am a geographer and qualified town planner by background and worked in both the public and private sectors before co-founding a housing and planning research consultancy 25 years ago. I am a long-standing resident of Yeovil.
I am in my second term as the chair of Citizens Advice South Somerset.
I chose to offer to return because of the critical importance of the work being done by Citizens Advice, especially for those on the lowest income. One of my key concerns is to ensure that the inevitable shift towards phone and other IT based advice platforms does not disadvantage those without ready access to the technology and who often need advice the most. I have previous experience as a housing association board member.
Charles Counsell
Trustee and member of Finance Committee
I am Chief Executive and a Board member of The Pensions Regulator (TPR), a position I have held since April 2019. Prior to this I was Chief Executive at the Money Advice Service for nearly two years having previously been Executive Director for Automatic Enrolment at TPR where I was responsible for the successful roll-out of this programme across the UK, working alongside the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
In this time at TPR, the automatic enrolment programme led to over 7.5 million workers newly saving into a workplace pension from over 500,000 employers. I was awarded an OBE in 2017 for services to workplace pension reform.
I have spent much of my prior career setting up and leading major change programmes in both the private and public sector in the UK and overseas.
Margaret Mercer
Treasurer, Trustee and member of Finance Committee
I worked for an American multinational oil company as an accountant. I moved jobs within the company so gained considerable experience in financial reporting within the oil and gas industry. For a number of years I was an internal auditor with the company’s international Audit Department. The job involved spending many weeks working oversees in French speaking African countries, Australasia, The Middle East as well as Europe.
Latterly I have worked in London as a self-employed accountant doing the accounts for several small businesses one of which was a charity.
I was a JP in London and Somerset and a Business Mentor for the Prince’s Trust for many years. I have also been in the Army Reserve (Royal Signals) and on the Regimental Board of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royals Volunteer Corps).
Colin McDonald
Trustee and member of Finance Committee and HR Sub Committee
I have been employed in the social housing sector for over 30 years, most of that time working for District Councils in Somerset but also for two very different Housing Associations. During that time I worked in front line services such as housing management, homelessness and tenant participation and also more strategically in policy development and enabling new homes to be built. I am a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing and have served on the national governing body. I have a Masters degree (in housing studies).
One of my motivations for joining the Board is that I am concerned that ordinary (and more vulnerable) members of society have access to basic needs (hence a career in housing) and practical help when faced with individual or household crises. I believe I can best help achieve this through good governance, ensuring that the organisation makes strategic decisions in the light of all the relevant available evidence. I highly value the commitment and dedication of volunteers and staff alike and see a parallel with the vocational nature of my own career.
I want to keep the organisation strong so that the community we serve can rely on impartial non-judgmental independent advice being available when they need it most.
Geoff Ferneyhough
Trustee and Chair of HR Sub-committee
I am a retired Chartered Safety & Health Practitioner having worked for Screwfix Direct, Viridor Waste Management and Bradfords Building Supplies in various Health And Safety roles.I have lived in South Somerset over 40 years. I joined the Board in January 2016 having previously trained as a volunteer advisor. I am the Chair of the HR Sub Committee.I want to ensure that there is a non judgemental, well run organisation, delivering quality impartial advice to the residents of Somerset in their time of need
Jo Humble
Trustee and member of the Finance Committee and Governance, Leadership and Equalities Committee
I have strong social values
and a belief that everyone should have the support they need to thrive
personally and within their community.
I am a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and have
worked in the industry for over 20 years, within the private sector, housing
associations and local authority. Over
this time I have developed a wide range of housing for different social,
community and specialist needs.
South
Somerset communities and individuals face a wide range of issues including
financial distress, homelessness and a skills shortage similar to those I
encounter within my role as a Local Government Officer. Working in
Affordable Housing Development provides a unique opportunity to make a
difference to people’s lives. and by joining the Board of Trustees this has
enabled me to further shape the solutions to tackling deprivation, improve
health and wellbeing of individuals and create environments where people can
prosper and communities flourish.
I am committed to
promoting equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for
everyone, regardless of their background or personal circumstances. I enjoy
being part of Citizens Advice South Somerset and aim to bring enthusiasm,
experience and innovation along with a considered and focused approach.
Peter Hunter
Trustee and member of the Governance, Leadership and Equalities Committee
I
am a graduate in Jurisprudence and I live in West Chinnock with my wife, having
been there since 1979. When I arrived in Somerset it was to be Deputy Head of a
Yeovil primary school where I was an early adopter of Information Technology. I
developed my software development skills and went on to from my own small
company and created nationally renowned applications for the education sector.
Between
1993 and 2001, I served as a member of Somerset County Council, becoming, at
various times, Chairman of Education, Chairman of Finance and Deputy Leader of
the Council. In 1998, I began providing IT consultancy to the public sector as
Principal Consultant in the Society of Information Technology Management and
ran many projects for local authorities from Devon to the Shetlands, as well as
for the UK Government’s Department for Education, Department for Communities
and Local Government and the Home Office.
Following
retirement in 2010, I volunteered to work at Citizens Advice in South Somerset,
for which, at various times, I have had both voluntary and paid roles, and I also
worked for three months for the national Citizens Advice organisation. I am
also a trustee for and Treasurer of the local
village hall and for the local playschool, and am a director of a small
property management company.
