AVM Conference 2025 – Speakers

Siân Whyte joined The Young Foundation in November 2020 and is now Interim Co-Director of Research, and Head of Strategic Design and Insight.

With 15 years’ experience in programme delivery and advocacy, Siân is passionate about enabling organisations to increase their impact. Her work is interdisciplinary by default, bridging research and innovation – and spans a range of policy topics including public services, place-making, civil society, workforce skills and business innovation.

Siân oversees a portfolio of research and design projects for national and local partners at The Young Foundation, with an emphasis on participatory research, strategic design and creative methods. She is interested in exploring institutions’ readiness for participatory approaches, particularly in relation to place and the built environment.

Siân was previously Head of Research & Insight at Design Council and Head of Impact & Evaluation at Citizens Advice. In both roles, she developed sector-leading approaches to understanding social value and demonstrating impact. This is Siân’s second time at The Young Foundation, having started her career here as a research intern working on public sector innovation programmes.

Kheron Gilpin is an engagement specialist with over 15 years of experience in boosting participation and enriching engagement in the education and community sectors. A renowned motivational speaker, he routinely delivers keynote speeches for cross sector industry professionals on international stages.

Kheron began his work in education by delivering impactful motivational assemblies and workshops for young people across the country. While still enjoying this direct delivery, Kheron now leverages his expertise to train and consult student services professionals and teams of student facing staff.

Driving Kheron’s passion for engagement is his lived experience as a ‘hard to reach’ young person failed by the education system. He strongly believes that engaging education can unlock the potential of all young people. His commitment to inclusion and cross-cultural collaboration has led him to be enlisted as an ambassador for the Tutu Foundation, working to promote the transformative African philosophy of Ubuntu (I am because you are) around the world.

Dr Nicky Adams (she/her) – Senior Lecturer in HR and Leadership, University of Wolverhampton

Nicky’s paid job is as a Senior Lecturer in HR & Leadership at the University of Wolverhampton. Her research interests are leadership and management development for volunteers, mentoring, motivation and retention, recently resulting in completing her PhD. She has over 30 years experience as an active listening volunteer with her local branch of Samaritans.

Nicky started her career in customer service, moved into a management role and then sidestepped into a career in learning and development. She also runs a consultancy business, providing private, public and third sector organisations with a range of learning interventions for staff and volunteers at all levels.
Within Samaritans Nicky has held a range of voluntary leadership roles including an organisation-wide strategic Learning & Development role and a three-year term as Branch Director of her local branch.

Lucie Vickers (she/her) – Head of Volunteering & Youth Voice, StreetGames

Lucie has 15 years’ experience of supporting young people’s youth voice, social action and volunteering. She has worked for StreetGames for 8 years and leads on StreetGames’ national volunteering and youth voice work, which involves leading large collaborative projects, both in the UK and internationally, driving youth voice across the sport and youth sectors working with a range of partners and managing the facilitation of all StreetGames’ all direct work with young people.

Chris Wade (he/him) – Director, Time for Impact

Your guide through this exploration of innovative volunteering is Chris Wade, a seasoned leader with over two decades of senior experience in the sector. Following a distinguished career in charities, including his role as Director of People at the MND Association, Chris established Time for Impact to equip volunteer leaders with the tools to maximise their impact. As the co-host of the influential “Time for Impact” podcast, Chris brings a unique perspective, drawing insights from conversations with the sector’s most forward-thinking practitioners.

Amy Stow – Head of Operations, Shift.ms

Amy currently works as the Head of Operations Shift.ms, a digital charity that provides peer support to young people with Multiple Sclerosis. She has worked in volunteer management for 12 years, starting her career in museums and heritage before moving into health charities. Amy understands the needs of bringing together disparate communities, and champions the benefits of volunteering in reducing loneliness and isolation. She is interested in how flexible opportunities can create a pathway to participation, particularly as a route to improve the demographics of a group of volunteers. In her spare time, Amy is a trustee for Ripon Museums Trust.

