Our trustees are responsible for ensuring that Cartrefi Cymru does what it was set up to do in an effective and ethical way.
Chair of the Board of Trustees
I started my career in social care with Cartrefi as a Support Worker before entering into various management roles within the organisation. The experience I gained from this time has stayed with me throughout my career which has lasted 30 years culminating in my role as Deputy Chief Executive for another Charity that supported adults to live valued lives in the community.
I now feel in a good position to share my knowledge and experience to support the future direction and sustainability of Cartrefi . I have always been interested in how people can best be supported to have a say in how they want to live their life.
I have been fortunate in my career to have seen that people can realise their full potential when supported to be part of a/the community. I have spent a large proportion of my career promoting effective communication to ensure that vulnerable people , their family members, their supporters their staff groups have a voice and are listened to.
I currently work as an Associate Mediator and Conflict Coach.
I am married with two sons and two Golden retrievers all of which keep me very busy. I enjoy walking, reading, going on holiday and if there’s time spending it in the garden and green house.
Trustee
I’m a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with experience in Construction, Water and Nuclear industries. I live in South Wales and I’m an Operational Head of Service for Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, with my main areas of focus being the health, safety and wellbeing of my team and also providing excellent customer service to the population we serve.
Although I have not worked in this sector before I can see the similarities in the operational challenges we face, working remotely across a large operating area.
I am passionate about helping people and communities, and wanted to learn more from the brilliant work that Cartrefi does in helping vulnerable members of the community.
As well as working for Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, I am a non executive board member (Wales) and member of the Royal institute of Chartered Surveyors.
Trustee
I have worked in the technology business for over thirty years, and am hugely passionate about how digital can enable and transform business operations.
I currently work as Head of Strategy & Innovation for Welsh Water, working closely with the executive team to define the future roadmap for technology in the organisation and to identify opportunities that it can bring.
Living in rural Carmarthenshire, community is important to me and am hugely excited about the opportunity to work with Cartrefi to shape its digital transformation journey, thereby enabling more people to enjoy the life and the opportunities many take for granted.
Trustee
Ian Courtney has had a varied career, involving roles in the public, private and third sectors. Immediately prior to his recent retirement he was employed as Director of External Affairs with Anglo-Canadian investment management company, Wesley Clover Corporation. Previously Ian had been a co-founder of a public relations company with clients drawn from the technology, asset management, energy and media sectors, the regional director of a niche bank established to finance the investment requirements of charities and social enterprises and an advisor to UK government departments and international bodies on economic development and regulatory matters.
CEO
Now CEO, I joined Cartrefi Cymru in 2011 originally as an Area Manager. My career started in a local nursing home working as a Care Assistant when I left school. Whilst there, I began studies to become a nurse, but quickly realised the Health Service was not for me, so I took a leap of faith and joined the third sector. Supporting adults with learning difficulties became very important to me and I have been fortunate to have been able to work in a variety of settings across Wales and England.
My education has mainly been vocational based following my school years, including several Leadership and Management Diplomas. More recently I have had the opportunity to study ‘Vanguard People Centred Services’ with Buckingham and Kingston universities.
I have been active in the voluntary sector from a young age; lots of my spare time is spent supporting local charities such as the St John Ambulance Brigade and the Welsh Ambulance service.
My other passions are spending time with my young family, listening to music and attempting to get fit!
Director of People
I joined Cartrefi as Director of People in May 2024, and I have worked in Human Resources for over 20 years in a variety of different sectors, from defence industry, manufacturing, IT, housing and the arts, but the charity sector is where my heart lies. I currently oversee the HR, Learning & Development, Health & Safety and Communications teams. Prior to joining Cartrefi I was Director of People for an Arts organisation based in Cardiff.
Outside work, I'm a mother of two and a grandmother to a wonderful little boy. I love travelling, baking, and spending as much time as possible with my grandson.
What attracted me to Cartrefi was the chance to be part of a cooperative where colleagues, the people we support and community supporters have a voice in the way Cartrefi is run.
What I love about Cartrefi is seeing the difference our Support colleagues make to the lives of people with learning disabilities and autism across Wales. Cartrefi is an organisation which enables people to live their best lives.
Operations Director
I have worked for Cartrefi for the past 28 years, starting on the Peri team in Bridgend. I am so grateful I had this opportunity as it gave me a chance to meet lots of staff and service users who allowed me to develop skills in a variety of settings. From there, I moved into a supported living service also in the Bridgend area. I worked there for 3 years where I then became an assistant service manager. I was lucky to have a Manager who encouraged development and she prompted me to go for acting positions which were outside of the Bridgend area. I then became a Service Manager and from there had another temporary position as Area Manager in RCT.
I stayed in RCT for the next 17 years meeting so many people. During the last 8 years I have also worked in the Vale of Glamorgan area as well, meeting lots more wonderful service users and staff.
I hope my short story inspires others to pursue a career with Cartrefi. I started on the Peri Team and this year have started a new chapter as Assistant Director (Operations).
There have been many changes during the time I have worked in Cartrefi but I can hoestly say I have never had to go through some of the situations we have had to face this past year. Everyone has shown how dedicated they are to the people we support by adjusting their support practices and putting themselves in the front line to ensure support continued with a little disruption as possible - a huge thank you to everyone.
Director of Finance & Digital
I have always worked in Finance across all different industries including Manufacturing, Telecoms and Housing Associations but for the past 7 Years a Charity and I learnt this is where my heart lies.
