Our Board of Trustees
Board Members
Keith Wakefield (Chair)
“After 30 years in adult and further education, and after 31 years as a local councillor in the Kippax and Methley area, which included two terms of being leader of Leeds City Council, I was really proud to be asked to be a trustee of Age UK Leeds in 2019 after I retired.
As someone with close involvement in social services in Leeds, I was aware of the excellent reputation and work of Age UK in Leeds. I’ve spent the last 12 months learning about the vital role our volunteers play in supporting and caring for our elderly in our local communities. Whether it’s giving benefits advice or befriending isolated and lonely clients, their experiences help to inform us of the services, help and support our clients need”.
Aisha Butt (Vice Chair)
A Public Health professional (MSc Public Health) with over sixteen years experience of working in health and social care settings, such as NHS, Statutory and voluntary sector.
I am passionate about meaningful involvement, equality of opportunity, and improving the lives of individuals.
I have been a trustee for age UK Leeds for 5 years. I became interested in the work of Age UK Leeds as I have worked directly with older people for most of my career. This has included working with older people with dementia, disabilities, and other long-term conditions. I have also worked directly with survivors of the holocaust to improve their quality of life and I conceptualised and created the first dementia café in Leeds that is facilitated in mother tongue languages. I am a Carer and in my free time I like to spend time with friends and family, hobbies include walking and travelling.
Holly Smith
I was born and raised in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, attending Skipton Girls High School and then the University of Bristol, studying Economics and Accounting.
After leaving university I trained as a Chartered Accountant in London before moving back to Ilkley in 2006 where I started work in the Audit department at Deloitte in Leeds, specialising in charities as well as other private entities. I moved to the Transaction Services team at Deloitte in 2013, where I currently sit.
I am married with two young children, and if I ever get any spare time I enjoy swimming and cycling as a family.
Michael Allen
Michael is a Partner at KPMG where he leads the Health and Human Services Consulting Practice in the North of England. Michael has a BSc from the University of Newcastle, an MBA from the University of Bradford and is a graduate of the NHS Management Training Scheme. He spent the first 11 years of his career managing hospital and community services in London and Leeds before becoming a management consultant. Michael has over 15 years experience of working at Board level and has advised the Boards, Councils and Governing Bodies of over 30 organisations on governance, financial and performance improvement.
Michael lives in Roundhay with his wife who is the HR Director of an NHS Trust and two children aged 11 and 9. In his spare time Michael likes to cycle, watch his children play sport and grow vegetables on his allotment.
Michael is delighted to be joining the Board of Trustees and looks forward to working with our volunteers, clients and staff.
Claire Hosking
Claire is a strategic marketing professional who has had a career spanning over 20 years in senior roles with two of the UK’s leading retailers, Sainsburys & Asda and has more recently chosen to become a self employed freelance marketing consultant. Claire brings a breadth of experience from these dynamic businesses as well as a passion for customer centric strategy and communications. Claire has a BA Honours Degree in History & Economics from the University of Hull and CIMA qualifications in Marketing & Digital Media.
Claire was born and bred in Leeds, but now lives in Huddersfield with her husband and two daughters aged 14 and 12. In her spare time Claire loves floristry, zumba, reading and enjoying quality time with family & friends.
In both her work life and at home, and home, Claires personal ambition is to make a difference in whatever she does so she is delighted to have been invited to join the Board of Trustees and is very much looking forward to working with everyone associated with Age UK Leeds to make a difference for older people living in Leeds.
Joanne Travis
I was born in Leeds and have lived here all my life apart from three years studying at University in Birmingham. After initially working in the private sector in retail and tourism, I achieved a permanent position working for the Home Office in 2006 and remained there until 2016 when I joined Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, where I currently work. During my time in the Civil Service I have achieved an extensive public sector experience in different roles from customer facing to managing multiple teams, leading and developing strategic approaches to improve public service in a wide range of areas including asylum and child safeguarding to providing digital support to small businesses.
I am passionate about listening to different views and opinions and then seeking ways to improve services or removing barriers people face accessing help and support.
I am married with two sons aged 5 and 12, and in between running around with the kids I enjoy walking, going to the cinema and theatre.
Sandra Cheseldine
Sandra worked for Midland Bank, latterly HSBC Bank plc for 30 years in a wide variety of roles. For the last ten years of her career she worked as a senior manager in Personal & Consumer Finance Audit for the Bank. She took early retirement in 2006. She also is Chair of Wakefield Citizens Advice Bureau and a Trustee at the Prince of Wales Hospice.
Roger Harington
Roger in addition to now being a Trustee at Age UK Leeds has been a longstanding member of the Leeds Older People’s Forum (LOPF) Trustee Board and in what was an eventful week for Roger on 1 April was elected as the new Chair of LOPF. Roger will be a fantastic addition to the Trustee Board, he has served as a Councillor in Leeds, has an active interest in the performing arts and is a keen cyclist.