Our people

As a team we are passionately committed to working to connect people who care with causes that matter to enable more people across Wiltshire and Swindon to thrive

Staff

Victoria Hickey

Joint Chief Executive

Victoria Hickey

Joint Chief Executive

My role is to jointly lead and manage the organisation ensuring that we achieve our ambitious 5-year strategy to deliver £10m of investment into local communities. My background is in finance, so that means my focuses are on audit, finance and risk and operational effectiveness.

I love my role as there is no such thing as a normal day, it keeps things interacting and exciting. I have always been passionate about ensuring people have the tools and knowledge they need to perform at their very best, so working with such a successful and productive staff team enables me to really enjoy supporting others to be successful and also love their roles at the foundation. I trained and worked as an accountant in industry and have been lucky enough to enjoy and be passionate about the industries I have been part of. However the third sector is more than that, once you have worked in the third sector you just don’t want to leave. To feel the work that your organisation does is making a real difference in peoples lives is totally different and something very special.

I was born and bred in Wiltshire, I can see the Alton Barnes White Horse from our house, I love it and it is such a fantastic place to live and to bring up a family, who I, of course, enjoy spending my time with. My son, husband and I love nothing more than walking our 3 dogs in the Wiltshire countryside.

Fiona Oliver

Joint Chief Executive

Fiona Oliver

Joint Chief Executive

I joined the Foundation in August 2018 and having worked for a single-issue charity for the previous ten years, I was amazed to find the breadth of work the foundation supported. For every issue that I could think of, there was a potential solution being delivered by the local voluntary sector. It was a bit like opening a treasure chest.

Each day is different! I love finding out more about the broad variety of community projects that are helping local people. I also love talking and having a job that enables me to share the good news with people who want to make a positive difference in the lives of others is an absolute privilege.

Wiltshire is where I was born and brought up and where the majority of my family live. Some days I drive the full length of the county for various meetings and I am unfailingly blown away by how beautiful it is; but I know that for many local people, life is hard. To play a leadership role with the Community Foundation is a great honour and one which I am totally committed to.

Joanne Brady

Philanthropy Director

Joanne Brady

Philanthropy Director

I joined WCF in May 2016 and as Philanthropy Director my main responsibilities involve developing lasting relationships with new and potential donors, building their awareness of and helping them connect with local charities and their causes. Previously I worked at Macmillan Cancer Support and prior to that I spent 20 years working as an Organisational Development Consultant, helping a wide range of client organisations improve their performance through their people. I love working for WCF because I have the opportunity to make a difference to small, local charities that may not have a similar level of capacity, funding or budget as high-profile charities do.

Heather Kiel

Programme Director

Heather Kiel

Programme Director

I joined WCF in June 2023 as Programme Director. Along with my brilliant team (and working closely with our colleagues in Development and Finance), we run the grants programmes benefiting individuals and groups in Wiltshire and Swindon. It is vital to me that our programmes are informed by the needs and aspirations of local people and groups, and that we are rigorous in assessing and reporting back on how our support helps communities to thrive. So, I love meeting the many groups across the county that are making a difference, listening to their challenges and solutions and designing programmes that can support their work. I am also grateful for the many opportunities for collaboration and learning that the job brings, particularly with the volunteers and networks that give their time and expertise to assist our team, from assessing applications to developing new programmes.

I started my career in campaigning, firstly with Oxfam and then Amnesty International, in London. Later I moved into funding and grant management in international development. A move back to the Southwest in 2002 gave me the opportunity to manage an EU funded LEADER+ grants programme benefiting grass roots groups in Dorset. I then worked for 10 years finding funding, firstly for an international children’s rights NGO and then a rural development NGO for East Africa. Most recently, I managed another large EU funded project providing grants for renewable energy and energy efficiency measures for businesses, community groups and public sector organisations across the county of Dorset.

I’m so pleased to be working for Wiltshire Community Foundation, in the county that I was born and raised, and where most of my family are from, over many generations.

