Welcoming new voices: Meet our New Trustees and Ambassadors

Having lived in Gloucestershire for more than 26 years, Vinay feels a strong connection to the local community. A Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, he has held senior NHS leadership roles locally and nationally and is currently Medical Director for NHS England’s South West region. Throughout his career, he has been passionate about helping older people live well, particularly through preventing frailty and providing earlier, proactive support. As lead of the Regional Improvement Collaborative for Frailty, Vinay brings statutory, voluntary and community partners together to improve care. He is delighted to join Age UK Gloucestershire as a Trustee and hopes to use his experience to support the charity’s vision of helping everyone age well, in the way that is right for them. 

Vinay lives in Cheltenham with his wife and their Westie, while his two daughters live in London. Away from work, he enjoys fair-weather cycling, baking cakes and creating desserts. 

Gerald is a senior business leader with responsibility for large-scale transformation, consulting and technology delivery across Europe. He has spent more than 20 years helping organisations navigate change, improve services and deliver meaningful outcomes for customers and communities. Having seen first-hand some of the challenges and opportunities that come with supporting ageing parents, Gerald was drawn to Age UK Gloucestershire's mission and the difference it makes to older people, their families and carers across the county. He is particularly excited by the organisation's vision of helping people to age well, their way, and its ambition to combine trusted support with education, prevention and stronger influence across the wider health and care system. 

As a Trustee, Gerald hopes to contribute strategic thinking, governance experience and practical insight to help Age UK Gloucestershire continue to grow its impact and reach even more people in the years ahead. He is particularly interested in how organisations can embrace innovation and new technology, including AI, in a way that expands access to support and strengthens communities, while remaining inclusive and focused on the people they serve. 

Eve Olivant is an experienced health and care leader with a strong track record of delivering partnership-based transformation across the NHS, local government, and voluntary sector. Most recently serving as Director of System Flow for Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, Eve has led system-wide initiatives to improve urgent and emergency care, patient flow, winter resilience, and integrated working across organisations. She is passionate about reducing inequalities, improving outcomes for communities, and enabling people to live healthy, independent lives. Throughout her career, Eve has championed collaboration, innovation, and person-centred services, bringing together diverse partners to address complex challenges. She is committed to strong governance, strategic leadership, and using her experience to support organisations that make a meaningful difference to the lives of local people.

Charlotte Tucker is an experienced healthcare leader, physiotherapist, and advocate for older people, with a career spanning clinical practice, service transformation, and strategic leadership. Beginning her career as a healthcare assistant, she developed a deep appreciation for the importance of dignity, independence, and meaningful connection in later life. She went on to specialise in the rehabilitation of older people, contributing nationally through specialist interest groups, training events and conferences with a focus on frailty and exercise. 

As a Gloucestershire resident, Charlotte is passionate about improving the lives of older people and strengthening their voice within communities and services. Alongside her clinical expertise, she brings significant operational, transformational, and governance experience, with a strong understanding of health and social care across the county. Having recently completed a Master's in Healthcare Leadership, she is committed to supporting organisations that help people age well, remain connected and most importantly, live their way.

Patricia worked in the public sector for over forty years. She worked in the NHS, in healthcare education, in quality assurance and enhancement of higher education, and in statutory regulation of post-graduate medical specialist and GP training.

Patricia moved to Gloucestershire in 2000. On retiring, Patricia was a self-employed consultant. Contracts included DH England, universities and the GMC. Patricia worked with the Academy for Healthcare Science 2015 - 2022 as Regulation Chair (lay), also as a non-executive director 2019 - 2022. She is an honorary Fellow of the Academy.

Patricia was a governor and Chair of Governors at her local primary school 2012 - 2019. She was an Out of Hospital volunteer at Age UK Gloucestershire (AUKG) 2012 - 2021, a trustee/director 2014 - 2024 and Chair of the Board 2017- 2024. Patricia is also Chair and trustee/director of Gloucestershire Nightstop from September 2023 and trustee/director at the Forest Voluntary Action Forum from summer 2026.

Ian served a Trustee on our Board before becoming an ambassador for Age Uk Gloucestershire. Before retiring in 2020, he had spent the last 10 years developing a specialist frailty service at the front door of the hospital, providing early assessment and liaison with community services to facilitate hospital discharge. He has a special concern for those experiencing frailty in later life, to ease suffering and improve quality of life, and believes passionately that medical care should be used wisely, sometimes sparingly, and as just one part of more holistic care. 

He has previous charity experience with Care and Repair England, and more recently with Gloucester Charities Trust and Harnhill Healing Centre. Christian faith is a bedrock of his life, and he is married to Philippa, a Priest in the CofE with three sons and three grand-daughters. 

Before becoming an Ambassador for Age UK Gloucestershire, Helen worked for Age UK Gloucestershire for over 12 years. She originally joined us on a 6-month contract as a Community Services Manager, growing the team from 3 to 15!

A qualified social worker, she has led and developed a wide range of services supporting older people, including Information and Advice, community outreach, and digital inclusion projects, progressing to become Head of Age Friendly Communities and Deputy CEO. Inspired by the resilience and stories of older people, Helen is particularly proud of the Joining Forces project she worked on, which supported hundreds of older veterans and created lasting community connections.

Helen is driven by a commitment to support older people live later life with dignity, independence and choice. She believes that sharing knowledge and helping people navigate complex support systems can make a life-changing difference.