Carol Cunningham – Global Head of Volunteering, Parkrun

Carol Cunningham is the Global Volunteering Lead for parkrun. parkrun is a global movement that supports communities to deliver free, weekly events every weekend, enabling people to volunteer, walk, run or spectate in order to improve their health and happiness. Carol, who herself was the founding volunteer Event Director of Australia’s third parkrun in 2011, supports a network of more than 46,000 weekly volunteers at parkrun events across the world.

Carol is passionate about supporting more people to understand and experience the range of benefits that volunteering provides for them and their community. Carol believes volunteering should be promoted as a hugely positive experience that can have a transformative impact on many people’s lives, not as a sacrifice, rather as fun, positive and life-affirming.

A fellow Chartered Accountant, Carol is originally from Hull in the UK and has worked in cities such as Melbourne, Beijing, Tokyo and Singapore. She is now based in Sydney, Australia.

Sally Munday (she/her) – Head of Volunteering, Home-Start UK

Sally Munday is the Head of Volunteering at Home-Start UK, where she provides strategic leadership and oversight of volunteering practices. Passionate about driving continual improvement, Sally focuses on developing policies, guidance, resources, and training to enhance volunteer engagement and effectiveness. She leads volunteer recognition activities, including the annual volunteer awards, and spearheads strategic projects to transform volunteering practices.

Sally’s career in volunteer management began at the Science Museum, where she was the Volunteering Coordinator, responsible for recruitment, training, and development of volunteers across multiple sites. She also managed the informal learning programme and volunteer engagement at Headstone Manor Museum.

Sally holds a Post Graduate Qualification, Level 5 Certificate VRQ in Volunteer Management from the Institute of Leadership and Management, and a BA (Hons) in Drama, Applied Theatre and Education from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

Sarah McKeon (she/her) – Area Volunteer Support Pilot Lead, RSPCA

Sarah McKeon is an experienced volunteer manager starting out working at various National Trust properties managing their collections and volunteer teams. She moved to work within the NHS at the Imperial Health Charity in 2020 helping to run their emergency response during Covid. She joined the RSPCA in 2022 as a Volunteering Development Advisor before moving to be Senior Volunteer Experience Partner in 2023 supporting teams across the RSPCA with best practice advice. She is currently running the pilot team of Area Volunteer Support Partners across 2025 to provide more regional on the ground support to teams who manage volunteers.

Jenny Lambert (she/her) – Area Volunteer Support Partner, RSPCA

Jenny has experience of working with and supporting volunteers in various settings. She has worked within a variety of sports development environments, including Local Authorities, National Governing Bodies and local charities, developing opportunities for local communities, groups and individuals to take part in volunteering in sports and leisure activities. Jenny also has experience of working within an animal charity as a volunteer team leader, supporting and managing volunteers within the Charity.

Having joined the RSPCA in November 2024, at the present time, she is working for the RSPCA as an Area Volunteer Support Partner, helping to support and develop volunteering within a specific area.

Marian Casey (she/they) – Head of Partnerships, Rosterfy / Deputy Commissioner of Volunteering, St John Ambulance NSW

Marian is the Deputy Commissioner of Volunteering for St John Ambulance NSW. She is part of the executive team, where she leads 3,500 volunteers, including 1,00 cadets. In 2020 she was admitted to the Order of St John, received her 10 year service medal, and National Emergency Service Medal for the 2019-2020 Bushfires. Marian also has volunteered for StreamWatch, Australian Youth Parliament for the Environment, UniMed Australia, Share the Dignity, CSIRO Scientists in Schools, CheckPoint mental health for gamers, and the Warrior Women Foundation. She was awarded Volunteer of the Year for Central Sydney in 2022 and Woman of the Year for Western Sydney Women 2023.

Rachael Graham (she/her) – Head of Strategic Innovation, Girlguiding Scotland

Rachael Graham joined Girlguiding Scotland in 2023, initially as a maternity cover for the Head of Operations role before taking on a role leading the organisation’s innovation work in 2024. She previously worked in the policy and public affairs teams at Sense and Carers UK, where she completed research projects to influence policy making at national and local government levels. As someone who has volunteered throughout her life, Rachael is passionate about volunteering and the benefits it has for communities and individuals. She is a Clore Fellow after completing the Clore Emerging Leader Programme in 2025.

