Our Board of Trustees
Our Trustees ensure that Umbrella remains true to its charitable purpose and objectives and complies with charity law. They have detailed and strategic oversight of the direction, performance and probity.
The Board of Trustees has a clear vision and everything it does for Umbrella is focused on improvement, high attainment and outstanding outcomes.
Andrew Seymour
Becoming a trustee in 2024 and sitting on the People & Performance Group, I bring personal insights from growing up with undiagnosed neurodiversity and parenting a teenager with autism and ADHD. While my current role as an engineer at Rolls-Royce isn’t directly related to Umbrella's work, these experiences give me a unique perspective on the challenges and strengths of neurodiverse individuals.
Nigel Farrow
A trustee since 2013, I sit on all three groups: Finance, People & Performance, and Fundraising, Marketing & Communications. As a qualified social worker and senior leader in Local Authority children's services, I bring extensive experience and insight into supporting children and families, which aligns closely with the mission of Umbrella.
Richard Vasey
I became a trustee in 2022 and currently serve as Chair of the People & Performance Committee. As the former CEO of The Two Counties Trust, overseeing 9 secondary schools, 10,000 students, and 1,600 staff, I bring experience in HR, safeguarding, budgeting, and people development. Trained as a maths teacher and later headteacher, I’ve contributed to various professional development programs. Since retiring, I’ve continued my involvement in education as a trustee and Chair of Governors at a local secondary school.
Sharon Insull
I trained as an NNEB nursery nurse after leaving school and have worked with children in Derby throughout my career. After nearly 20 years in inner-city schools and nurseries, I moved to the NHS, where I still work as part of the Health Visiting team. My passion for supporting children with additional needs and their families led me to get involved with Umbrella. I started by volunteering at fundraising events and became a trustee in 2017. When possible, I love helping out on trips and group sessions. I'm proud and privileged to be part of the Umbrella family.
Ruth Pownall
I am first and foremost a parent of an adult with complex needs, including autism, learning disabilities, and visual impairment. I joined Umbrella in 1991 as the Play and Leisure Activities Coordinator and later established Fairplay in North Derbyshire. For 30 years, I worked part-time as a youth worker for Derbyshire County Council and transitioned to a full-time role in 1999 as the Inclusion Manager, advising schools on creating inclusive opportunities for children with SEND. Currently, my family runs a Home Care Support business in Yorkshire, helping adults and the elderly remain at home. After serving as the named officer for Umbrella in Derbyshire, I became a trustee, a privilege I’ve held ever since.
Wayne Cook
I became a trustee in 2020 and currently serve as Chair of the Fundraising, Marketing, and Communications subgroup. With 25 years of experience in the IT industry, I held senior management roles in sales and strategic partnerships at companies like Nortel Networks, Mercury Interactive, SAP, HP, and McAfee. I bring strong business, commercial, and P&L experience to the board.
Rebecca Sutton
I became a trustee in 2024 and am a member of the Finance Committee. With 33 years of NHS experience, I’ve held various roles across the East Midlands, starting as an Audiologist, which gave me firsthand experience working with adults and children with disabilities. My career then developed into improvement and operational roles across hospitals, health and social care, and now as Chief Operating Officer at a Community and Mental Health Trust. I bring extensive skills in leading improvement projects, managing budgets and teams, and driving large cost improvement programs. My board-level experience over the past three years has also strengthened my ability to scrutinise board papers, challenge decisions, and ensure accountability.
Trustee Vacancy
We currently have a trustee vacancy on our board and are seeking passionate individuals who are committed to making a difference. If you are interested in joining our team and contributing to our mission, please see our recruitment section to find out more about the role and how to apply.
