AVM Conference 2026 – Speakers

Martha is CEO of JMB and curator of Uncharitable Political Education. They support the charity sector to move beyond performative diversity gestures and grapple with the legacy of racism, imperialism and colonialism that is the heart of the sector. Martha works with organisations to understand racism, reflect on their relationship to white supremacy and work towards an anti-racist vision for a liberated future. Martha is also on the advisory board of Kids of Colour and is a Trustee of Civic Power Fund. 

Tobi Johnson is an internationally sought-after expert, consultant, and expert trainer in volunteer engagement and leadership. She is known for her modern, highly practical evidence-based strategies, and innovative, ‘big hat’ thinking around engaging, supporting, and acknowledging the work of volunteers and organizational leaders.

She is the President of Tobi Johnson & Associates, a consulting firm whose mission is to help nonprofits make connections with remarkable volunteers. In 2015, she founded VolunteerPro, an online training and networking community for leaders of volunteers. She is host of the Volunteer Nation Podcast and is currently at work on a book for volunteers who lead.

Asma Iqbal – NCVS

As a volunteer engagement specialist, Asma has over 20 years of hands-on experience across the charitable, education, sports, and community sectors. Her unique perspective is shaped by having served as a volunteer, a leader of volunteer teams, and an advisor to organisations that rely on volunteer support. 

Asma has partnered with charity leaders to design practical strategies that address critical volunteer issues, specifically recruitment and long-term retention. She is also passionate about and has experience in life coaching, training & development, and naturopathic nutrition which allows her to take a holistic view, supporting both the well-being of volunteers and the operational strength of the organisations they serve.

Deborah Bent – CEO, Limbless Association

Deborah has worked at the Limbless Association for 10 years and has 20 years experience in the voluntary and community sector in leadership and strategic development roles. Deborah has led on key developments at the Limbless Association that have realised organisational growth and transformation, including the major developments of its flagship Volunteer Visitor peer support programme. There has been a particular focus on the Limbless Association’s service model and driving quality standards whilst ensuring lived experience continues to be at the heart of its work and aims. In May 2025, the Limbless Association achieved the Investing in Volunteers standard.

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Alex Hatherly – Senior Project Officer, NHS Charities Together

Alex Hatherly is the Senior Project Officer at NHS Charities Together, working on the Volunteering for Health programme, namely managing the learning and support offer to the 15 funded partnerships, including organisation of learning days, communities of practice, and wider learning opportunities for partnerships to connect and work together as they work on their programme mission and opportunities.

Sam Caldwell – Volunteering for Health Project Manager, NHS Charities Together

Sam Caldwell (he/him) is the Volunteering for Health Project Manager, working alongside other colleagues during this programme at NHS Charities Together, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Trust Charity (CW+), and NHS England to drive the learning and progress of the programme’s 15 funded partnerships, nationally. An expert in relationship and stakeholder management, he brings years of experience to the programme, resulting in cross-organisational outcomes benefitting volunteering infrastructure nationally.

Danielle Cafearo – Volunteering Manager, Open University Students’ Union

Danielle is a Volunteering Manager at Open University Students’ Union with over 6 years’ experience in volunteering, representation, and student engagement within higher education. Her work focuses on developing and leading volunteer programmes that strengthen student voice, inclusion, and participation, underpinned by a strong focus on capability building and service improvement.

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Ann Denton – Head of Volunteering, Waythrough

Ann Denton is the Head of Volunteering at Waythrough and has spent 24 years in the charity sector championing the power of people. For the past 15 years, she has led Waythrough’s volunteering work, shaping programmes that are safe, inclusive, and transformative. She has maintained Waythrough’s Investing in Volunteers accreditation since 2015, embedding a culture of consistency and excellence. Ann is passionate about co‑production and designing services shaped by people’s voices. Her work is driven by a belief that when volunteers are supported to grow, their own networks, organisations and communities grow with them. Ann is a volunteer herself at Pigs in the Wood and Investing in Volunteers.

