Our people

Age UK Wandsworth is an independent, local charity governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association which exists to promote the quality of life of older people in the borough of Wandsworth.

We could not fulfil our role without our Board of Trustees, who have ultimate responsibility for the charity, ensuring that it is solvent, well-run, and delivering the charitable outcomes for the benefit of older people for which it has been set up.

Being a trustee is an unpaid but rewarding role, allowing individuals to bring their skills, knowledge and experience to the running of the charity.

Age UK Wandsworth Board of Trustees

Jenny Alexander – Co-Chair
Jenny is a director of a private property company, a qualified chartered accountant, treasurer of the Craft Potters Association and an avid ceramics collector and part time amateur ceramics maker.

"Age UK has been part of my life for most of the time since I first started as a volunteer befriender as a student. It's a charity close to my heart and I am honoured to be involved with a group of trustees who are dedicated to steering Age UK Wandsworth through sometimes troubled waters, and enabling it to provide the services older local residents require".

Lara Sonola – Co-Chair
Lara is a senior manager in the NHS, currently working as Chief of Staff in Transformation and Corporate Development at NHS England and NHS Improvement. Prior to joining the NHS, Lara was a senior researcher at The King's Fund focussing on integrated care and reconfiguring clinical services.

"I joined Age UK Wandsworth as a trustee at the start of 2017, on moving back to Wandsworth after a number of years in other parts of London. I grew up in the borough and wanted to contribute to improving the lives of older people in this community.  I’ve really enjoyed meeting and getting to know our staff, volunteers and service users, and now as co-chair, I’m looking forward to building on the fantastic services our organisation has delivered for more than 50 years as we look ahead to an exciting future".

Philip Francis - Treasurer
Philip is a retired Chartered Accountant who was Finance Director of an Advertising Agency most of his working life. 

"I have been Treasurer of Age UK Wandsworth for over 20 years. I have enjoyed working with excellent Chief Executives and most interesting Trustees. I believe that Age UK Wandsworth has provided excellent support to the older people of Wandsworth in that time. I play golf and tennis in my spare time and enjoy gardening". 

Ambra Caruso 

Ambra lives in Tooting and has worked in health-related roles in charities for over 15 years. She has been working for the NHS since 2016.

"I came across Age UK Wandsworth several years ago and I was truly impressed by the fantastic work the organisation does for our local communities. Staff and volunteers are fully committed to improving the life of older people in the borough and I am proud to be serving as a trustee on their board. My children have also had the opportunity to be involved by taking part in the Age Awareness Programme organised by Age UK Wandsworth in their primary school, a great initiative to encourage young children to understand the needs and talk more to their elderly neighbours".

Karrie Liu                                                                                                                                                                                                Karrie Liu is a freelance data scientist from Tooting with 10+ years of work experience in NHS and pharm; she aspires to balance this with spending time on pro bono projects and charities.

"I hope to put my academic and analytical experience to wider use. Being a trustee with Age UK Wandsworth gives me a great opportunity to share my skills and develop them for future applications and also allows me to give back to the local community."

Peter Lloyd
Peter Lloyd is an MSc student at Royal Holloway, University of London, after a career in financial markets in the City of London.

"I first became a volunteer for Age UK Wandsworth in order to help, in a practical way, with the Handyperson Service. I strongly support Age UK Wandsworth's core aim of empowering older people to be able to live independently at home for as long as possible. When I became a Trustee and later Vice-Chair and Chair, my experience with corporate governance was useful in helping to ensure that the organisation ran as smoothly and effectively as possible. I am amazed and delighted by the impact that our staff and volunteers have in improving the lives of older people, often with just a small amount of time given in advice, befriending or practical help."

Richard Smuts
Richard retired from a global marketing role at BP. He lives in the borough of Wandsworth.

"When considering retirement, I was determined to use the opportunity to "give something back" in at least some small way to the community around me.  I had thought for some time that our aging population was an urgent and growing need. I felt that my 30 odd years in marketing could help when I discovered that AUKW was seeking a Trustee to help shape, guide and deliver some existing and new marketing and fundraising activities".

Tony Tuck
Tony is a former social security expert who has been involved in issues for the elderly locally for some two decades.

"In my working life as a civil servant I dealt solely with social security issues. Following early retirement in 1990, I spent 8 years as an elected local authority councillor and spoke for the opposition in Wandsworth on Social Services and Education. For over two decades I have been widely involved in a range of local bodies and charities, as well as chairing a local Youth Centre, and a housing company board. I am currently the chair of the Wandsworth Older Peoples’ Forum and the secretary of the Greater London Forum for Older People, as well as having been a trustee of Age UK Wandsworth for many years."

Miles Unwin
Miles is a retired solicitor and is a long term resident of the Borough.

"While I continue to deal with some legal work, I had always hoped on retirement to find a new challenge and a way of applying my legal and management experience for the benefit of the local community. Accordingly, when I was approached by a close friend and neighbour who suggested that I apply for a position as a trustee with legal experience with AUKW, it seemed an opportunity too good to be missed".

Age UK Wandsworth Senior Leadership Team

Natalie de Silva - Chief Executive

Charlotte Allen - Better at Home

Emily Foxen - Outreach Service

Anais Thede - Paid Services 

Julie Walker- Day Centre

Shanshan Xu - Business

Vivien Yalcin - Information and Advice