Margaret Firth

Director of Partnerships

Margaret Firth

Director of Partnerships

I undertake research and analysis to provide context and local insight to inform our grantmaking, advise our donors and raise awareness of local community needs and priorities. I am passionate about making the most of collaborative relationships and feel it is through our engagement with community organisations and our statutory partners that we learn where and how we can have greatest impact.

Nicola Hillier

Grants Manager

Nicola Hillier

Grants Manager

As Grants Officer, I work closely with the Grants Programme Director, Grant Administrator and Finance team to develop, support and administer our grant making programme. I provide guidance and assistance to potential applicants, set up new grant programmes and develop online grant application forms and monitor groups at the end of their grant period. The most rewarding and enjoyable part of the role is talking to groups and seeing the amazing community work that is taking place across the county. Before I came to WCF, I spent 12 years at Wiltshire Council as a Childcare Workforce Development Officer. I’m a mother of two, an active member of a local running club!.

Karen Hobbs

Grants Manager

Karen Hobbs

Grants Manager

I joined the foundation in April 2019, coming from a background in social work, I wanted to use my professional skills to support voluntary organisations, I understand the crucial part they play in supporting communities and individuals. In my role I review the grant applications, provide advice and support alongside monitoring the progress and outcomes of our programmes. I love speaking to the infinitely passionate and dedicated, staff, trustees and volunteers from the groups we fund and support and come away feeling completely inspired by them.

I get to enjoy Wiltshire with my two daughters, and I have now lived here since 2000 and I can now almost consider myself a local. In my moments of quiet, I enjoy a bit of mindful crafting, museum/art gallery visits and spending time with friends.

Hannah Leigh

Finance Manager

Hannah Leigh

Finance Manager

I trained as a chartered accountant in 2001 and soon started working in industry. In 2016 I moved to work in the education sector as finance manager for a Wiltshire secondary school, eventually working in a trust of seven schools across the county. I really enjoyed my time working in schools as I knew my work made a difference to the children in the schools. This is why I wanted to work for Wiltshire Community Foundation as it is helping the community in which I live and love.

I have lived in Wiltshire since 2010 and in my spare time I enjoy getting outdoors into the Wiltshire countryside with my family or heading further afield in our VW campervan.

I am passionate about environmental issues and try to minimise my family’s footprint on the planet even if I don’t always do that well! I also spend a lot of time cooking at home and volunteering at Devizes Rugby club where my two boys play rugby.

Beth Maughan

Marketing and Communications Manager

Beth Maughan

Marketing and Communications Manager

I have been working with Wiltshire Community Foundation since 2017 and was delighted to become a permanent member of the team in 2021.

As Marketing and Communications Manager, I raise awareness of the role the Foundation plays in connecting people, organisations and businesses that want to support their local community with the brilliant grassroots groups and charities tackling the most pressing needs and issues in Wiltshire and Swindon.

It is brilliant to have a job that directly impacts the area where I live. Every day I get to see how the work the Foundation does and the actions of the inspiring people we work with helps to improve lives and build stronger communities across our county and that is a real privilege.

Chloe Mead

Fundraising and Operations Administrator

Chloe Mead

Fundraising and Operations Administrator

As Fundraising and Operations Administrator, my role is to provide administrative and operational support to the team to allow them to focus on the fantastic work that they do. The broad range of work that the Foundation carries out means that my job varies day to day and I enjoy seeing how the different areas of the organisation work.

Since starting my role, my eyes have really been opened to the huge number of local people and groups doing amazing things to tackle the disadvantage and hardship faced by many in Wiltshire. I am excited to be working for an organisation where I can play a part in helping to make such a difference to the local community.

I was born and raised in Wiltshire, and after achieving a BSc (Hons) Criminology degree at the University of Surrey and being fortunate enough to spend nine months of my degree studying abroad in Orlando, Florida, I chose to return to the county that is home. When I’m not working, I enjoy reading, baking, spending time with my dogs and getting out in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside.