Abbie Taylor – Volunteering Delivery Manager, Waythrough

Abbie Taylor is the Volunteering Delivery Manager at Waythrough. Abbie began working in the charity sector six years ago, with dedicated work to supporting volunteers over the past two years. She is passionate about volunteering, with a focus on volunteer experiences, impact and journey. Abbie is a strong advocate for volunteers and the value they bring within organisations, wanting to ensure their voice is heard so that change can be made. Having been a volunteer herself for multiple organisations, Abbie believes that volunteers are vital within the charity sector and more organisations need to enrich their volunteer offer and experience. A favourite part of her role is delivering training to volunteers, as she thoroughly enjoys hearing their stories and motivations for volunteering at Waythrough.

Chris Wade – Time for Impact

Chris Wade is a former charity CEO, People Director, and Head of Volunteering. He now runs Time for Impact, a consultancy, training provider, and podcast dedicated to volunteering innovation. Chris helps organisations reinvent and supercharge their volunteering culture, strategy, and processes to build thriving, engaged communities. He also develops digital tools for measuring the life-changing impact of volunteering, alongside running cross-sector surveys to benchmark the volunteer experience.

Olivia Rawnsley – Papyrus

Olivia Rawnsley is an experienced volunteering leader currently working for Papyrus, where she engages volunteers in vital suicide prevention work. She brings a wealth of hands-on volunteer management expertise, drawing on her successful background with Doorstep Library and IntoUniversity.

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Fiona Harvey – Head of Volunteering, Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS)

Fiona Harvey is Head of Volunteering at Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), where she has led the organisation’s volunteering strategy since January 2021. With more than 15 years’ experience in volunteer leadership, fundraising and community engagement, Fiona has worked extensively across national and regional charities, with a strong focus on innovation, supporter experience and impact.

Shirlie Geddes – Volunteering Development Manager, Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS)

Shirlie joined CHAS in August 2022 as Volunteering Development Manager, supporting Income Generation and Engagement teams and highly skilled volunteers in areas such as HR and IT. Shirlie was also Fundraising Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support for 10 years, where she developed a strong passion for volunteer development, moving into specialist fundraising roles where she helped launch micro‑volunteering initiatives and champion rural volunteers, upskilling them as ambassadors and advocates. 

Stephen Moreton – Attend

Stephen Moreton BEd(Hons), PCC, Chartered FCIPD, MIWFM, MCIOF, has a background in organisational development, workforce strategy, and governance improvement within third sector environments. He has also been a charity shop manager, been responsible for developing volunteering programmes supporting several care homes, and is a trustee of several local charities and community groups. 

David Wood – CEO, Attend

David Wood OBE, BA, AKC, PCC, Chartered FCIPD, MIWFM, MCIOF, has extensive experience in organisational leadership and the development of local and national volunteering programmes across the charity sector. For the last 25 years, he has been the CEO of Attend, supporting grass roots volunteering organisations. David is also personally committed to many local charities, in various chair, treasurer and trustee roles. 

Andreia Bianchi – Service Designer, The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields

Andreia is a Service Designer with experience in bringing innovation to not-for-profit and volunteer-based organisations. In the past 10 years she has worked and volunteered in youth and humanitarian organisations in 5 different countries, where she managed volunteers and designed resources to improve the volunteer experience. Originally a Geography Teacher and a Scout from age 14 onwards, she found herself learning about Service Design through her curiosity and desire for finding new ways of working and to truly have volunteers at the heart of what she does.

Laurentiu Constantinescu – Young volunteer, British Red Cross
Emma Dakin – Youth Engagement Officer, Butterfly Conservation
Joe Skaptason – Young volunteer, National Trust
Dina Tjelmeland Adeler – Masters degree in Voluntary Sector Management, Young volunteer, Norwegian Red Cross & British Red Cross
Theodore Lazar – Young volunteer, English Heritage and local museum

Chris Martin – Co-founder, Team Kinetic
Dr Jess Scott – Head of Volunteering, Bowel Cancer UK
Paul King – CEO, Enjoy Development
Naomi Vincent – Volunteer Experience Coordinator, National Trust
Chayli Fehler – Founder and CEO Project ImpACT