Louise Henderson (she/her) – Head of Membership Development and Growth, Girlguiding Scotland

Louise Henderson has been part of the team at Girlguiding Scotland for over ten years. In that time she’s transformed the organisation’s approach to volunteer recruitment with a particular focus on data-driven interventions and strategic planning for volunteer growth. She is a member of the Volunteer Edinburgh trustee board where she sits on strategy and fundraising sub-groups. Prior to working at Girlguiding Scotland she completed a PhD in Geography, Travel and Publishing in Mid-Victorian Britain at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Marnie Hartley (she/her) – Volunteer Programme Officer, Epilepsy Action

Hi, I’m Marnie. I’m the Volunteer Programme Officer at Epilepsy Action, and I also have lived experience of epilepsy. I’m passionate about creating inclusive and meaningful volunteering opportunities that reflect the diverse needs and strengths of our community. My work focuses on making volunteering accessible and empowering people with epilepsy to contribute in ways that align with their skills, interests, and circumstances.

I’m passionate about Volunteering and take part in a few roles, including content creation and project-based work. Volunteering has a significant positive impact on my mental health and well-being. It provides a sense of purpose, connection, and fulfilment. I’m also deeply committed to giving back to others, which is an essential part of my personal journey and a way for me to contribute to causes I care about.

Stephanie Smith-Crawshaw – Director of People and Culture, Epilepsy Action

Stephanie is the Director of People and Culture at Epilepsy Action, bringing over 15 years of experience in HR and 10 years in volunteer development and management.

Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to creating inclusive, supportive environments where people can thrive and contribute meaningfully, whether in paid or voluntary roles.

Passionate about the power of volunteering,  Steph has always engaged in volunteering herself. Dating back to her time at University, where she undertook her first volunteer role supporting a youth group at Mencap. It was at this time that Steph first understood the benefits of volunteering to herself and others. The sense of satisfaction and skills she learnt influenced her career significantly, leading her into the voluntary sector.

Since then, she has been a trustee on a local charity Board, supported community and fundraising events, and volunteered within her local community. Her personal and professional journey reflects a deep commitment to ensuring that volunteering is welcoming and accessible to everyone, recognising that all individuals bring unique and valuable contributions.

In her role at Epilepsy Action, Steph leads with a focus on people-first culture, championing equity, inclusion, and opportunities for growth, while continuing to advocate for volunteering as a vital force for both individuals and communities.

Jess Knight (she/her) – Volunteer Experience Manager, British Red Cross

I’m Jess, I’m neurodiverse, have a few long term health conditions and a couple of mental health challenges to add to the mix. I feel that’s important to caveat this biography with that information so you understand the lens in which I talk about inclusion. I also think its important to be proud of who you are unapologetically in hopes it will show others to be proud of their differences too. Anyway… back to the task at hand!

The Pronoun Pin badge project stemmed from a simple conversation with a volunteer a few years ago that happened by chance. As a dedicated ally to the LGBTQ+ community, when I heard Kats ambition for the organisation, the winds of change began to whisper in my ear and from then on myself, Kat and Francesca have been pushing for the Pronoun Pin badges creation and implementation.

Throughout my career I have worked with older adults, young people, those with long term health conditions, those who socially isolated, at risk young women and girls, people with additional needs, LGBTQ+ people and so many more. I have done this in the third sector in small and large charities, in the public sector at the largest council in the UK outside of London and in the NHS for a brief stint! My degree is in Adult Nursing and Public Health.

At 33, I feel I have had a varied career that has enabled me to meet a plethora of people from all walks of life. This has led me to where I am today….Equity isn’t just a job for me but a passion and fire I cant escape. Thankfully you can earn a living from social action, community organising and such!

In my current role at the British Red Cross I am the Volunteer Experience Manager – this means I have the best job ever! I spend my days working on improving processes, advocating for volunteers, creating exciting ways for volunteers to thrive, advising the rest of the organisation and generally get out and about and chatting to whoever will listen to me about volunteers!

I could keep writing about myself all day long but I know that this is already quite a lot to read and take in. I always find that asking questions also leads to the richest of information to come out rather than through monologue! So ask away if you’d like.

