Our Trustees

Ashley Wheaton – Chair of Trustees. Ashley Vice Chancellor at University College of Estate Management. He joined as Principal in 2013 and has led the institution through some significant milestones over more than ten years, including securing full independence and indefinite taught degree awarding powers. He is passionate about the transformative power of education and providing greater levels of access through the use of digital learning. He is proud to lead UCEM – the University of the Built Environment – as it strives to become the Centre of Excellence for Built Environment Education and the world’s most sustainable university. Ashley is particularly passionate about sustainability and has put this at the heart of UCEM’s core purpose and aims, setting out ambitious aspirations to embed its principles across the whole institution. 

Ashley spent six years as a Non-Executive Director of BRE Group, and four years as a Trustee at Jisc, where he was also Deputy Chair. He is currently a Member of the GuildHE Executive, was appointed Chair of Young Citizens in 2023 and Chair of Chance UK in 2024. He is also a member of the CMI’s Regulation and Compliance Committee. He was awarded Honorary RICS membership in 2023. 

Paul Sutcliffe is a partner with EY, and is part of its accounting advisory  team, working with clients in a variety of industries on both complex accounting issues and finance process and controls, particularly related to large transactions.   He has previously worked with a number of charities and other NGOs in the UK and abroad and is interested in bringing commercial experience to the voluntary sector.

Cristina Otelea is an experienced charity sector professional, who is particularly focused on supporting organisations that work with children and young people. Having previously worked for Youth United Foundation and UK Youth, she is currently looking after the grant programmes at Berkeley Foundation.

Helen Fletcher d’Arjuzon has over twenty years’ experience working in city law firms and investment banking, and is qualified as an English and Irish law solicitor. She is UK General Counsel at BNP Paribas, overseeing a team of 160 lawyers across the UK and advising senior management on a variety of legal, governance and regulatory issues. Helen is a passionate advocate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, often speaking to young people via charitable and school events, seeking to improve diversity in the financial services and legal industries.

Keisha Forteau has 10 years of experience working in health and social care services, including working within the voluntary sector. Keisha’s work with children and young people has included improving access to mental health services (CAMHS), working with young people to ensure they have a say in how health and social care services are designed and delivered works within NHS England and Improvement to improve population health and well-being.

Jess Talbot has 16 years experience of working in the charity and education sectors in the UK and East Africa, including setting up new schools, managing schools and running leadership development programmes for educators and government education officials. She has held senior roles at a range of organisations including Challenge Partners, Future Foundations, Scholé and STiR Education. Jess is currently a trustee of the EA Foundation and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA).   

Bridget Banton Bridget is creative consultant and founder of Dear Creative Gurl, a trustee at The Museum of London where she is Chair of the Sustainability Working Group, a recent strategic advisor to B Corp UK, a member of BAFTA, fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures & Commerce, and volunteer mentor at ScreenSkills. Bridget has held senior leadership positions in television and audio as a commissioning editor at Channel 4, Penguin Random House, Paramount/ Channel 5 and BBC.   

Nicci Marzec is CEO at Aspire Oxfordshire, a charity which provides employment support, homelessness prevention and supported housing across Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley.  Nicci has previously worked in the public and voluntary sector with experience across children and families, vulnerable adults, community safety, corporate governance and business transformation.  Nicci is passionate about prevention, promoting the importance of early support and investment in preventative services at a local and national level to improve outcomes for vulnerable people and address inequality and disadvantage for people and communities.  

Deanna Nielson graduated as a social worker from the University of Sydney and has had over 30 years experience in safeguarding, child protection and organisational leadership. Deanna was a previous child safeguarding expert to NACRO and the Scouts and is currently the Director of Safeguarding and Quality Assurance for the national charity, Action for Children Prior to this Deanna was the Head of Service for Early Help, Prevention and Permanence at London Borough of Hillingdon.