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Trustees and CEO

Our Board of Trustees govern how the charity operates and our CEO deals with the day-to-day running of the charity.

Richard Mills - Trustee and Chair of the Board of Trustees
Steve Avis - Trustee and Honorary Treasurer
Angela Boodoo - Trustee
Janet Trowse - Trustee
Jason Webster - Trustee
Pascal Wharton - Trustee
Catherine Hodgson - Chief Executive Officer

President: Hon Mrs Lavinia Sealy DL

Patrons: The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP
The Rt Hon Baroness Virginia Bottomley

	Richard Mills - Chair I joined the Board of Age UK Surrey in August 2024. My particular interests include strategic planning and fundraising. I have over 25 years of experience successfully helping public and private sector organisations plan and implement their future strategies. For the past 20 years, I was employed by The Boeing Company, ultimately becoming the Strategy Director for Europe. While at Boeing, I was also a Non-Executive Director for some of the company’s UK subsidiaries and sat on leadership teams and industry bodies. Before my employment at Boeing, I worked as a management consultant for the global firm Kearney and as a Senior Research Fellow at University College London. In 1995 I was awarded a doctorate. I have had a strong interest in making a positive social contribution during my career. Previously, I managed a portfolio of charitable university grants to encourage students into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programmes and to reward academic excellence across Europe. I have also played an active role in promoting environmental sustainability. My wife and I have lived in Surrey since 2005.
	Steve Avis - Treasurer In September 2023, I retired after a 40-year career in the civil service and the wider public sector. Most recently, I was the Chief Financial Officer of a 31-school multi-academy trust based in Kent. I previously had a wide variety of finance-based roles in the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Education. I have lived in Surrey since 2010, and I joined the board of Age UK Surrey in August 2023 as honorary treasurer. My wife and I have five grandchildren and very much enjoy spending time with them. I am a lifelong supporter of Leeds United Football Club and travel to see them play as much as I can. I am also a keen follower of cricket, rugby and horse racing - watching, not participating these days! Now that I have some free time, I am thoroughly enjoying helping the AUKS team as much as I can, with a particular focus on financial oversight.
	Angela Boodoo Born and educated in Surrey, I have lived in Runnymede and Woking for over 40 years. I have led a successful career in global enterprise software and became a full-time carer for my dear parents in 2023. I am proud to work part-time at the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust in Guildford as a Patient Safety Partner. The mission of Age UK Surrey is something at the centre of my everyday lived experience as a carer and I am passionate about making a difference for older people in Surrey.
	Janet Trowse I am an Independent HR (people) professional, a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of People and Development (CIPD) and a certified Henley (University of Reading) coach. I am delighted to continue my passion for people as an Age UK Surrey Trustee. I have extensive business and people leadership experience, alongside a post-graduate degree in Human Resources Management, and I’ve delivered a variety of roles within both private and public sectors. In the 2025 King's New Year's honours, I was awarded an MBE for services to the railway and to menopause awareness in the workplace. I live in Surrey Heath with my husband and have two grown-up children who also live in Surrey with their respective partners. I am also blessed with a lively young granddaughter who often comes to stay. We have two dogs whom I enjoy walking daily in Swinley Forest.
	Pascal Wharton I am driven to join the Board of Trustees at Age UK Surrey, by a desire to support the older population and my local community. I have lived in Surrey, together with my family, for nearly 20 years. My professional background spans over 25 years in commercial marketing and strategy for global companies including Google and Sky. Most recently, I have led marketing and subscription growth across EMEA for YouTube, where I specialised in leveraging data and technology to drive organisational efficiency and reach new audiences. I am passionate about Age UK Surrey’s mission because I believe strategic thinking and innovation can significantly improve the lives of older people, ensuring they remain connected and supported. This commitment to the voluntary sector is a long-standing priority for me; prior to joining the board, I spent several years as a volunteer for the NSPCC, which provided me with a grounded understanding of safeguarding and the importance of supporting vulnerable individuals.

	Catherine Hodgson - CEO I’m delighted to join Age UK Surrey and its team of dedicated staff and volunteers providing such a breadth of advice and support across our communities. I look forward to building on the legacy of my predecessor, Sue Zirps, to increase our reach and to develop further innovative services which focus on meeting local needs. I joined Age UK Surrey with a wide experience of senior roles within the charity sector - as a Chief Executive of several charities, as a Trustee of both local and national organisations and as a Consultant specialising in strategy and fundraising. I live close to Petworth in West Sussex with my husband, three children and two dogs.

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