Helen Timbrell – Consultant, Researcher & Coach, Helen Timbrell Limited

Helen works as a Consultant, Researcher and Coach across people and organisational development. Much of her work involves supporting organisations to develop successful strategies for volunteer and employee engagement, and to work through change. Past clients including Guide Dogs, Stroke Association, Girlguiding, Royal Voluntary Service, Scouts and SSAFA. Helen previously held the roles of Director of People and Organisational Development at Samaritans and Versus Arthritis. Prior to this she was Director of Volunteering and Participation at the National Trust.

Helen’s PhD explored geographical variations in volunteering. She has an MBA, is a chartered member of the CIPD and holds an MSc in Coaching and Behavioural Change.

As a volunteer Helen has been a parkrun Event Director, a member of the HR Advisory Committee for Amnesty International UK and a Director of the Association of Volunteer Managers. She is currently Co-Chair of Dogs for Good, a Trustee for Abortion Talk, and volunteers for The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) and in her local National Trust shop.

Morven MacLean – Director of People and Strategy, Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS)

Morven is the Director of People and Strategy at Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) and a Non-Executive Director at Disclosure Scotland. An experienced and dynamic charity leader with a strong track record across the third and public sectors, Morven is skilled in strategic planning, leading teams and creating high-performance cultures rooted in inclusion, innovation, and shared values. Morven brings deep expertise in people and volunteer management, with a focus on coaching and developing teams to achieve their full potential. Former roles include Head of Volunteering with CHAS and a range of volunteering development positions in organisations including Macmillan Cancer Support, Glasgow Life and Victim Support. Morven has extensive experience of volunteering in the UK and overseas.

Ian McLintock – Founder, Charity Excellence

A passionate volunteer of 45 years, Ian has worked at senior level for 25, including various chair and CEO appointments. He’s the founder of Charity Excellence.

Launched in 2018, it’s a free one-stop-shop for anything a non-profit needs, which also holds the system’s charity sector Big Data. The first AI service was launched in late 2022 and followed by several more, plus AI guides, toolkits and training as part of the AI Ready programme to catalyse widespread adoption of AI throughout the sector. Charity Excellence has 50,000 members, growing at 3,500+ a month, making it the largest and fastest growing UK charity community.

For those who value them, Ian holds an MSc (Corporate Management) and various professional qualifications, including in finance & accounting, and fundraising.

Janet Lewis-Jones (she/her) – Investing in Volunteers

Janet spent almost two decades working with a national charity with over 2000 volunteers and since becoming freelance in 2004, Janet has worked with a wide range of not-for-profit organisations helping them to improve policy and practice, often in relation to volunteer management. Janet has worked with various quality standards as both an Advisor and Assessor, being an Assessor and Lead Assessor for the Investing in Volunteers Standard for over 20 years. She particularly enjoys working with organisations who want to use the IiV framework to improve how they work with volunteers. She says “It is so rewarding to see an organisation invest in their volunteers by making sure their practice meets standards. Getting to talk to so many volunteers about how they are involved and what they think of their volunteering experience is a real privilege. Being able to provide this feedback to the organisations and see them get recognition for it is just the icing on the cake!” Janet is also a Registered Assessor for the Matrix Standard, has worked with the Volunteer Centre Quality Assurance (VCQA) Standard and the UK Community Foundations (UKCF) Quality Standard.

Jo Bryant – Volunteer Programme Manager, We The Curious

I have worked in volunteering and inclusion for over 30 years in local, national and international contexts. I started my career with Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) working with amazing youth volunteers based all over the world. I then set up a new volunteer programme in a small local charity in Cornwall working with young people at risk. After this I ran a Bristol/Nigeria youth volunteer exchange with VSO again before starting up the volunteer programme at We The Curious where I have been for the last 18 years. I recently worked with the Association of Science and Discovery Centres and the Marsh Trust to help set up a Volunteering Award to recognise the wonderful and diverse volunteers across our sector nationally.

Panellists TBC

Felicia Sabartinelli – Volunteer Services Manager, NHS Tayside, Cornhill Macmillan Centre

Ali Thomas (she/her) – Head of Volunteering & Engagement, Imperial War Museums

Cécile Levavasseur – Capacity Builder, Edinburgh Tool Library