Trustee Board and Senior Management

Sally Jones MBE

Chair 

A trustee since January 2017. Sally retired after a long career in Social care. she is a qualified Social Worker and has worked as a Senior Manager  in several Local Authorities. She has also worked with a number of private care providers and Voluntary Sector Organisations. She has been a Carer for her husband who suffers from Dementia. Sally is passionate about the need to support Carers to enable them to continue to do their vital job. In June 2025, Sally was recognised in the King's Birthday honors with an MBE for her commitment to Carers.  

Dr Peter Inns

Vice Chair

Peter has been a Trustee since September 2012 and is now Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees.
 He began his medical career as a student at Guys Hospital Medical School in 1974, later training as a GP at Kettering General Hospital. After qualifying, he joined a General Practice in Wellingborough in 1984, where he worked until his retirement alongside his wife, Dr Lynne Byles, who was born and raised in the town. His experience as a GP gave him insight into the challenges faced by Carers, and he has personally cared for his mother as her dementia progressed, as well as supporting his sister-in-law with early-onset dementia. Peter is also a volunteer for National Trust.

Mick Burgess

Secretary 

Micks career was previously within the disability and social care sector where he worked for a number of Organisations in various positions, for 36 years. In 2021, Mick made the decision to leave his role as a Director of Operations and Business Development to become the full time Carer of his Mum. Mick says, “being my Mums Carer is an honour and a privilege”. Mick became a Trustee for Northamptonshire Carers in January 2024 and then in July 2024, became the Company Secretary. Mick supports North Northamptonshire Council as an Expert By Experience and also provides support to a small London based Disability Organisation as an Associate Director. Mick says he is “proud to be his Mums Carer and proud to be a Trustee for Northamptonshire Carers” and “extremely humbled to play a small part in the amazing work that Northamptonshire Carers does”.

Gerrard Odonnell

Treasurer 

Gerry is s a qualified accountant and has held numerous Directorships in various Multinational corporations both in the UK and oversees. Having retired he now advises various SME's in all aspects of Business Planning, mergers and acquisitions. Gerry was appointed to our Board in 2025 and works closely with the Board and senior management on all financial matters. Gerry lives in Northampton and has a grown-up family.

Rashmi Shah

Trustee

Rashmi’s career was previously within the Family Business in Kenya, prior to coming to UK in 1988. I came as a disabled visually impaired person as a British National, and since coming to UK, lost remaining of the vision I had within two weeks of my arrival. I became a guide dog owner in 1996 and currently with my fourth guide dog Ben. I became a carer from 2010 to 2020, of my mother, who suffered from Vascular Dementia, and sadly passed away in 2020. I was a proud carer of my mother. Rashmi became a Trustee for Northamptonshire Carers in May 2021. Rashmi is a Board member of Support Northamptonshire (Black and Asian Organisation), Kettering General Hospital Governor, and expert by experience, a member of Patient Advisory Group. Rashmi says he as a Black and Asian member of the community, is “passionate to champion Disability, equality and diversity as a Trustee for Northamptonshire Carers” and “pleased to play a part in helping to build partnership with the minority organisation, to reach out in delivering the amazing services that Northamptonshire Carers provides.”

Janice Hilton

Trustee

Janice joined the Trustee Board in January 2021.  She has been a Nursery Nurse, Maternity Nurse Social Worker and Assessment Officer for the Joseph Rowntree Trust.  For the past 33 years she has run her own catering business and for the past 50 years has been an active member in what was the Northampton Amateurs now the Northampton Musical Theatre Company, and for the last 20 years been Chairperson.  She was a Carer for her late mother in the last stages of her life.  Janice is confident that with her business and childcare/nursing background, she can actively help and promote our Charity. 

Graham Brogden

Trustee

Graham has worked in the charity sector in senior fundraising management roles for 32 years, having been motivated to move from 11 years in retail banking whilst volunteering for a local charity. Graham paused his career for a few years to become full time carer for his now late Mother who had dementia and cancer and found support from Northamptonshire Carers during this time. Graham says “I’ll never regret being carer for Mum and being able to spend time with her during her final years. The experience gave me a real insight of the many and varied challenges the millions of unpaid carers across the Country face day in day out and over many more years than we did. It’s a privilege to be a Trustee with Northamptonshire Carers and play a small part in helping others whilst they care for their loved ones”.

Christine Saxon

Trustee

Dr Diana Rose

Trustee

Diana previously practised as a solicitor specializing in family law. She helped clients deal with various difficulties which often required a practical solution as much as legal advice. Following retirement, Diana joined Northamptonshire Carers as a Trustee in September 2025. 

