About Illuminate Governance
In January 2025
I celebrated 20 years of working professionally
in and with the charity sector.
As well as noticing a few more grey hairs(!), this milestone has been an opportunity to reflect on what I’ve learned, the amazing people I’ve met and worked with along the way, and to be thankful for that I get to do varied, interesting and meaningful work that serves a wider purpose.
I launched Illuminate Governance in 2012 because I wanted to take what I’d learned at the Charity Commission and support charities to get things right. I also believe that charity law and governance should be an enabler – used to help charities achieve their best rather than an end in itself. There are many tools that trustees could use to develop how they work, if only they had the time, how-how or confidence. I’ve used the knowledge and experience I’ve gained in charity law, regulation and governance to guide charities on a wide range of issues and am lucky to work with both large and smaller organisations - giving small charities access to cost-effective, quality support whilst also helping large charities achieve excellent governance standards.
- Four years with the Royal British Legion, initially as a consultant and then Head of Department, to transform its management of >700 charitable trusts of which it was trustee. This included unlocking c.£40m from restricted funds that were no longer effective in meeting the needs beneficiaries have today, as well as introducing new ways of working. This equipped the RBL to manage and make future decisions about trust assets, with a comprehensive framework including to unlock £Ms of further funds. This was alongside a leading a comprehensive communications plan across all layers of the organisation: Trustees, Executive Board, Branches, regional and national staff and volunteers.
- Carrying out governance and board effectiveness reviews for a range of large charities working across different sectors, including in partnership with Beryl Hobson (Professional Governance Services Ltd).
- Supporting smaller charities with changes to governing documents, mergers and incorporations, including in partnership with DK Legal.
- Facilitating trustee development days and delivering trustee training – ranging from newly-registered charities to large organisations with high-profile trustees.
- Writing guidance for the sector – including the guides on trustee recruitment and becoming a charity trustee, for the charity Getting on Board, and subsequently working with Reach Volunteering to develop this learning into their Trustee Recruitment Cycle. I also co-wrote the first iteration of ICAEW’s online trustee training modules.
- Running regular webinars, online workshops and panel discussions on becoming, recruiting and inducting trustees, as a Getting on Board Associate (before its closure in Autumn 2024). A legacy of this work is a collection of professionally-produced trustee training videos delivered in partnership with Gloucestershire VCS Alliance (launched in 2025).