Our Mentors

Gerard Maye has been a practising solicitor in London and the South-East for over 30 years. Throughout this time, he has conducted many high-profile cases both at home and abroad. Gerard’s litigation experience includes a measured strategic, commercial approach and he has been involved as a mentor in a variety of charitable projects during his career, in many different roles.

Gerald Maye

Ian’s career started in electronic engineering, passed through secondary school teaching and then on to Learning & Development. Since then, for over 10 years he has brought Executive Coaching to organisations large and small, charity, public and private.

He has a Masters in Personal and Organisational Development, a Level 7 Executive Coaching qualification, and Ian is an accredited Executive Coach by the Association for Coaching. All of this has helped him to understand and explore organisations, teams and individuals.

Ian Mercer

Mark LLoyd retired in June 2025 following a 40-year career within the Housing and Social Care Sectors.   For the past 25 years Mark was a Managing Director for four different national and local charities.   As such he holds intensive experience of working with Boards and Management Teams, leading on cultural and transformational change, developing and motivating teams, and achieving multiple award winning outstanding rated services.    As a local Sussex resident Mark is now active as a Board Member with the local provider Sussex Housing & Care and looking to support others through acting as a Mentor.

Mark Lloyd

Nev Jeffries who brings over 30 years of senior experience in humanitarian, charity, and international development work - including leadership roles with the British Red Cross, International Committee of the Red Cross, and Department for International Development (DFID).

Nev Jefferies

Phyllida is a retired lawyer having been a partner in a Tunbridge Wells law firm, specialising in property work. She has served as a Non-Executive Director of NHS Acute Trust and is an elected Governor of the Sussex Partnership NHS Trust and a member of Mental Health Act review panels. Previously, chairman of Sussex St. John and she has served as a trustee of several charitable organisations locally. Phyllida is also a retired Deputy Lieutenant.

Phyllida De Salis

Sue has held several senior positions within the third sector, most recently as CEO of the Pestalozzi International Foundation. She has a 25-year professional background in investment banking, specialising in the aviation sector and is currently an independent director of an NYSE-quoted aircraft leasing company. Sue is a trustee of Raystede Animal Sanctuary, Sussex East Area Meeting of Quakers and Bernhard Baron Cottage Homes.

Sue Walton

Hitesh has over 25 years business experience in sales and business development roles at senior level. Up until recently, he was Head of Corporate Partnerships for an International Wildlife and Conservation charity.  Hitesh now runs his own sustainability consultancy business after completing the ‘Business Sustainability Management’ qualification offered by Cambridge University.  Hitesh is passionate about creating partnerships to help achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and recently spoke at an event at The House of Lords on Climate Action.

Hitesh Patel

Richard Pearson

Richard is an economist and was Director of the Institute of Employment Studies for 12 years working across the private and public sectors.

He has extensive charity expertise. He set up the Lewes Fund to help fund local community groups and has had Chairing and Trustee roles at Care for the Carers, Sussex Oakleaf, Lewes and District Citizens Advice, and the Lewes Community Land Trust, with mentoring roles in the Arts sector.

Giles has enjoyed a successful career in policing across Kent, South Wales and Sussex. His work covered many aspects of operational policing including counter-terrorism, tackling serious organised crime as well as local policing. Nationally, he led several digital change programmes in policing and criminal justice. He was the national lead for Workforce, being the full range of people issues and leadership in policing. He championed diversity and inclusion on gender, race, disability and LGBT locally, nationally and internationally. Giles is a trustee for the UK Police Memorial Trust.

Giles York

In a career spanning forty years, I have worked across the public, commercial and not-for-profit sectors as a trusted independent project manager, chairperson, non-executive director, trustee, advisor, and treasurer. I have worked in the regeneration, culture, transport and education sectors, including.

I have a BSc in Science and Society, a coaching and mentoring qualification from Sheffield Hallam University, and in 2019, gained the highly respected Financial Times Non-Executive Director (NED) Diploma

John Roseveare

Neville has considerable business experience both internationally and as a mentor to SMEs. He has worked extensively with organisations in Sussex over the past 20 years, providing a practical approach to strategic, commercial, governance and succession issues, largely through his own advisory business. A former Parish Councillor, he is currently a member of the Board of a local CIC and a trustee of a local charity.

Neville De Moraes

Pam Doodes was self-employed for over 30 years working in sales management and retail. She served as a District Councillor for 24 years, during that time she held several responsibility posts including Leader and Chairman of the Council. Her interest and emphasis being on people and their wellbeing, community, and charity. She is a Peer Reviewer for the Local Government Association. Pam was also a Parish Councillor for over 10 years. She is heavily involved with community fund raising, and amongst other activity she is currently on the Board of a Local Community Group formed to support clubs, groups, and organisations whose work benefits residents.

Pam Doodes

Stephen has 30 years experience in the charity sector holding a variety of Trustee and Charity Chairs positions. For 13 years he was the Chief Executive of a large national charity, overseeing the revitalisation of the charity.

Stephen is a Chartered Governance Professional (FCG) specialising in charities with an emphasis on governance and financial management. He supports the view that good governance, leads to good decision making and so better outcomes and improved impact.

Stephen Gilbert

Susie has over 30 years’ experience in the public sector. She has a background in strategic & business planning, performance & project management, governance & risk management, industrial relations, communication & consultation. Susie is currently working as a freelance administrator and workplace mediator and set up a project management business with her partner in 2017. She is also a trained community mediator and conflict coach.

Susie Funnell

Pam Gordon

Pam Gordon has a background in finance, business development and franchising.  She began her career with HSBC Asset Finance which later led her into franchising.  So, now 23 years later she has worked with many different franchise businesses in management roles.  For the last 8 years she has run her own franchise consultancy advising businesses on expansion via licensing and franchise.

On a voluntary basis she has been Chair of the PTA for her daughters school and also taken her business experience to support and mentor young people and via Rift Social those leaving prison looking to start their own businesses.