Mark Major 

Chief Executive Officer

Mark  is the CEO of Northamptonshire Carers and was a Young Carer and is now a current Carer and has worked for 35 years in Social Care and Health, of which 30 years have been with Northamptonshire Carers. Mark also does wider work within the Health and Care system, as part of Integrated Care Northamptonshire, chairing a number of boards and workstreams and working on several partnership projects including a systems Transformation programme around older people called Ageing Well which includes work on Dementia and the Dementia strategy.

Mark has also recently joined the board of trustees for Carers Trust Nationally and is also a partner governor for NHFT and a board member for the voluntary sector assembly in Northamptonshire and Chairs the People Advisory Group for Ageing Well.

Jemma Cafe

Chief Operating Officer

Jemma has been dedicated to Northamptonshire Carers for 10 years. As a Carer herself, Jemma is deeply passionate about ensuring Carers are heard, valued, and represented. Her leadership has been pivotal in driving meaningful contractual changes within the organisation. Jemma began her career in regulated care where she first recognised the vital role Carers play and the importance of providing them with the support they deserve. Today, her main goal is to unite Northamptonshire Carers within wider systems and demonstrate the powerful impact the voluntary sector can have in bringing partners together. 

Helen Marks

Finance Manager

Helen has worked at Northamptonshire Carers for 4 years.  Her background is in School Business Management.  She works with the Treasurer and CEO to set and monitor the budget and cash flow alongside managing the daily finance operations of the charity.  She is dedicated to ensuring we receive value for money to enable us to help as many Carers as possible.

Catherine James-Oliver

Service Manager – Long Term Health Conditions Community

Catherine brings extensive experience across mental health, learning disability, and physical disability services, working with children and adults in residential, hospital, and community settings. She has led on inclusive practice and championed meaningful employment for people who have a learning disability, and she has developed community-based support that builds confidence, independence, and connection. She is deeply committed to empowering people with long-term health conditions to live well at home, to thrive in the workplace, and to be active citizens shaping their local communities.

 

Lauren Mackin

Service Manager - Primary Care & Neighbourhoods

Lauren joined Northamptonshire Carers in 2023 as a Social Prescriber, where she gained valuable insight into the holistic management of long-term health conditions and the challenges faced by those living with them. She soon advanced to Project Management, forging strong network partnerships and driving the development of accessible, sustainable support within the community.

Having personally cared for family members, and initially unaware of the support available to unpaid carers, she is passionate about combining her knowledge in managing long-term health conditions with her lived experience to deliver unified, inclusive support across the county.

 

Lucinda Buckley

 Service Manager - 

Adult Carers

Lucinda joined Northamptonshire Carers in 2021, starting in the Young Carers team and now supporting Adult Carers. With lived experience as both a young and adult carer, she brings a deep understanding of the challenges carers face. As part of the Senior Management Team, her focus is on creating a strong, future-ready service where carers feel supported, valued, and empowered.

Annie Freestone

Service Manager -Young Carer 

Annie began working for the Young Carers Service from it’s initial inception, almost 30 years ago, when it was one of the very first in the country. After leaving the area and pursuing a career in teaching, Annie returned to the Young Carers Service in 2016 as a Young Adult Carer Worker, becoming the Service Manager in 2023. With such a long-standing connection to the service, Annie has seen huge changes in the recognition and support of young carers and is committed to seeing that continue in the county and beyond and to give young carers the voice they deserve.  Like many of the staff at Northamptonshire Carers, Annie has lived experience as a carer and is dedicated to the continued support of carers.

Hollie Wilson

Service Manager - Regulated Care

Hollie joined Northamptonshire Carers in 2023 as a Carer Support Navigator before moving into the Regulated Care team. Having worked in various roles within the care sector for over 15 years, she is passionate about providing quality person centred care, promoting dignity and independence. As a Parent Carer herself and having cared for her dad throughout his illness and end of life, she truly understands the value of meaningful Carer and Former Carer support. Combining lived experience as a Carer and extensive career knowledge of delivering care in the community; Hollie is committed to leading a dedicated team of professional care workers, developing a service that supports both the Carer and their Cared For person equally.

 

Louise Peerless

Operations Manager

Louise had been with Northamptonshire Carers for five years. She started working in the Administration team and has grown into the role of Operations Manager. She is passionate about making sure things run smoothly, supporting the people around her, and continually improving how we work as a team.