What is a Trustee Board?
Our Board of Trustees are the governing body for NYAS.
This means that they help to steer and guide our charity whilst also holding senior management to account. They ensure that NYAS continues to grow and progress in our mission to empower young people and adults in vulnerable situations.
A place on the trustee board is a voluntary role, and the board is made up of various different professionals across different industries. This ensures that NYAS has a breadth of advice from different sectors, from finance and youth work to management and law.
Sir Mark Hedley
Chair of the NYAS Board
Sir Mark Hedley has been part of the NYAS board since December 2020, and has previously practiced as a barrister for many years in Liverpool.
He was appointed as a full-time Circuit Judge in 1992 and from 1997 to 2002 was responsible for judicial training in family law. As a High Court Judge, 2002- 2013, he presided over many cases which attracted media reporting and comment. He also had management responsibility for other judges across Wales and Greater London. Sir Mark has now officially retired.
“I am thrilled to join NYAS as the chair of its board of trustees, having previously supported the charity. NYAS is highly regarded as a leading children’s rights-based charity.”
Annesley Wright
Honorary Treasurer of the Board
Annesley is the retired managing director of a large international company who has experience in finance, accountancy, governance and compliance.
In recent years he has been heavily involved in the Charity and Not for Profit sectors volunteering as a Trustee/Non-Executive Director. The majority of his roles centre on the support of disadvantaged youth in Wales and England. He brings all of his skills and experience to his advisory role as a Trustee and Non-Executive Director at NYAS.
“I am passionate about developing opportunities for disadvantaged young people and believe NYAS is uniquely positioned to achieve this for those who have no-one to fight their corner.”
Judith Timms OBE
NYAS Founder
Judith is the founder and first Chief Executive Officer of NYAS. She is also Vice President of the Family Mediators Association and policy consultant to NAGALRO – the Professional Association for Children’s Guardians, Family Court Advisers and Independent Social Workers.
She is a trained family mediator and a former Chair of the British Association of Social Workers. She has also served as a Non-Executive Director on both regional and area Health Authorities.
"For the many thousands of vulnerable children who may be disadvantaged, alone, exploited, abused, neglected, or discriminated against, effective independent advocacy may be the only chance of making their voice heard."
Martha Cover
Trustee
Martha Cover is a specialist child law barrister and has specialised in care proceedings and adoption for many years. She frequently represents children and young people who are the subject of care proceedings.
Martha was co-chair of the Association of Lawyers for Children between 2015 and 2017, and is now an honorary lifetime vice- president of the ALC.
She has given evidence to Parliament on the voice of children in court proceedings and changes in the adoption law. In 2018 she was named legal aid barrister of the year. From 2007 until 2020, she was head or joint head of Coram Chambers.
Terry Galloway
Trustee
Co-founder of the national comparison website Care Leaver Offer, Terry Galloway actively campaigns for better transitions for young people leaving the care system, working with local authorities to help develop their local offers.
He worked to demonstrate the value of care leavers to the business world. He believes that the relationships care leavers build in the workplace can help them become more connected and therefore less vulnerable.
Terry’s ambition to improve the system for other care leavers stems from his own experience. He had a tough time growing up, living in over 100 places, and then leaving care without the support he and his family needed. He made a pact with his sister Hazel that they would change the care system so that others would not suffer.
“I’ve got an engine on fire inside that drives me to create systemic change. I’ve suffered and so have my family. It’s time for change. The care experience is intergenerational, the cycle repeats."
Martyn Best
Trustee
Martyn is the managing director of Document Direct, a digital dictation transcription and secretarial service.
He began his career as a chartered accountant and spent nine years in corporate finance with Ernst & Young which propelled him into the business world. An entrepreneur, he developed a range of diverse businesses and currently heads up the UK’s leading digital transcription agency. He is also an Associate Director of Tranmere Rovers Football Club, and a trustee of the Royal Court Theatre.
Martyn has been an active supporter of NYAS for several years, as a Trustee and as a fundraising ambassador.
"As a father, you hope that all children are supported and cared for during their formative years. Sadly this is not the case for thousands of children across the UK. NYAS provides vital support to children and young people when they are at their most desperate."
Shiva Ancliffe
Trustee
Shiva practices as a barrister at Coram Chambers, and has been at the bar for 34 years. She specialises in complex care proceedings, involving death, serious injury and sexual abuse of children. She is also a qualified children’s arbitrator, a vice-chair on a Bar Council sub-committee, and she is on the national executive committee of the Family Law Bar Association.
She supports a number of charities, including Dad’s House which supports separated fathers and IntoUniversity which promotes and supports disadvantaged young people going onto university. Until recently she was a trustee of her local women’s refuge for about 15 years. Shiva is also involved with educational work at Lincoln’s Inn helping newly qualified barristers with professional development training.
She is married with two teenage children, enjoys time with her family, listening to music and walking in the Chilterns with her dog.
Claire Rainford
Trustee
Claire has spent almost 30 years working in communications, marketing and events, including 15 years at the BBC. She led PR and publicity for BBC Children’s and BBC Learning, worked across a range of high-profile campaigns and events including the BBC’s move to MediaCity, the Eurovision Song Contest and large-scale events for CBeebies and CBBC.
She now runs her own communications company in Liverpool specialising in the media industry and providing strategic communications support to the European Broadcasting Union and its network of public service media organisations.
An experienced writer, editor and event professional, Claire has a passion for clear, purpose-driven communication that helps organisations connect with people and build trust. Claire is delighted to contribute her skills and experience to NYAS as a trustee, supporting its mission to amplify the voices of children and young people and help raise its profile.