Board of Trustees and Key Staff

Board of Trustees

Jane Edgerton - Chair

Jane has worked in the public sector for over thirty years including as a local authority advisor, a school improvement partner, a Non-Executive Director, and as a head, executive head and trust leader. Much of her career has focused on working with children and young adults who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and with those who are socially disadvantaged. Jane has her own business and is currently working nationally as an education consultant alongside her work as a school inspector.

Jane has been involved in the charity sector for a number of years. She is currently a trustee of three charities. Jane is a trustee of Newlife, a national charity, which supports children with complex physical and medical needs. Regionally, her work as a trustee also includes working with The Birmingham Royal Institute for the Blind, a charity for adults who have visual impairments and/or other special needs and vulnerabilities. This charity helps clients to access community services, health care and suitable housing. Jane became Vice Chair at Age UK Birmingham and Sandwell in October 2025 before becoming Chair of Age UK Birmingham's Board of Trustees in April 2026.

Paul Todman - Vice Chair

David Sykes

David Sykes has a wealth of experience in both the public and private sectors and as a strategic marketing consultant for PWc. After 25 years in the private sector in senior commercial roles and as Managing Director for a £30M manufacturing business David established a consultancy business.

During his 15 years as an independent consultant he has undertaken commercial and commissioning assignments for 25 health and local authority clients including the Dept. of Health, regulators and commissioning organisations. Over the last few years these assignments have focused on health and social care integration.

David is a CEDR accredited mediator skilled in stakeholder management and contract negotiation. An accredited practitioner in managing successful programmes (MSP). A MBA graduate of Warwick University who now acts as a mentor to Executive MBA students.  5 years experience as a trustee & chair of trustees for Coram Life Education West Midlands. David was the Chair of the board prior to Jane.

Grace Hampson

Rosie Harvey

Richard Wood

Sophie Williams

Sophie has worked for over two decades in the higher education and charity sectors, in senior roles in Students' Unions. Throughout her career, she has also held roles in the public sector, as a Police Officer, a Neighbourhood Manager, and a Mental Health Lead, all in hyper-diverse communities in Birmingham.

Sophie has extensive experience in non-executive roles, having served as a local authority school governor, an Independent Director on the Board of the OIAHE (Officer for the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education), and she is currently Chair of the trustee board for a students' union in Birmingham. 

Sophie's mother spent a significant period in care with dementia, and thus Sophie is determined to help ensure dignified lives for the people of Birmingham.

Executive Team