The Trustees of Fields in Trust are
delighted to announce that Jo Barnett, the Executive Director of Virgin Money
Giving, will take over as Chair of Trustees from November 26th.
Jo developed,
launched and lead Virgin Money Giving and has more than ten years' experience
in running the UK's biggest not-for-profit fundraising platform. Jo also headed
up Virgin Money’s sponsorship of the Virgin Money London Marathon.
With
a professional background in advertising and media, Jo has previously operated
her own marketing consultancy. Her extensive trustee board experience includes
roles with Heads
Together,
an initiative of the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and
Prince Harry to tackle the stigma around mental health; the Business Emergency
Response Group of the Prince’s Trust; the advisory board for mental health
charity Mind, and as a judge for the Black British Business Awards.
As
the charity sector shifts, Jo’s role at Virgin Money Giving and sector
governance experience places her in a unique position to understand how changes
in charitable giving are impacting on organisations.
Speaking
of her new role Jo Barnett said: “Parks and green spaces are vital to community
health and wellbeing and form part of the solution to public health challenges,
including inactivity, obesity, mental wellbeing and loneliness.
"My own experience and working with the London Marathon has
reinforced to me the need to provide people with green space and room to
exercise wherever we live. I am looking forward to building on the long
history of Fields in Trust to ensure that future generations continue to enjoy
green spaces for good”.
Jo
Barnett will be taking over as Chair of Trustees from Tim Phillips CBE who is
stepping down after six years as Chairman of Fields in Trust. During this time,
he has led the organisation through a successful period of development,
including the completion of the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge and the
Centenary Fields First World War commemorative programme in partnership with
The Royal British Legion.
Tim
oversaw the development and implementation of a new corporate strategy and
brand review in 2018. During the period of his leadership Fields in Trust
developed a programme with the London Marathon Charitable Trust – to protect 50
parks and green spaces across the UK - the first programme to distribute London
Marathon funding outside the capital and across the UK.
Vice
President of Fields in Trust Lord Howard of Rising, said: “I convey my thanks to Tim Phillips for his
stewardship and his many achievements during his term of office. I am delighted
to welcome Jo Barnett to her role in this important charity and wish her well
as she leads the charity into its centenary”.
Trustees of Fields in Trust confirmed that Jo Barnett
would take over as Chair of the Trustee Board with immediate effect.
