Trustee Board The Board of Staywell Expand Pictured from left to right are Helen Pyecroft, Dr Jane D'Souza, Liz Aitchison (Treasurer), Anne Cann MBE, Bob Phillips (Chair), Dr Debbie Stinson, and Richard Bailey. 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, healthcare and the private sector.
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.
Richard Bailey Trustee Expand Richard is a Chartered Public Finance Accountant with nearly 40 years experience across a number of organisations in the not-for-profit sector. He has worked in senior finance roles in the NHS across London, coming to Surbiton in 1994 to work in the former Kingston and Richmond Health Authority, followed by the larger South West London Strategic Health Authority. In 2006, he left the NHS to set up his own consultancy business. As co-director of the business, he has worked across health, charities and further education in a range of areas, including improving financial control, business case development, strategic planning and building a high-performing finance department. Richard now lives in central Kingston, and joined the Board of Staywell in October 2025. He has a particular interest in the partnership health model, where third sector organisations collaborate with local NHS services to deliver long-term health and social benefits for older people.
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.
Jane D'Souza Trustee Expand Jane spent her working life as a GP in Kingston. During that time, she became very aware of the importance of Staywell in the lives of her older patients, particularly the Information & Advice team and day centres. Jane began volunteering across a range of our services following her retirement in 2013, continuing her work supporting older people in her local community. With this newly-gained experience under her belt, she decided to become even more involved with Staywell, becoming a trustee in 2019. More about Jane ‘When I retired, I knew I needed to do something in the community. After speaking to a colleague who had volunteered for the Community Team, I followed the same path before helping as a Befriender in the pandemic. My medical knowledge has been useful as a trustee, but I have learnt so much more about the importance of the social and community aspects of good holistic care for older people. It has been very rewarding.’
Dr Deborah Stinson MBA, MRCPsych, MB BCh BAO Trustee Expand Debbie Stinson has worked as a Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist in the London Borough of Sutton for 30 years. She joined the Board of Staywell in October 2013 and was elected Chair from 2014 until 2021. She completed an MBA, sponsored by the NHS, and in the past held various clinical management posts within South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust and more recently, a Clinical Lead post in Sutton Place within the South West London integrated care board. Debbie believes that the organisation’s aim to support local people to live better, longer lives is aligned completely with the current drive to have integrated neighbourhood services which focus on prevention. Her comment at the time of her appointment to the Board is as applicable as ever: ‘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 is truly inspiring.’
Bob Phillips Chair of Trustee Board Expand Bob was born in Malawi, coming to live in England at age 13. Since then, he lived in the USA and Sweden before moving to his current home of Tolworth 20 years ago. He has been married for 55 years and has two adult children, along with a succession of 40 people – mostly young adults – who have been part of his household for long and short periods. Bob has had a distinguished 30-year-long career as a management consultant in healthcare and related industries, working as a Partner in Ernst & Young, running their Philadelphia office prior to retiring. Since then, he has taken to writing – including a book chronicling the history of Staywell. He was a founding Community Governor of Your Healthcare; a member of the Surbiton History Society; of Heart for Romania; and is also Vice Chair of the committee of the Friends of Kingston Museum. ‘For me, the way in which our society embraces and supports old age is a key element of civilisation, and I think that Staywell provides a superb model of how it should be done. It is an honour to be a Trustee of such an exemplary organisation.’
Anne Cann MBE 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.
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 30 years.