Trustees

Kate Carroll

Chair

Kate works for Nisa Retail, a wholesalers owned by The Co-op Group, and is responsible for their colleague and stakeholder charity and community activity across the UK.

As a colleague Wellbeing Champion herself, Kate is a strong advocate of normalising conversations about mental ill-health, particularly with employers.

A former Chair of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, Kate brings experience of corporate partnerships and community fundraising to the North East Lincolnshire Mind board.

In her spare time, Kate walks miles with the family lockdown purchases – two boisterous puppies and is never happier than spending time with them in the Lake District.

Mike Gill

Vice Chair

Following an extensive career in the NHS, Mike has now retired. His various posts within the NHS included roles in nursing, clinical and operational management and finally working in the training team. Mike has qualifications in nursing, counselling and a Certificate from the Institute of Health Services Management.

Mike is passionate about ensuring we all look after our mental health and wellbeing and being on the Board at North East Lincolnshire Mind is an excellent way of contributing to the mental health and wellbeing agenda locally. He is also a Director of Wellington Care and currently has a link role across both Boards.

Mike also tries to commit time to help out the fundraising team. Either being part of planning activities or using his running / walking activities to raise funds for North East Lincolnshire Mind. These are really enjoyable parts of being a Trustee and gives an opportunity to be actively involved in charitable endeavours.

In his spare time, Mike is a keen runner and walker, and runs a small Antiques and Collectables business with his wife.

Alex Denholm

Honorary Treasurer
Alex is a retired Bank Manager and has been actively involved with charity work for a significant number of years. He is presently the Chair of Hull and East Riding HSBC Pensioners Association, HSBC Pensioners Council Rep, Humber Rep, Regional AOC Committee, Audit Committee, East Riding College, Hull & East Riding Amateur Athletic Association, Hull Zingari Cricket Club, and advises members of the House of Lords.

Justina Oraka

Justina is a teacher by profession and has a background is in Education, Training and Development with more than 35 years teaching experience and over 20 years’ experience in the voluntary and community sector. Justina has been involved in two Women’s Centre’s in Hull as trustee/directors, Northern Hull Development Trust and the Hull & East Riding Race Equality Council. Justina was a Mental Health Commissioner for 4 years and director for Humberside probation service for 6 years.

She now has her own Training and Consultancy company where she is a Managing Director. In addition, Justina is a founder member and Chair of Africa Forum and a Trustee and Chair of Humber All Nations Alliance.

Peter Archer

Peter retired in November 2013 after 38 years in the banking industry. The bulk of his career was spent working with commercial businesses and the last 5 years were spent helping businesses with a turnover between £1m and £25m which were struggling and needed support to get back to good health. He has qualifications in sales and marketing and training. He also has some experience of internal audit work.

Rod Chambers

From leaving school, Rod has had an exciting career with lead roles in sales, branch management, training and supply chain, eventually being appointed Divisional Director for Logistics in August 2000, and then Divisional Director for UK Sales in March 2003. From 2008, Rod moved over to the public sector, and initially was appointed as Head of Operations for Learndirect careers advice, soon transferring this function into the Learning and Skills Council within central government as part of the Machinery of Government changes. Rod has been active on a number of programme boards overseeing national procurement, business change and the turning of government policy into delivery within Business Innovation and Skills and more recently the Department for Education as Head of Outsourced Services.

Since taking early retirement in 2021, Rod continues to put his time and experience to good use in the local community including recently becoming a non executive director with Hull University Students Union Commercial board.

Leisure interests and hobbies include guitar, painting, geology, running and motorcycling, and committee member for North Ferriby FC Supporters Club.

Donna Blank

Donna retired from her role as Partner and Head of Employment at a Regional Law Firm in June 2017. Donna specialised in employment law for in excess of 20 years advising both local and national businesses in relation to a range of employment law issues including, Employment Tribunal claims, dismissal, grievance, business re-organisation and the implementation of HR Policies and Procedures. Donna continues to have a particular interest in staff training and development.

Donna’s work included advising a number of local Charities and gaining a valuable insight into the organisation and workings of charitable organisations. Donna’s experience as an employment lawyer will enable her to contribute to human resource and employment law issues as a member of the Governance and Performance Committee.

Donna is also a Trustee of the Sailors Children’s Society and a Director of Hull Golf.