New Leadership at Voluntary Norfolk

New Board takes helm of one of county’s biggest charities: Voluntary Norfolk welcomes new Chair and Finance Lead as charity enters an exciting new chapter

Voluntary Norfolk has welcomed two new trustees to its Board as the charity embarks on an exciting new chapter, reviewing how it can best meet the needs of individuals and communities across Norfolk and beyond.

The announcement coincides with the end of Trustees’ Week (3rd–7th November) – a national celebration recognising the vital contribution of trustees who give their time, expertise, and leadership to help charities thrive.

New Chair of Voluntary Norfolk

Tessa Haskey has been appointed as the new Chair of Trustees, succeeding David Walker, who had served as interim Chair following John Archibald’s decision to step down earlier this year after more than a decade of dedicated service to the organisation.

Tessa, a solicitor at Howes Percival and Chair of the Norwich Business Improvement District, brings extensive experience in leadership, governance, and partnership working. She is deeply passionate about Norwich and about helping organisations and individuals to work effectively, collaboratively, and with purpose.

Tessa said:

“I feel very honoured to have been appointed Chair of Voluntary Norfolk. VN is going through a period of substantial change; and it’s an absolute privilege to support Michael and the team through that revolution, and beyond. I have been really impressed by the calibre of the staff; their commitment to the organisation and the quality of the services which they provide. We are on a journey, and it’s going to be an interesting one.”

New finance lead

Joining Tessa on the Board is Mark Trenavin-Body, who will Chair Voluntary Norfolk’s Finance and Audit Committee. Mark is an international finance and governance professional with over 35 years’ experience across the financial services, shared services, and charity sectors. He has worked in a range of countries for organisations including HSBC, Standard Chartered, Aviva, and KPMG, as well as several health and social care charities.

Deeply committed to community empowerment and social equity, Mark is passionate about the vital role that volunteering and the voluntary sector play in improving wellbeing and building stronger, more inclusive communities. Having longstanding personal and professional ties to Norfolk, he is especially proud to support Voluntary Norfolk’s mission to connect people, tackle disadvantage, and strengthen local capacity through volunteering and community action across the region.

These new appointments come at a pivotal moment for Voluntary Norfolk. The charity is currently conducting wide-ranging research with partners, service users, and local communities to understand what people most value from organisations like Voluntary Norfolk and how it can best respond to emerging needs in a changing world.

Michael Kitching, Chief Executive of Voluntary Norfolk, said:

“We’re thrilled to welcome Tessa and Mark to our Board. Their skills, experience, and enthusiasm will be invaluable as we look to the future and define how Voluntary Norfolk can have the greatest possible impact. This is a time of renewal for the charity, and their leadership will help steer us through it. We all want a Norfolk where all people and communities have ready access to the support they need and deserve. I look forward to working with them to achieve this.”