Mrs Julie Spence OBE QPM CStJ
President

Julie is the Foundation’s honorary President. A graduate of Liverpool University and I M Marsh College of Physical Education where Julie trained to teach PE and Biology. Julie moved to the West Country to take up a teaching post but soon discovered teaching was not for her.

In 1978, she joined Avon and Somerset Police and was posted to South Bristol. After postings to CID, community policing, the force communications centre, the Family and Child Protection Unit, the Press Office and uniform operations, Julie was seconded to the Association of Chief Police Officers secretariat in London for two years. In 1999, Julie was appointed to Assistant Chief Constable for Thames Valley Police.

Vice Presidents

Lady De Ramsey

Mark Bonney DL, Dean of Ely

Sir Charles Chadwyck-Healey DL

Our Board of Trustees is composed of:

Stephen Catling
Chair

Stephen joined CCF in February 2021 as a Trustee and became Chair in October 2021.

Stephen has spent over 30 years in the food and food ingredients industry. He is the former CEO of Associated British Foods Ingredients division, and a former Divisional President of Danisco (DuPont).

Stephen currently has his own advisory, non-executive and consulting business which has a special focus on mergers and acquisitions in nutrition and wellness. He is currently a non-executive director of BRAIN-Biotech AG in Germany, and Chair of the Trustee Board of FoodCycle, a UK national charity.

Stephen is married with two adult children, and has been a resident of Cambridge for 25 years. He is a keen cyclist and skier. He is also a true foodie – not just content to work in the industry – but loves great food and fine wine.

Alison Griffiths

Alison is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Taxation. She has worked as Director of Taxation in FTSE companies in London since 1995. A particular focus during this time has been on international expansion, project management, Board governance, and corporate simplification.

Now living in Cambridgeshire, she joined the CCF Board in December 2015 with a particular focus on Finance and Governance skills.

Her interests include walking, tennis, travel and building her new home.

Jonathan Jelley MBE JP

Jonathan enjoyed a successful career in investment banking, holding various executive positions in global financial institutions. As Vice President, he had responsibility for managing key external commercial relationships. He was asked by the US tycoon Michael Bloomberg to establish his financial Information business in the Middle East resulting in multi million pound annual revenues across seven countries.

Paul Lewis

Paul is a brand strategist and copywriter, helping businesses clarify and communicate their strategy, story and style. Previously, he held a range of senior roles at the RSPB, latterly as Director of Communications.

He ran the Cambridge franchise of The Alternative Board and currently sits on the committee of the Cambridge Business and Professionals Club. Paul’s interests include cycling, travel and jazz. He’s a passionate supporter of Liverpool FC, having grown up in that city.

Sara Garnham

Sara has lived in Cambridge for over 30 years and is an active member of her community. She worked at a senior level locally, nationally and internationally across a range of industry sectors; most recently as general manager for an exciting ed-tech start up in Cambridge.  

With many years of experience in executive and non-executive roles in the third sector, Sara brings experience of housing, education and the arts.

Stuart Thompson

Stuart is a partner at Mills & Reeve, Cambridge.  He is also a member of the Corporate and Social Responsibility committee at Mills & Reeve.  Stuart works with a number of companies and organisations within East Anglia.

Stuart previously worked as a teacher at Norwich School and he is passionate about helping young learners achieve their goals.

Jo Slota-Newson

Jo’s work involves helping early stage technology businesses find the resources they need to grow. Jo holds a MSci in Natural Sciences, and a PhD in Chemistry, both from the University of Cambridge, and has experience working in several small tech companies.

She has worked and studied in Cambridge since 2003, except for a brief spell teaching and researching at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Jo became a Trustee of CCF in early 2018. Jo has particular interests in education and mental health issues. She enjoys swimming, cycling and canoeing.

Liz Damazer

Liz grew up in Manchester and studied at London University.

After a couple of years working in research she then spent 30 years working in sales, training and management in the Pharmaceutical Industry.

Caroline Stenner

Caroline was born in Ely and, apart from the first 10 years of her life with her peripatetic Air Force parents, has grown up and was educated in Cambridgeshire.

Caroline attended Huntingdon Grammar School and then read law at University College, London. She returned to Cambridge to qualify as a solicitor with Hewitsons and has since worked with other Cambridge law firms becoming a partner at Birketts in their newly opened Cambridge office in 2008.

Caroline heads the private client team and is a board member.

Gareth Thomas

After graduating from Cardiff University with Honours Zoology Gareth commenced a lifelong career in Nature Conservation with the RSPB.

Having obtained a PhD for studies on waterfowl ecology at the Ouse Washes in Cambridgeshire he worked as a research scientist and left the position of Deputy Head of Research for a second calling in the RSPB Reserves Division where he worked as Head of Reserves until his retirement, after 40 years continuous service.

Ambassadors

Philip Woolner

Catherine Stewart

Richard Waters

Jane Swadling