How we’re run
We are governed by a Board of Trustees which has overall responsibility of our conduct and management as a charity. They set the long term strategic direction that enables us to work towards achieving our vision. You can find out more about our trustees here:
David Arthur
David became Chair of the Board in November 2021. His first involvement with Percy Hedley was to be the inaugural Chair of the Audit Committee in January 2013, joining as a Trustee a year later when he took over as Chair of the Finance Committee and subsequently became Vice Chair of the Board in 2018.
He is the former Managing Partner of Tait Walker LLP, one of the leading independent Accounting firms in the North East. Latterly he has been concentrating on his work in Forensic Accounting.
He is currently the Deputy President of the Northern Society of Chartered Accountants and also sits as a Trustee of Mental Health Concern amongst his other posts.
A former rugby player, David now fills his spare time golfing, cycling and playing the saxophone whilst remaining an avid sports spectator.
Paul was appointed as a college governor in January 2017 and as a Trustee in January 2020.
He has a background in Finance, as a qualified accountant. Paul spent 19 years at Formica, a manufacturing business in various roles in Finance, IT and Operations. He left and joined PD Ports as Chief Technology Officer in December 2020.
Paul still tries to play football in his spare time. He has twins, one of which attends Percy Hedley School.
Susan Jopling
Susan was appointed a Board Trustee at the Percy Hedley Foundation in 2014. In her day job as Director of Corporate Strategy and Policy at Gateshead-based IT experts ITPS she supports the political and managerial leadership of the business in strategic decision making, policy development, effective performance and risk management.
She also holds responsibility for the HR function, and for the company’s corporate social responsibility activities.
Damon Kent
Damon joined the Foundation as a trustee in 2015.
Damon has a property background as a chartered surveyor and is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. As a trustee, Damon works closely with the Executive team in developing the Foundations’ Accommodation Strategy. Damon also chairs the Residential Services Committee.
Damon is currently Managing Director of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust where he runs their property subsidiary business, NHFML. Prior to this, Damon was a Director of Northumbria University leading on all Estate Development, Facilities Management and Commercial Services activity. Damon was originally a graduate trainee with Northern Rock and has since held a number of leadership roles with Virgin Money and Grainger plc.
Away from work, Damon is kept busy with four children and his passion for Newcastle United.
More information coming soon
More information coming soon
More information coming soon
Anne was appointed a Board Trustee at the Percy Hedley Foundation as well as a governor of Hedleys College in January 2017.
She is a qualified accountant with 30 years experience working in NHS finance, more than 13 years post qualification experience at a senior level across a wide range of financial functions. Although she retired in June 2016, she has returned to work for a few months and is currently Head of Finance NHS England Cumbria & North East. She has responsibility for assuring the financial performance of the 11 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), producing future year plans that deliver the required clinical outcomes and meet the business guidelines, as well as providing more intensive support and performance management of financially challenged CCGs.
She has a strong commitment to staff development, which began when she was Regional Scheme Manager for the NHS graduate financial management training scheme.
Anne’s interests include going to the theatre, trying to read a new book each week and travelling regularly to Spain.
Day-to-day management and operations are delegated to an Executive Team, which is led by our Chief Executive. You can find out more about our Executive Team here:
Tara Allen / Director of Resources
Tara joined the Foundation in January 2017. Her remit covers Finance, Fundraising, Estates & Facilities, IT & Technology, and Company Secretary.
She started her career as an apprentice, progressing through AAT and CIMA qualifications to become a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Over her career, she expanded to cover operational and wider support services roles as her main focus is to drive organisation improvements and make a difference in business. She has worked in a variety of industries and companies from a small family owned business, to a national charity, to worldwide manufacturing and service organisations. She has a passion for people being the best they can be.
Tara likes to explore the UK in a campervan with her husband and son as well as cooking and escaping into films and books.
We employ over 800 staff to ensure our service users receive the best care and support every day.
