MEET THE STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP TEAM

DOM WOOD DL : CEO

Dom has been working in the field of homelessness since 1989 and will mark 25 years of improving youth homelessness services with 1625 Independent People in November 2021. Dom led Priority Youth Housing’s services as Housing Manager between 1996 and 2003 and led on many youth housing initiatives with the city council over this period. In 2003 Dom was appointed as Director of Priority Youth Housing and amongst other achievements established a flagship hostel for young homeless people at St George’s House in Bristol. In 2009 Dom led the merger of Priority Youth Housing and Wayahead Housing and Support for Young People, forming 1625 Independent People.

Dom is strongly involved at a strategic and regional level in housing, supported housing and children’s services; he represents the voluntary sector on Bristol’s One City Children & Young Person’s Board, the Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership and the Golden Key Partnership Board.  Nationally he is part of the Youth Homelessness Policy Group for Homeless Link and the CEO Group of End Youth Homelessness.

For his work in youth homelessness and for Bristol, Dom was awarded an Honorary Dr of Laws by Bristol University in 2018 and in July 2020 he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the County and City of Bristol.

JAMIE GILL : PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR

Jamie has 27 years of experience delivering, developing and managing services for care leavers, young people who offend and young homeless people. He led Priority Youth Housing in South Gloucestershire between 2000 and 2009, before being appointed as Service Improvement Director and then Partnership Director for 1625 Independent People.

Jamie’s current role includes developing new services, approaches and partnerships in response to young people’s strengths and needs, working in partnership with other organisations in the public, voluntary, education and business sectors. He has initiated a range of innovative services and approaches for care leavers and young people who offend, including the award-winning Future 4 Me project and more recently Reboot West.

Jamie contributes to a range of groups in the region, including Chairing South Gloucestershire’s Youth Housing Partnership and as a Trustee of CVS South Gloucestershire. Previously Jamie was a Board Member of Merlin Housing Society.

DAWN TAYLOR : OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Dawn has worked in the voluntary sector in both New Zealand and England since 1990 at a local, regional and national level across a range of agencies and sectors. This has been mainly in the field of Violence Against Women and Girls but has also included mental health, community access radio and working with adults with learning difficulties amongst others.
Her work has included paid and voluntary roles including front-line work, management and governance.

In addition to Dawn’s role as Operations Director for 1625 Independent People, other current voluntary work includes mediation and governance roles for two other Bristol charities.

Dawn has a BSc Social Sciences and a Post Grad Diploma in Not-For-Profit Management and has lived in Bristol since 2005.

JO LEA-JONES : CENTRAL SERVICES DIRECTOR

Jo Lea-Jones, Central  Services Director, has more than 30 years’ experience in the commercial and private business sector. Her roles have included all aspects of financial control, procurement, business analysis and business  management. She has worked for several global corporations including The Shaw Group (Pennsylvania – US), The Misonix Group (New York – US), PuriCore (Pennysylvania – US) and Atlas Professionals (Hoofddorp – The Netherlands)

Jo enjoys the challenge of providing efficient and effective systems and processes to ensure business productivity and sustainability. As Central  Services Director, she is responsible for all the charity’s accounting systems, payroll, Data Protection, administration,  Facility Management, Health and Safety.

 

Jo lived in the US for 3 years where she studied Public Relations at the University of Washington. This has provided her with an appreciation of the importance and value of the charity’s media relations and public profile.

She is a former Chairman of Clevedon Pride CIC, who were awarded the Queen’s Award for volunteering in 2013.

MEET THE BOARD

NICK HOOPER : CHAIR OF THE BOARD

One of Nick’s abiding passions is to end homelessness amongst young people and make sure everyone has a good place to call home.

Nick spent most of his career in local government and has worked in the voluntary and private sectors. In the nearly 30 years spent with Bristol City Council (the last 12 as Director of Housing Solutions) he developed expertise in development, homelessness, private housing renewal, commissioning, strategy & policy work and organisational change.

He has extensive experience of working across organisations and delivering with partners, as well as system change and leadership. He is involved, as a trustee or non-executive director, in a number of other not-for-profit organisations concerned with mental health, street homelessness, community-led housing and older people.

MELANIE ANSON

Melanie is a HR and Organisational Development Consultant with many years of experience working within the social housing sector. Latterly she was responsible for the corporate function at the ALMO, Homes in Sedgemoor.

A member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and an MBTI practitioner, she works with a variety of organisations to support them to be the best they can be through developing their people.

ROB BARTLETT

Rob is an experienced Marketing, Management and Communications Consultant. Having spent the majority of his career as a consultant advising clients across the property and real estate sectors, he now works for YTL Developments as they begin to transform the former Filton Airfield into a thriving new neighbourhood for Bristol, known as Brabazon.

Having studied his undergraduate degree at Cambridge University, Rob began his career as a journalist before then spending almost 10 years at some of the best-known marketing communications and advisory firms in London. He also worked as an independent consultant for two years while completing his MBA at Cranfield University.

ROSE BEAN

Rose is the Director of Asset Management and Regeneration for Radian Housing Group a leading social housing provider in the South and South West of England, for the past 14 years Rose’s career has spanned the social housing sector and reflects a passion and commitment to the need to ensure there is access to affordable homes for everybody.