Megan Pitman

Operations Manager

Megan Pitman

Operations Manager

My role is to ensure we have the people, resources, culture, processes, and systems in place so that we can deliver our strategic goals, work effectively and have a passionate and happy team. I love knowing that even the smallest changes operationally mean that Wiltshire Community Foundation can do more and go further with our work.

Previously, I worked for five years at a national charity working directly with beneficiaries, before making a switch to a digital agency calling on my pre-charity experience. Realising nothing beats the feeling of being part of an organisation that has the opportunity to make a difference for those who need it most, I returned to the charity sector and joined Wiltshire Community Foundation in October 2020.

I grew up in rural Wiltshire before moving closer to Salisbury. I have so many happy memories of growing up in Wiltshire; from always being out in the countryside to attending carol concerts in Salisbury Cathedral. I am proud to work for an organisation that supports people living in my own community and I am committed to being part of positive change for the county now and in the future.

Karen Pugh

Grants Administrator

Karen Pugh

Grants Administrator

I started working at WCF in April 2018, and as Grants Administrator my role is to provide admin support to the Grants Team. This varies from inputting information from application forms onto our system to assisting with the smooth running of our grants workshops. I really enjoy knowing that my work makes a positive impact on people or to organisations. I have an extremely diverse background; I have worked as a teacher of English as a foreign language (TEFL) in China, Mexico, Turkey and Italy. I have worked in admin roles for the probation service, the Diocese of Hereford and for a business dealing in international aircraft leasing and repairs. This is my first job in the charity sector.

Pip Wall

Finance Assistant

Pip Wall

Finance Assistant

As Finance Assistant, I support the Finance Director in managing, processing and troubleshooting various accounts and transactions. I like all aspects of my job especially that each task has a specific end point and so can be ticked off the to-do list! I studied Plant Biology at Leicester University before I obtained my PhD. In 1995, I started working at what was Allied Dunbar, now Zurich Financial Services, where I trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Here I was also the chair of the Finance Charity Committee and we ran a number of events to raise money for local community projects. These included a ‘Stars in their Eyes’ show and a number of three-legged pub crawls around Bath, Bristol and Cheltenham!

Johanna Banks

Grants Officer

Johanna Banks

Grants Officer

As Team Administrator, my role is to provide cross-functional support to the other teams in Wiltshire Community Foundation helping them to work effectively. The role is varied and one day it will be all about finance, the next about people and culture and the next about processes. It’s this variety that I love and knowing that I’m helping enable our teams to make a real difference to the local groups working within our communities. My work background is similarly diverse with the last 15 years spent in different organisations in the local voluntary sector in both client-facing and infrastructure roles with a strong focus on volunteering and communications. Before that I was a Business Consultant in a large financial organisation working at both a strategic and operational level. I have experience in retail and hospitality management, have spent time on sabbatical working on an organic farm in South America, as a language assistant in a French school and travelling in Australia. Outside of work, my passions lie in environmental conservation and volunteering and I’ve generally got one or more volunteer roles on the go, either in my local community or for a local charity. My other passions are my two dogs and evenings and weekends can be taken up with some kind of dog sport, whether that be agility, scentwork or mantrailing which is great for getting me out and about in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside.

Gary Lawrence

Communications Consultant

Gary Lawrence

Communications Consultant

My role is to help maintain the profile of the WCF by writing press and magazine articles as well as case studies about the inspiring supporters and groups we work with. What I enjoy most is relaying the real difference WCF makes to the groups we fund and the many people they help across Wiltshire and Swindon. I have been a journalist for 30 years, editing the Swindon Advertiser, Wiltshire Gazette & Herald, Wiltshire Times, Oxford Mail and Oxford Times among other titles. In a previous career I was also a chef and a bar manager in London. My hobbies include running (very slowly) and getting myself into a state of deep distress watching West Ham United.

