Alex Raikes MBE (Hon LLD)

Chief Executive of Stand Against Racism & Inequality (SARI)

Alex became Chief Executive of Stand Against Racism & Inequality (SARI) in 2024.  Alex was previously Strategic Director of SARI– a leading, regional hate crime charity – after having joined as their first caseworker in 1991. Alex is a trustee of the Learn @ Multi-Academy Trust; a member of the University of Bristol Court; was awarded an MBE in 2009; an Honorary Doctorate by the University of West of England in 2019 and in November 2019 was announced as Bristol’s High Sheriff in Waiting (2022). Crucially, as a dual heritage individual with four sons, Alex has first-hand experience of racism and running a busy, lively household.

 

Sarah Jenkins

County Commander, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Sarah has been working for the Ambulance Service for almost 25 years serving our local communities and surrounding areas. As County Commander for BNSSG for a large ambulance service she is acutely aware of the need to be actively involved on issues relating to equality, diversity and inclusion. As a Bristolian she understands the diverse needs of our population and staff, not only to ensure best outcomes for their clinical needs, which include particular intricacies for our BAME and seldom heard groups, but also of the way in which a person’s overall wellbeing can be supported by honouring their cultural needs. In SWAST she sits on the Equality Steering Group and touch base with our BAME Forum to ensure she is an ally to team members, the Trust and the wider community.

 

Simon Shilton

Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Avon Fire and Rescue Service

Simon has been in the Fire and Rescue Service for 27 years serving at many locations within Bristol and the West Midlands. Simon has always championed equality in all his roles and holds the strategic responsibility for Diversity, Inclusion, Cohesion and Equality within the service along with a continual cultural change programme. Simon has been a member of the BRESLG since the early stages and has achieved recognition for his leadership in championing equality and diversity from the Asian Fire Services Association. Simon is currently the Director of Service Delivery responsible for Prevention, Protection and Response.

 

Sarah Marchant

Area Business Manager, CPS South West, Crown Prosecution Service

Sarah joined the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in 2002 as the Area Business Manager for CPS Avon and Somerset.

Following a CPS restructure in 2011, Sarah became Area Business Manager for CPS South West covering the police force areas of Gloucestershire Constabulary, Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Devon and Cornwall Police.

Prior to joining the CPS, Sarah worked in the private sector in financial services as a senior leader for a large international insurance company with responsibility for technical services, pension schemes and complaints.

 

Dr. Jeff Farrar QPM

Chair of the Integrated Care System for Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire (BNSSG)

Jeff is the Chair of the Integrated Care System for Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) and Chair (Designate) of the Integrated Care Board for BNSSG, having formerly been the Chair of University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust. Prior these appointments Jeff had a 35-year career in the police service, reaching the rank of Chief Constable.
During his policing career he was seconded to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary as part of the team that inspected the Metropolitan Police after the death of Stephen Lawrence, and was also part of the team that inspected all 43 police forces in England and Wales on equality, diversity and Inclusion.

 

Mark Runacres

Bristol Police Commander, Avon and Somerset Police

Mark is a Superintendent within the Neighbourhood Policing and Partnership Directorate with the responsibility for policing in Bristol. Throughout his 26 years in policing he has worked extensively in community and neighbourhood policing roles, all of which have been in Bristol. Mark chairs the City’s Keeping Communities Safe group and the Youth Justice Board and is a member of the Keeping Bristol Safe Executive Board. He is the Avon and Somerset Constabulary lead for hostage and crisis negotiation and drugs strategy.

 

Jayne Mee MStJ

Chair, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust

Jayne has spent more than 30 years in human resources and organisational development, working in executive roles with the Boots Company, Whitbread, Royal Mail, Punch Taverns and Barratt Developments. Until June 2015 she was director of people and organisation development at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Until June 2021 she was a non-executive director at London Ambulance Service NHS Trust, and a trustee at St John Ambulance. She joined NHS Charities Together as a Trustee in September 2021. Jayne is also an executive coach where she supports executives and organisations in culture change, engagement and transformation in a wide variety of private and public sector businesses.

Jayne holds an MSc in human resource development from Nottingham Trent University, a certificate in coaching from Henley Management College and is a Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development.
Jayne was appointed as Non-Executive in June 2019 before taking on the role of Interim Chair in April 2021. She was appointed into the substantive role of Trust Chair on 9 December 2021.

 

Katy Trundley

Assistant Chief Officer, Head of Bristol & South Glos Probation Delivery Unit

Katy is the Head of the Probation Delivery unit for Bristol & South Gloucestershire. She has worked for the probation service for the past 24 years and has spent the majority of her career working in Bristol in a range of different roles covering Youth Justice, Integrated Offender Management, Prisons & Courts.

Katy is a member of the Keeping Bristol Safe Executive Board and also sits on the Community Safety Partnership & Youth Justice Board. Katy is chair of the Avon & Somerset MAPPA Strategic Management Board.

 

Maria Kane OBE

Chief Executive, North Bristol NHS Trust

Maria Kane OBE joined North Bristol NHS Trust as the Chief Executive in April 2021. Prior to this she was Chief Executive at North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, where she had been since December 2017.

In addition to her current role, she chairs Bristol Health Partners (AHSC), Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon and Gloucestershire Cancer Alliance and the South West Genomic Medicine Service Board. She is also an active member of the NHS National Improvement Board and NHS Genomics Board.

Maria previously worked as Chief Executive of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust for ten years and as an Executive Director at North-West London Strategic Health Authority for four. Maria has held a variety of senior roles at the Royal College of Midwives, Medical Protection Society and the National Council of Voluntary Organisations.

In 2019, Maria was made an OBE for services to health care leadership over two decades.

 

Richard Welch

Assistant Chief Fire Officer for Service Delivery Support, Avon Fire & Rescue Service

Richard was appointed Assistant Chief Fire Officer for Service Delivery support in August 2022. Richard joined London Fire Brigade in 1996, progressing through various roles. Notably, he established the Local Intervention Fire Education (L.I.F.E) project in East London, earning the prestigious Mayors London Day Award in 2003. His community engagement extended globally, delivering training to Fire and Rescue Services in the UK and abroad.

Promoted to Station Manager in 2009, Richard held roles at East Ham and Poplar Fire Stations. He later became Borough Commander in Bexley, Southwark, and Lambeth before advancing to Deputy Assistant Commissioner in regulatory fire safety in 2017. Between 2019 and 2022, he served as Deputy Assistant Commissioner for the South East and North East Areas of London.

 

Dan Wood

Chief People Officer, University of England (UWE Bristol)

Dan is a dynamic leader with a rich professional background in various sectors. Currently serving as the Chief People Officer at the University of the West of England, he has also held key positions at Avon and Somerset Police and the UK Sector Skills Council for Health. In addition to his paid roles, Dan actively contributes to the community through multiple non-executive directorship and trustee positions, including with organisations such as the National Fire Chief’s Council and Quartet Community Foundation. His extensive experience in governance extends to serving as a school governor and leading various charities nationally. Dan is recognised for his leadership skills as a Fellow of the RSA, Institute of Leadership, Chartered Management Institute, St. Georges House, Windsor, and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.