Trustee Board The Board of Staywell Expand Staywell is governed by a board of Trustees who are all volunteers. Experienced and knowledgeable about our work and the needs of our users, our Trustees have skills and experience in a wide variety of fields, including social care, property, education, healthcare, government, and information technology. Afzal Ashraf, Rowan Cole, Liz Aitchison (Treasurer), Dr Debbie Stinson (Chair), Anne Cann MBE and Andrew Sherville.
Dr Deborah Stinson MBA, MRCPsych, MB BCh BAO Chair of Trustee Board Expand A practising clinician working in the London Borough of Sutton for over 20 years, Debbie Stinson joined the Board of Staywell in October 2013 and was elected Chair in March 2014. She has been a Consultant Psychiatrist in Older People’s Mental Health Services since 1991 and, until recently, also occupied the role of Associate Medical Director (Older People & Learning Disability). A graduate of The Queen’s University of Belfast, Debbie’s postgraduate training was undertaken in Northern Ireland and London, including posts based at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton, and at Springfield University Hospital. Commenting on her appointment, Debbie said: 'I was delighted to be invited to join the Board at such an exciting time in the organisation’s development. With health and statutory social care services facing huge challenges, there are great opportunities for a forward-thinking organisation like Staywell to really progress and expand what it does. The commitment of the staff and leaders of the organisation to “making life a greater life” is truly inspiring.’
Shane Brennan MBA Chief Executive Expand Shane Brennan has been our Chief Executive since 2005. Before joining the organisation he gained over 20 years’ experience of working in both the private and non-profit sectors. He lives in Kingston and is passionately committed to developing quality and innovative services which address inequalities and make a difference. Shane is a regular speaker on topics such as partnership and has delivered a number of key note addresses at leading events. He plays a prominent role within the charity and non-profit sector both regionally and nationally. He is an advisor to the NCVO and represents Staywell, and the charitable sector, on several strategic groups and partnership boards. In 2011 he was shortlisted for the Outstanding Individual Achievement category of the 2011 Charity Times Awards, awarded to a person who has demonstrated dedication, professionalism and integrity throughout their career, and who has produced an identifiably profound effect on the charity sector through their work and/or management.
Anne Bren MSc Deputy Chief Executive Expand Deputy Chief Executive Anne Bren has been a member of our senior management team since 2005. She worked in a variety of private sector roles before she joined Staywell in 2001. Anne achieved her Masters degree in Voluntary Sector Management through part-time study at Cass Business School, graduating in 2010. She has lived in Kingston for over 25 years.
Liz Aitchison Treasurer Expand Liz has been associated with the organisation since 1999, joined the Board in 2007, and became Treasurer in 2013. A graduate of Aberdeen (History) and Brunel (Applied Social Studies) she has had a varied career across a number of organisations and sectors. At senior management level, she has worked in manufacturing, scientific research and social care in commercial, not-for-profit and voluntary sectors, her roles generally involving responsibility for financial management. She has had a strong interest in older people and their well-being since training as a social worker in the early 1980s. Since 2005, she has worked freelance to support voluntary organisations in infrastructure development and strategic planning.
Anne Cann MBA Trustee Expand Anne began her connection with the organisation as a volunteer in the original day centre in 1976. Since then she has had continuing hands-on experience of all aspects of the organisation’s work both as volunteer, Trustee and Chair of the Board. Following the acquisition of the Raleigh House site in 1989 she led the fundraising team to refurbish Raleigh House and to build the associated Centre. She has served on various borough-wide committees including the CHC, Social Services and Chair of the Registration & Inspection Committee Personal experience as a carer gave her a greater understanding of many of the issues faced by older and vulnerable people and of the importance of readily accessible help and advice. She was awarded the MBE for services to the elderly in 2014.
Andrew Sherville Trustee Expand Andrew Sherville is a New Malden resident, works for Kingston Council and is the owner of a small international psychometrics business. Andrew has worked with the borough business community for a number of years and been a founding partner of initiatives like the annual Business Expo, the annual Business Awards programme, the Integrated Business Support group, the Kingston Young Entrepreneurs Club and the Surbiton Business Community. Andrew is currently working to enable the establishment of the areas’ largest co-working space in the centre of Kingston. Prior to being based in New Malden, Andrew had an international career across Asia and Europe in the fine chemicals industry performing turnaround roles with global accounts, national divisions and regional hubs for top 4 global industry leaders.
Rowan Cole Trustee Expand Rowan has been involved with Staywell since 1999, and was first chairman of the merged organisation when Kingston and New Malden joined up. Rowan was born in New Malden and has run several family businesses, the main being in property. He was heavily involved in the redevelopment of the Bradbury Centre. He has also been involved with a number of local organisations and was the first Chairman of the Kingston Hospital NHS Trust.
Afzal Ashraf Trustee Expand Dr Afzal (‘Affi’) Ashraf is Assistant Professor at University of Nottingham School of Politics & International Relations and a consultant fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi). These roles follow a diverse career spanning defence, national security, diplomacy, rule of law and delivery of training and education. After a start in combat aircraft research and development in UK industry, he was commissioned as an Engineer officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF), retiring three decades later as a Group Captain. He has been a trustee with Staywell since 2014.