Trustees

Angus Macpherson

Chair

Angus Macpherson

Chair

Angus lives in Wroughton and is married with two adult children and three granddaughters. His association with the Foundation started when, as a Chartered Accountant, he was appointed Treasurer in 2006. Subsequently, he became a trustee for many years, rejoining the board in 2019.

He served as the Police & Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire from 2012 to 2021. He has acquired an extensive knowledge of the community/ voluntary sector in the county, as well as the needs of its residents. He was a governor of Dauntsey’s & Stonar Schools and is a trustee of The Filling Station (Swindon).

Mark Barnett

Deputy Chair

Mark Barnett

Deputy Chair

Mark joined as a trustee in September 2021 but has been a fundholder, along with his wife Melanie, since 2015 and has also been a grants panel member.

He was Chief Operating Officer of The Consortium in Trowbridge for 12 years until he and Melanie set up Responsible Homes, a housing company in Chippenham that helps tenants buy their own property, in 2018.

Mark is also a trustee of the Doorway Project in Chippenham.

Junab Ali

Trustee

Junab Ali

Trustee

Junab was appointed as Trustee in September 2020. He is a Parish Councillor and former Mayor of Swindon. His mayoral year provided him with a unique insight into the voluntary and charitable sector locally and fuelled his determination to become a champion for local groups. He was drawn to take up a role on the board of Wiltshire Community Foundation because of the reach we have across Swindon and Wiltshire.

Junab runs his own electrical contracting business in Swindon and is married to Rajhia and has three children. He is a non-executive director of Business West and has stood as an MP in Devizes and as an MEP in the South West. He is also a school governor, a member of Rotary, a member of the Wiltshire FA’s Independent Advisory Group and vice-chairman of the Wiltshire Police Crime Panel.

David Coombs

Trustee

David Coombs

Trustee

David was appointed trustee in May 2022. He is a fund manager and is currently Head of Multi-Asset investments at Rathbones Group, based in London. He has over 38 years’ experience in the financial services industry.

While living in Guernsey, Channel Islands, he chaired local fund-raising committees for the Leonard Cheshire Home Foundation and NSPCC. He also sat on the Barings Charitable Trust Grants Committee.

David lives in Purton near Swindon.

Damian Haasjes

Trustee

Damian Haasjes

Trustee

Damian has lived and worked in Wiltshire for over 20 years and although born and raised in Australia, he loves living in the UK (except when England beat Australia in the Ashes). Damian has linked in with Community Foundation throughout his working life but became a funding panel member 3 years ago. He has a background in education, youth work and residential social work, giving him a great understanding of the needs of children, young people and families in Wiltshire and Swindon.

Damian lives in Devizes and currently works with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, managing their adult wellbeing work and education provision. He is a keen walker and golfer, whose enthusiasm greatly outweighs his skill. He sits on the a number of groups including the Wiltshire Children and Families Voluntary Sector Forum, the Youth Offending Service Board and was the chair of Mid-Wiltshire Scouts for 13 years.

Charles Hobhouse

Trustee

Charles Hobhouse

Trustee

Charles Hobhouse lives and works on his family’s wildlife friendly farming Estate near Bradford-on-Avon. He was High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 2021 and worked alongside the Foundation on a few occasions. He applied to be a trustee because he is keen to support the Foundation’s championing of small charities working hard for the benefit of others around Wiltshire and Swindon.

He was recently Chairman of the Wiltshire Country Landowners Branch and is Chair of St. Katherine’s Chapel Almshouses in Bradford-on-Avon. He is an Ambassador for Alabare Christian Care & Support and the Armed Forces Equine Charity. He is also a Patron of The Friends of Erlestoke Prison.

Oliver Jones-Davies

Trustee

Oliver Jones-Davies

Trustee

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Lisa Lewis

Trustee

Lisa Lewis

Trustee

Lisa lives in Chippenham and is married with two grown-up sons. She was involved with the charity Doorway in Chippenham, which works with the homeless and vulnerably housed, for 13 years, nine of them as Chief Executive. During her time with Doorway, she built up an extensive knowledge of all aspects of running a charity, as well as gaining expertise of the issues surrounding homelessness, including mental health, the welfare system and social isolation.

