Anne-Marie Harris, Hardev Virdee and Deepa Shah have joined the Board of Trustee Directors at Power to Change, the charitable trust which backs community business — businesses run by and for the benefit of local people and which help places to thrive. The new trustee directors, who hail from a range of professional and personal backgrounds, bring a wealth of experience, passion and perspective to Power to Change and the community business sector. From finance to human resources, they all share a common determination to strengthen communities through growing, nurturing and diversifying community businesses.
Tim Davies-Pugh, CEO of Power to Change, said: “I would like to welcome Anne-Marie, Deepa and Hardev to our Board of Trustee Directors. It is vital that Power to Change is equipped with the right skills and experiences to ensure we are able to best support communities, particularly during these challenging times. I know that with their passion for community power combined with extensive knowledge, our new trustees will be valuable additions to the organisation, adding to and complementing our existing board. I look forward to working with them.”
Stephen Howard, Chair of the Board of Trustee Directors at Power to Change said: “With these appointments, the Power to Change Board adds both unique skills and genuine passion for strengthening community business. All three trustees will play important roles in the ongoing implementation of our new strategy and focus and I very much look forward to working with them.”
Power to Change believes community business works to strengthen communities. From championing community-led town centre regeneration through our ‘Take Back the High Street’ campaign to building the capacity, leadership skills and resilience in the community business sector through our Powering Up and Leading the Way programmes, Power to Change is committed to catalysing local people to deliver and address the needs in their communities. Across all its work, Power to Change is pushing for a more equitable society, putting diversity and inclusion at the heart of its priorities.
ANNE-MARIE HARRIS
Anne-Marie Harris is the former Chief Finance Officer for Global Steering Group for Impact Investment and has a comprehensive non-executive career spanning 16 years with organisations such as BRAC UK. Anne-Marie brings to the position a wealth of finance and audit expertise, including through her role as Chair of the Audit Committee for Theatre for a Change UK, a charity working in Malawi and Ghana with women and girls, and member of the External Independent Investment Committee for British International Investment. Anne-Marie is committed to utilising private and philanthropic capital to deliver positive societal and environmental change and brings to the board vast knowledge in investing for social return.
DEEPA SHAH
Deepa Shah is currently the People Director, Group and Global Functions for Bupa. Deepa brings to the role over 15-years of diverse experience in human resources across a number of sectors as well as expertise in speaking about and embedding diversity and inclusion into organisations. Deepa is an executive coach and works with the East London Business Alliance to support and mentor CEOs of small charities. She is passionate about the role communities play in fostering connection and positive change for people.
Responding to her appointment, Deepa said: “Power to Change has achieved a great deal and I am privileged and honoured to be given the opportunity to join such a strong board. I hope that together we continue to strengthen our communities, through the amazing work already underway by its extraordinary people.”
HARDEV VIRDEE
Hardev Virdee is the Group Chief Financial Officer for the Barts Health NHS Trust, managing a £2b trust with 24,000 staff. Hardev’s non-executive career includes Council Member for the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and Chair of the NHS National Finance Academy. Born and raised in a deprived area of Birmingham, Hardev is dedicated to embedding social equality in the organisations he leads. Through his work at Barts Health NHS Trust, Hardev brings experience engaging directly with local community businesses and in working with local communities to understand their needs.
In response to his appointment Hardev said: “This is an exciting opportunity, and I am honoured to be part of a movement that is a catalyst for local development. Having worked in the NHS for over 20 years, I understand the importance of making the most of the resources you have for improving the lives of communities. I hope to bring this experience to Power to Change as it continues to strengthen communities through great partnership work.”
