Meet the Trustees

Tony Vardy chairs the Board of Trustees of CB Plus.

He has introduced our new monthly feature in the Newsletter, profiling each Trustee in turn. 

This month’s blog features a conversation with Alison Blair in our ongoing series, Meet the CB Plus Trustees. To read more trustee blogs, visit CB Plus News.

 Introductions

Tony Vardy (TV): Thanks for speaking to us, Alison.  Can you tell us a little about your work and family life outside CB Plus?

Alison Blair (AB): I’m a local resident, living in Finchley, and before that we were in Friern Barnet.

My career has been in the NHS, full time until 2022.  Most recently my NHS work was in North London in various leadership roles, including in Barnet.

Away from work, my interests are culture (reading, theatre, art and films), and I have been taking some Art History courses.  I’m also a Trustee of a local Citizens’ Advice practice, and I chair my GP’s Patient Participation Group.

I have three stepchildren who are no longer at home, but still take up quite a lot of our time!

Becoming A Trustee

TV: How did you become a Trustee with CB Plus?

AB: When I reduced my working commitments, I wanted to get involved in the voluntary sector in the area where I live.  I met Julie Pal [CEO of CB Plus] to get some advice and she persuaded me to consider CB Plus!

Current Role

TV: What is your current role as a Trustee?

AB: I joined as a Trustee in 2023, and I’m a member of two of the Board Committees – Operations & Finance, and the Business Development & Innovation Committee. These roles match my interests, which are particularly in strategy, governance, and the culture of the workforce.

Trustee Experience

TV: How would you describe your experience as a Trustee – any particularly memorable points?

AB: I’ve loved getting to know the organisation, both the staff and the Board members, and seeing the really valuable work we do. Also, I’ve been able to renew some old acquaintances in the area from when I worked in Barnet in the past.

Future Challenges

TV:   What do you see as the biggest challenge for CB Plus from here?

AB:  Like many charities, we face the challenge of demands going up, and the cost of living rising, while our funding is being pressed down. But I can see that CB Plus can build on its excellent reputation for getting things done, to go from strength to strength. I’m looking forward to supporting the organisation on the next stage of its journey.

TV:  Many thanks, Alison.