Chair

Karl Tucker

Karl has worked within the food industry for the last 25 years and was the Chairman of Yeo Valley Production until June 2020. He has been involved for a number of years with charities who work to improve the lives of young people in the Southwest.  Karl was a trustee and Treasurer of Young Bristol for 10 years and a trustee of the Bridgwater Education Trust.  Karl took on the role of Chair of SBY in June 2021. He is also a trustee of Feeding Bristol as well as being a Governor of Merchants’ Academy in Withywood.

Karl is passionate about tackling the root causes of social mobility within the Southwest and the UK as a whole, to ensure that every young person, irrespective of their personal background, has the opportunity to realise their potential in life for themselves, their communities and the country as a whole.

Deputy Chair

Laura Chesham

Laura joined SBY as a trustee in June 2017, but she has been involved since 2013 when SBY became a charity. She has seen it grow during this period and is excited about the future and the ways in which it can continue to support young people to allow them to flourish. Laura is a solicitor at a local Bristol law firm and specialises in advising charities on all aspects of their governance and operations. She is passionate about charities and the highly important work that they do for society.

Treasurer

James Benson

James is a qualified accountant who for the last 15 years has worked with smaller growing organisations, in the Southwest, helping them with their strategic and financial management. Prior to that he served on the Board of PLC’s and held other senior finance roles. James joined SBY as Treasurer in September 2018.

Schools, Colleges and Universities

University of Bristol

Lucy Collins – Director of Student Opportunity

University of the West of England

Katherine Davies – Higher Education Manager

Ashton Park School

Tom Shepheard – Assistant Headteacher

City of Bristol College

Julia Gray – Principal

Bedminster Down School

Jon Van Eker – Assistant Principal

Bridge Learning Campus

Liz Hackling – Assistant Head, Personal Development and Wellbeing

Merchants' Academy

Sharon Beesley – Deputy Head

Oasis Academy Brislington

Ina Goldberg – Deputy Principal

Oasis Academy John Williams

Andrea Rea – Vice Principal

St. Bernadette Catholic Secondary School

Jackie Garrett – Deputy Head Teacher