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Citizens Advice announces appointment of new trustees

13 April 2011

As cuts to jobs, benefits and services drive record numbers of people to Citizens Advice Bureaux and changes to the consumer landscape and legal aid bring new challenges to the service, national charity Citizens Advice has announced four new trustee appointments.*

Former President of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Mike Weaver has been appointed as Treasurer. He succeeds Jonathan Tross, who steps down at the end of this month.

Mike retired last year after 43 years service in local government, most recently as Director of Financial Services for Worcestershire County Council. He has also served as Treasurer of West Mercia Police Authority, Treasurer of charitable trust Community First, and as President of the Society of County Treasurers.

The three other new trustees are:

Mark Gamsu, until recently a Programme Director at the Department of Health responsible for policy and strategy to tackle Health Inequalities and Local Improvement. Mark has 25 years experience in the UK voluntary, local government, social care and health sectors.  He has also served for 15 years as a trustee of Sheffield Mental Health Citizens Advice Bureau and is on the board of  the Community Legal Advice Service for South Yorkshire.

Jonathan Rees, currently Director General of the Government Equalities Office. Jonathan has substantial international and regulatory experience. As Director of Consumer and Competition Policy at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) he built up a strong understanding of the business environment, consumer issues and social policy.

Anne Stephenson, who retired last year from her post as Senior Civil Servant in the Welsh Assembly Government. She completed secondments into the third sector following a three year period as Head of the Communities Directorate, within the Social Justice and Regeneration Department.  She is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development (CFIPD) and a Trustee of the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA).

Citizens Advice Chair John Gladwin said: “The Citizens Advice service has a long and proud track record of supporting people in communities across the country for over 70 years, and the service is needed now more than ever. We face big changes in the coming years and need a strong, talented and committed Trustee Board to guide the service through these. I am delighted to welcome all our new trustees, each one of whom shares out values, understands the challenges we face, and brings a wealth of experience and insight to the role.”

* The new trustees were all recruited under an open selection process involving the posts being publicly advertised. Mike Weaver takes up his appointment as Treasurer on 1 May and if the charity’s AGM confirms his appointment in September he will serve a three year term of office, renewable for a further three years. Mark Gamsu will also take up his appointment as a trustee on 1 May, while Anne and Jonathan will start on13 September.

Citizens Advice

Notes to editors

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales see www.citizensadvice.org.uk
  2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality. For online advice and information see www.adviceguide.org.uk
  3. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.1 million clients on 6.9 million problems from April 2011 to March 2012. For full 2011/2012 service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends
  4. Out of 22 national charities, the Citizens Advice service is ranked by the general public as being the most helpful, approachable, professional, informative, effective / cost effective, reputable and accountable (nfpSynergy’s Brand Attributes survey, May 2010).
  5. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at around 3,500 service outlets across England and Wales.