Board of Trustees

Sue Taylor (BEM) Our Chair

I was born in Glasgow, but have always lived in Cheshire, attending school in Stoke, and currently living in Nantwich. I worked at the DWP for 20 years, and then joined Vale Royal Borough Council, transferring in 2009 to Cheshire West and Chester Council.

I have always been passionate about supporting people in hardship, working closely with the Poverty Truth Commission to improve services and to make them easier to access. I was asked to be Food Lead during the pandemic, in addition to my day job as Transactional Services Manager.  I was involved in supporting families without food, medication, or housing, and those in need of welfare support. I was also involved in emergency Covid support and distribution of many of the additional funds. I was awarded the BEM in 2020 for services to local government which was presented by our Patron David Briggs in 2021.

I retired in June 2021 and have since taken on the role of chair of Platform for Life and trustee for Changing Lives Together. I am also director of a property company, as well as a wife, mother and grandmother.

Ann Gill

After a long career as a teacher, headteacher and adviser in primary schools I am very aware that there are times when struggling families benefit from the support of counsellors.  As a Trustee of Platform for Life, I relish being part of an organisation dedicated to improving the life chances for children and their families.

George Hartley

I was born in Preston and grew up in the Weald of Kent where I attended Cranbrook School. Thereafter I went to Cambridge University where I studied Geography before completing a Masters degree in Environmental Technology at Imperial College London. I embarked on a career in teaching and taught at various schools in southern England before becoming Headmaster of Elizabeth College in Guernsey for eight years in 2009. Since 2017 I have been Headmaster of The King’s School, Chester. I live in Handbridge, Chester with my family. My interests include rugby, cricket, cooking and mountaineering.

Lynda Hill

With a background in psychology and counselling, together with extensive management and leadership experience in the charity sector, I am thrilled to be able to share what I have learnt over the years to continue to support and develop the strategic direction of Platform for Life and to learn too, from the team’s expertise.

I am currently studying part-time for a PhD in Psychological Trauma at the University of Chester alongside running my counselling practice and volunteering for a counselling service. Whenever I get the chance, I love to spend time catching up with my family and friends and occasionally making it to my local gym!

I believe passionately in Platform for Life’s aim of supporting families to increase their emotional health and wellbeing by accessing counselling and play therapy. It is a privilege to have been invited onto the trustee board to support this invaluable work.

Brittany Hook

“I’m a chemical engineer who has lived in the Chester area since I came from the USA to the UK in 2016. I’ve worked for Ecolab for the past 10 years, most recently in Global Marketing. Most of my professional work involves global cross-functional project management, strategy development and execution. Mental health and family therapy are causes that matter to me on a deeply personal level, and being a trustee allows me to give back in a meaningful way using my corporate skill set. In my downtime, I enjoy mountain biking, riding my horses and rock climbing.”

Carol Jones

After spending 30 years in the finance industry, in 2009 I decided I wanted a change. I enrolled on a counselling course and never looked back. As a trainee I was privileged to gain experience at the Hospice of the Good Shepherd and so began a rewarding career in bereavement support. When the Hospice secured funding, I managed the project to develop a community wide bereavement service and later went on to manage the service when it was commissioned in 2014. I decided to retire in October 2020.

I’m a proud Cestrian and have happy childhood memories of time spent in Blacon. I’m delighted to be a Trustee as it gives me the opportunity to share the experiences I have gained in my working life. In my spare time, if I’m not catching up with friends, I can be found at my laptop writing short stories.

Andrew Kerr (Treasurer)

I have had a long business career, mainly in the insurance sector where I qualified as an actuary.  Over this time, I’ve undertaken a wide range of roles including risk management, finance and the delivery of a number of large multi-year projects.  In addition, I have also performed a number of voluntary and non-executive roles. I have lived in Chester for over 20 years, with both of my children going to school locally. I enjoy most sports (including rowing and cycling) as well as the arts.  I am very excited to be involved with Platform for Life and am very much looking forward to utilising my business skills to support the excellent work done.

Emma Price

I am a Cestrian, born and bred and completed all of my education here. I went to the University of Chester where I undertook an Undergraduate degree in Psychology and Criminology, a Master’s degree in Crime and Justice and I’m currently finishing my PhD, which looks at third sector support available for mentally disordered offenders. I am currently a full-time Criminology lecturer at the University of Chester where I enjoy teaching and researching around my areas of interest which include; green criminology, mental health and victimisation. I have become a Trustee at Platform for Life because I wanted my research and expertise to make a difference within the community and I feel I can achieve this through the charity. I am very passionate and excited about being involved with a charity that provides such prominent support for improving the mental health and wellbeing of its service users.

Councillor Trish Richards

I am a happily married woman; proud Mum and Grandmother.  I recently celebrated 1 year in the challenging role of Blacon Ward Councillor.I was a Science teacher in high school for many years. Always involved in Trades Union activity in the workplace and through my involvement gained various qualifications regarding industrial relations. Eventually I left teaching to become the Local Negotiating Secretary of a leading teachers’ professional association. After leaving that role I went through rigorous training to become an ambassador for the NSPCC. Once qualified, I delivered workshops in Primary Schools. These sessions revealed to pupils (and teachers) the forms of abuse and the ambition of Childline to halt harm to children. Later I was employed by DOVE to promote body confidence to older high school students. I am very pleased to be part of Platform for Life.

Paul Rossiter

I am a solicitor and own a law firm which operates in North Wales and Cheshire and which often undertakes “pro bono” work for people in the local community. I have accepted a role as a Trustee at Platform for Life with the hope of being able to help more people in need in my local area. I live in Chester and am originally from Widnes, so I am a native to the North West, and I used to visit Chester when I was a child. I have always found it to be a lovely place and I am happy to now be engaged in making the lives of people in this area better.