Rose’s current role focuses on the balance between the need to address the housing supply shortage whilst ensuring that there is the continued provision of high quality, safe and affordable homes. Rose joined the 1625 IP Board in December 2018

CLAIRE BURSTON

Claire currently works in local government finance. After graduating from Manchester university Claire trained as a chartered accountant with PriceaterhouseCoopers. She has worked at a senior level in both the social housing sector and local government. She now works at a lower level to combine work with looking after her family.

SARAH GALLACHER

Sarah has significant experience as an agile project and programme manager. Specialising in innovation, digital products and service delivery platforms with a focus on organisational improvement and transformation. 

Having spent most of her career working in the third sector supporting vulnerable members of society within the debt and benefits advice sector. Sarah currently works within digital strategy and service delivery for Citizens Advice in a programme that supports people in applying for Universal Credit across England and Wales. She is extremely passionate about equity, diversity and inclusion in and outside the workplace.

ELLEN GRACE

Ellen is passionate about supporting young people achieve their goals and reach their potential. She currently works as an Employability Consultant at the University of Bristol, where she has developed specialist skills and knowledge in designing and delivering training, career development advice and coaching, and the local labour market. She has previously worked for Jobcentre Plus, managing the delivery of programmes to support some of the most vulnerable members of the community into work.

She also has experience of policy development and project management in central government. Ellen believes that education, training and stable employment are key to young people building independent and fulfilling lives, and is passionate about ensuring they have the opportunities they deserve. Outside of work Ellen is a keen reader and enjoys going to the theatre. She likes to keep active by swimming and going for long walks, and is an active member of her local church.

DANYAAL HAMDANI : TREASURER AND CO-OPTEE

Having graduated with a masters in civil engineering from the University of Bristol Danyaal transitioned to accounting, and qualified as a chartered accountant in 2016. Currently working as an auditor at a Big 4 firm, he has worked with a range of organisations gaining exposure to a variety of different regulated sectors. 

With an international background, originally from Pakistan and having grown up in the Middle East, Danyaal fell in love with Bristol when he moved to the city in 2009. Passionate about supporting others to reach their potential, Danyaal is excited to utilise his skills and experience to provide the young people of Bristol the tools and support network needed to achieve their goals.

ELLEN JONES

Ellen is an environmental professional with a particular focus on waste and waste related issues. Having worked in the environment sector for over 10 years, she is passionate about sustainability and promoting a circular economy.

Ellen is Head of Reporting & Strategy at Bristol Waste Company. She works to ensure the company achieves its strategic business objectives and is also heavily involved in the organisation’s data protection compliance programme, risk management, social value impact and reuse initiatives.

She is passionate about supporting mental health, well-being and equality in and out of the workplace.

JANE KEENAN

Jane is a fundraising professional, and has worked for charities supporting young people and in the higher education sector for the past 17 years. Her experience is in developing philanthropic partnerships with individuals, charitable trusts and companies to further the work of the organisation she represents. Jane joined the Board of 1625 Independent People in 2015 to support the development of a new fundraising strategy.

When not working, Jane spends much of her time with her young family and keeping active by getting out on her bike and playing netball.

CHARMAGNE RAYMAN-BACCHUS-THOMPSON : CO-OPTEE

Charmagne is the Head of Operations and Production at Bristol-based digital marketing agency, PracticeWeb. She has extensive experience as a senior operations leader, has run digital transformation programmes and is obsessive about continuous improvement. Charmagne has worked internationally, mainly in the private sector, and has spent time as a pro bono management consultant for charities, including Amnesty International. A large part of Charmagne’s career has been invested in using technology to improve educational outcomes for children and young people. Charmagne is passionate about how technology can help individuals and organisations achieve their goals. She uses agile approaches to transform the way that teams work, and promotes technology as a platform to optimise their effectiveness.

She loves Bristol and is pleased to be playing a part in creating a society where a share of this wonderful city is accessible to all. When not tinkering with spreadsheets or exploring new technologies, Charmagne can be seen whizzing around Bristol on her bright red Pashley bicycle.

DAVE ROWE

Dave has held senior leadership or director positions in the construction sector and businesses for over 25 years, and prior to this worked in retail management.

He has been a school governor twice, both as a parent and as a member of local industry, and in the latter role he also acted as a mentor to a young person.

Dave is keen to use his considerable experience and contacts to help young people have a better future.
In his spare time, Dave enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, and watching sport.

CRAIG WILSON

Craig is currently MD of OC Robotics – a high tech Bristol based engineering company.

Previously Craig was CEO of Bristol Care & Repair leading the transition of this significant regional charity into West of England Care & Repair. Significant growth was delivered by winning local authority and commercial contracts. In 2012 the entire service was retendered which, after over a year of work, the team won. Craig is currently the Chair of the Foundations Advisory Board, the national body for Care & Repairs, and also a trustee of WE Care & Repair.

After graduating with a degree in chemistry Craig trained with Ernst and Young, qualifying as a chartered accountant in 1992. Craig worked in the Corporate Advisory team providing business process advice and transaction work.

He has commercial experience in retail, distribution and manufacturing. Roles include, Financial Controller, group Financial Director and for eight years Managing Director.