Marilyn has been carrying out research in the voluntary and community sector (VCS) for many years first from within the sector at the Community Development Foundation and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and, since 1990, as an academic at the Universities of Brighton and the West of England.
Helen is a highly experienced facilitator, trainer, researcher and communicator with proven enthusiasm and talent for raising awareness of local, national and global sustainable development issues and motivating for change.
Helen works with groups ranging from toddlers to adults, grass roots community groups to Local Authorities and international agencies – people from all backgrounds.
Ceri has worked with the not-for-profit sector since 1985, first in small campaign organisations and then in international development. In 1988 she set up the charity, ‘Homeless International’. She then spent 10 years working in the HIV field – as Head of Policy at the National Aids Trust, and then as the Director of Immunity Legal Centre.
Julia has previously held three Chief Executive roles at the Centre for Social Education, Gingerbread and the BBC Children in Need Appeal. She now works as a freelance facilitator/consultant in the voluntary sector and chairs the funding policy and programmes committee for Capacity Builders. Her experience covers all aspects of management, organisational development, strategic planning, grant making, fundraising, and evaluation.
Romayne has worked as a freelance researcher, trainer and consultant since 1993. Prior to that she held various posts in the voluntary and community sector and in the statutory sector, focusing mainly on working with volunteers and the development of projects involving volunteers.
Romayne was the first Research Associate of the Aston Centre for Voluntary Action Research. Since the establishment of IVAR she has been the lead researcher on studies for bassac, the Community Alliance, TACT and Gingerbread.
Sam was chief executive of Kids, a national charity for disabled children, for seven years. Prior to that he was executive director of Norwood, a charity providing services to learning disabled children and adults. He has a Masters degree in Public and Social Administration and a PhD in strategic decision-making in voluntary organisations. At IVAR, Sam has led the development of the Partnership Improvement Programme, as well as the strategic review work with organisations funded by the Tudor Trust and Lankelly Chase.
