Holly Smart Expand Holly has over 14 years' experience in marketing, brand and communications with over 6 of these being in the charity sector. She has also created and developed the fundraising function for two charities, one national and one regional. Holly also brings with her a wealth of skills from the commercial sector, having also worked in the facilities management, imports, publishing, and education sectors. She is incredibly passionate about her role as a trustee at The Next Chapter and is proud to be part of the team.
Karen Williams Karen brings her extensive housing management, strategic knowledge of safeguarding and experience of improving support pathways for survivors of domestic abuse to our board. Expand Karen has worked in the Housing sector for 25 years and has a wealth of skills and knowledge in the area of Domestic Abuse and Safeguarding. She has also held the role of Chair of Governors at a local primary school so has governance, risk management and compliance knowledge and skills which she brings to our board. Additionally Karen holds the Chartered Institute of Housing level 5 professional qualification along with an Institute of Leadership & Management level 5 qualification and is the strategic Safeguarding lead for CBH. In Karen's role within Colchester Borough Homes she is working on improving the pathways for survivors of Domestic Abuse and she is keen to see how she can bring this together with the work of Next Chapter for the benefit of those experiencing domestic abuse. Karen is passionate about ensuring that the voice of our service users is represented and taken into account when we are planning and designing our services. To contact Karen directly, please email her at [email protected]
Sarah Taylor Expand Building on 25 years in local government and emergency services, Sarah combines two passions with her board membership – public service and organisational transformation. As Head of ICT for Essex Fire and Rescue, Sarah brings comprehensive experience of IT and data management, leadership and culture change. Putting people at the heart of any technology solution, she believes that making the most of information technology comes from educating and empowering, not enforcing. Sarah’s mantra is be kind, to others and yourself. Everyone has experienced adversity at some time in their lives, and when we come out the other side, we can hold onto what we learnt along the way, to help both others and ourselves. Valuing inclusion and equal opportunities, Sarah recognised that in order to thrive, you have to grab the little chances to make a change. Be the change you want to see. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it’s possible but take the first step; reach out to those who can support you and let them help you find a way. Mum to 3 (now) adults and grandmother to 1 special little girl, Sarah enjoys singing in a local choir and a small vocal harmony group. It’s just for fun – Britain’s Got Talent isn’t calling – but there’s strength in numbers and it’s a great example of how you can achieve so much more working with others than you would dare to do alone.