She joined the Foundation as a trustee because she wanted to give something back after our support for Doorway and also to champion the fantastic work of other community groups throughout the county.

Samantha O'Sullivan

Trustee

Samantha O'Sullivan

Trustee

Content coming soon.

Denis Twomey

Trustee

Denis Twomey

Trustee

Denis was born in Salisbury and always dreamed of working in theatre, something which was enabled by the Foundation as a recipient of the University Bursary scheme. Having graduated in Stage Management, Denis forged a career in Commercial touring theatre but found he missed the West Country a little bit too much! Denis then pivoted life somewhat and now works as a Project Manager specialising in large-scale engineering and construction projects - something which allows him to draw upon his existing skillset and ironically isn't too far removed from theatre.

With a more structured schedule Denis was able to join the Foundation’s Education Panel in 2019, bringing with him both extensive experience of working with children and adults with complex ASC & SEMH needs and his unique insight as a previous grant recipient. The ability to give back to the same panel that enabled Denis to go to university is something he is particularly proud of and was delighted at the opportunity to further increase this support for the Foundation by joining the Board in 2023.

Steve Wall

Trustee

Steve Wall

Trustee

Steve was appointed as trustee in March 2015 having sat on the Audit and Finance Committee as a volunteer. He is a Chartered Accountant and is currently Head of Business Performance Management at Zurich Financial Services.

He is also an Ambassador for the Zurich Charitable Trust and enjoys using his extensive years of experience supporting Zurich's charitable trust in a wider field.

Sue Webber

Trustee

Sue Webber

Trustee

Sue Webber has over 50 years of experience with community groups and voluntary organisations and knows how important external funding is in supporting people to make a difference to the causes they feel passionate about. Sue also understands how positive it is for businesses and individuals to be able help fund organisations locally.

Sue has lived in Swindon since 1973 and has worked with a wide range of groups to develop by training people in the skills they need to be effective and to measure the difference they are making. Sue sees the Foundation as a vital support in this work.

David Wray

Trustee

David Wray

Trustee

David first became aware of the work of the Foundation when he was Chair of Swindon Therapy Centre for MS as they were supported by us. When he retired after 30 years with Nationwide and became CEO of Voluntary Action Swindon became more involved becoming a member of one of our grants panel in 2013 and subsequently joining the Grants Policy Committee. He is a strong advocate of the Foundation and has spoken on our behalf at conferences. He became a trustee in 2019.

David has significant experience in the voluntary and community sector. He has also been Chair of School Governors, Chair and Treasurer of his Village Hall, Chair of a regional Neurological Charity and Chair of MSNTC a national MS Charity.

Elizabeth Webbe

Trustee

Elizabeth Webbe

Trustee

Elizabeth is a solicitor and was previously a trustee of Wiltshire Community Foundation from September 2008 to October 2017 before being asked to become an Ambassador. Elizabeth is very pleased to return to the trustee body and brings with her experience of other trusteeships, both private and charitable, she was the Governor of a boarding school and is involved in various local organisations in different capacities. Elizabeth lives in North Wiltshire but also has a presence in the South of the county which helps to enable her to promote the work of the Foundation as far as possible.

Patrons

John Bush CVO OBE CStJ JP

Patron

John Bush CVO OBE CStJ JP

Patron

John Bush has been a Patron of the Wiltshire Community Foundation since September 2004. John served as Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire from 2004 - 2012.

Sarah Troughton CStj

Patron

Sarah Troughton CStj

Patron

Sarah Troughton became our Patron in 2012 following her appointment as Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire. Prior to becoming our Patron, Sarah was a trustee of the Foundation from April 2004 until May 2012.

The Rt Revd Dr Lee Rayfield

Patron

The Rt Revd Dr Lee Rayfield

Patron

Rt Revd Dr Lee Rayfield has been the Bishop of Swindon since 2005. He became Patron of the Foundation in April 2007.

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