The values, beliefs and the difference charities make to people’s lives gives me huge job satisfaction and makes me feel like I am contributing to making a difference.
Personally, I love to spend time with my family and friends and have fun.
I joined Cartrefi in June 2023 to help provide finance strategic leadership and manage Cartrefi’s finances to ensure a continuous and sustainable service is delivered to the people we support.
I am excited about the opportunities and the difference Cartrefi Cymru brings to people’s lives and enjoy being part of the journey and a fantastic team.
Assistant Director of Governance and Compliance
I began my career as an administrator for the London Probation Service, where I honed my administrative skills and developed a strong foundation in organisational management. My journey led me back home to Wales, where I began work for Social Services in Powys, working within the Child Protection team. This role allowed me to develop a deep understanding of the complexities and importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals.
After taking a career break to focus on raising my two young children, I returned to the workforce in 2015, joining Cartrefi as Administrator to the CEO and Regional Director for Mid Wales. I have since progressed through various administration and governance focused roles and have been fortunate enough to work under the guidance of some great leaders who have been incredible mentors and have supported my professional growth.
In 2023 I began leading the newly formed Quality and Governance team, and further developed my knowledge and skills around governance and compliance. I am incredibly proud of the achievements of this team and the positive impact that our work has on the continuous improvement of systems, processes and quality of service for the people we support.
As Assistant Director of Governance and Compliance, I am committed to ensuring that Cartrefi adheres to the highest standards of quality and regulatory compliance while promoting our co-operative values, and helping to empower those we support to live the lives they choose.
Assistant Director (People)
I started my professional career in HR shortly after leaving university and have stayed within the profession ever since gaining a wide range of HR experience across all sectors.
My career started as a HR Administrator and progressed through to HR Advisor and Business Partner roles before taking on leadership positions as People Development Manager and Head of People.
I’ve actively moved roles between a range of sectors in order to strengthen not only my HR skills and experience but to gain an understanding of how different organisation operate. I’ve worked in the utilities industry, retail, the hospitality sector, social care and housing.
Prior to joining Cartrefi in October 2024 I was in a Head of People role within a similar sized organisation and sector and I’m looking forward to transferring this experience to my role as Assistant Director of People at Cartrefi Cymru.
.jpg?width=1500&height=2000&name=Nic%20(1).jpg)
Assistant Director Mid
In 2004 I decided I needed a change in career, and had aspirations to give something back to the community - which is when I applied to be a support worker at Cartrefi Cymru.
Since then, I have developed my knowledge and understanding having had multiple roles within the company; all of which have allowed me to progress to Assistant Director. I have always tried to do what's best for people and to do what matters to them which I will continue to do as an Assistant Director.
I acknowledge the advantages of working for a Co-operative, and I will use my skills and experience to improve communities across Wales.
Outside of work I am a member of Brecon Lions, helping local causes and supporting international charities, working towards making the world a better place. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with family and friends, and spoiling my grandson.
.jpg?width=1500&height=2000&name=Mary%20HS%20(1).jpg)
Assistant Director of South West
In 2008 I started my career at 18 years of age. My original ambition was to become a nurse and after spending one of my placements working alongside Adults with additional needs, I knew this was an avenue I wanted to explore further. I applied for a Support workers role for Cartrefi Cymru.
As a support worker based in supported living services and across sessional support in the Bridgend area this is where I found my passion for providing adults with opportunities to live valued lives in the community.
I have been fortunate enough to have managers who supported and encouraged me to develop and grow my career within Cartrefi. Working alongside some amazingly dedicated support teams and the people we support. The experience that I have gained helped me to develop into the role of Assistant service Manager and Service Manager.
After a few years, a new and exciting opportunity to grown in a new local authority area and with this an opportunity to Manage the Swansea Area.
I absolutely loved seeing how the area has grown and developed over the past years. The Area Manger role has challenged me and helped me understand new ways to support the local community, people we support and families. Being part of setting up the Cartrefi Social Bean Hub, watching our support teams, people we support, cooperative members and community get behind this vibrant and diverse asset. With so much opportunity to grow further has been the one of many highlights of my time with Catrefi.
I look forward to this new chapter as Assistant Director and getting to know the people we support from other areas of Wales.
Outside of work I love noting more than spending time with my family and friends, eating but not so much the cooking, walking my dogs and going to music events.
.jpg?width=1500&height=2000&name=AL%20HS%20(1).jpg)
Assistant Director North
I began my journey in the social care sector as a Support Worker supporting adults with learning difficulties and mental health conditions at the age of 18 years old, after qualifying as a beautician...which I found monotonous! I instantly knew that this was the career for me as I found the job extremely rewarding, joyful and fascinating.
Over the last 16 years, I have been fortunate enough to have worked in various settings and roles which has enabled me to gain a vast amount of experience and knowledge, I have also had the opportunity to work with some inspirational people.
I had two children at a young age but continued to work full time and complete various Health and Social Care Qualifications, including Management Qualifications. Most recently, I obtained a Degree in Childhood Welfare and Education as the degree included many modules about Additional Learning Needs, which has equipped me with the knowledge to ensure my son, who has a diagnosis of Autism, receives the best possible education and start in life.
In 2022 I joined Cartrefi Cymru as an Area Manager, recently achieving a promotion to Assistant Director. Having always worked in the private sector I was blown away by Cartefi Cymru's investment and dedication to the people we support and their staff teams.
My passion and dedication to improving services for individuals with disabilities and the staff teams who support them is unwavering and I urge anyone to join the sector as you will not regret it!
