TRUSTEES

Having served in senior leadership roles across North America, Europe and Asia, I have spent my career leading diverse, high calibre teams in challenging times. Throughout those years of working and raising kids, my outside interests have always included a focus on the development of young people. Whether coaching sport, mentoring GCSE level students or recruiting new graduates from university, I have always taken tremendous satisfaction from helping young people to explore and discover their place in the world.

When the opportunity arose at Action4Youth, I recognised a team with very similar values and expectations. I am very proud to be a part of such a passionate group dedicated to the development of a new generation of young leaders.

Camilla Soames (Milly) has lived in Buckinghamshire since 1991. She has been a Patron of the Pace Centre since 2005 and Patron of Heart of Bucks Community Foundation and Milton Keynes Museum since 2017. After her year as High Sherriff ended in 2017 she undertook the role of Chair of BACO (Bucks Association for the Care of Offenders) and is a Trustee of Action 4 Youth. In January 2019 she joined the Council of Buckingham University and is immensely proud to be the current Honorary Colonel of Buckinghamshire’s Army Cadet Force.

She has three adult children and lives with her husband Rupert, on a small farm in the Vale of Aylesbury.

I have always had a keen interest in youth development and education, from interning with AED (Academy for Educational Development) in Washington D.C. and founding ACE (Academics Creates Excellence) programme at Yale University that was focused on reducing truancy in primary and secondary schools in New Haven, Connecticut to being a Women’s Board Member of the Children in Crisis Charity founded by Sarah, Duchess of York and most recently joining the Board of Action4Youth. I am passionate about the next generation, with a particular interest in mental health, mentoring and developing youth career opportunities.

Darren Williams (DW) lives in Westminster and is the Founder of Williams Harding Consulting, having formally held Senior roles in a number of businesses in retail and hospitality, including Hotel Chocolat and Unilever. He is also CEO of www.scrubd.com and a Trustee at Action 4 Youth, and at Williams Harding (www.williamsharding.com) works with start-ups, expanding and distressed businesses, primarily in Retail and Hospitality but also outside of these sectors.

DW also speaks on the industry circuit as well as hosting and panel moderating at both corporate and charity events. He currently holds 2 Ambassadorial roles, being a Schools Role Model for Stonewall, and fundraising and awareness for Target Ovarian Cancer. He has run 4 London marathons and a number of other major run series for this charity.

Williams Harding also partners with a Bulgarian dog rescue centre www.helenshouseofhope.com (DW even brought one of the residents home for a new life in London).

Having trained in medical and then actuarial science, my professional career has been in the world of financial services and amongst a small number of directorships I include an exciting venture capital fund that is trying to invest to make the world a better place.

I am passionate about the importance of education and the development of young people and am inspired by the incredible work that our fine charity does. I am also a school board governor and educational volunteer.

I have three grown up children of my own and we all love sport and the great outdoors.

Graeme joined A4Y as a Trustee in July, 2018 as he is committed to the charity’s outdoor education offering and the impact this can have in assisting children achieve their full potential in life. He has worked at Board level in financial services most of his working life and has led his own private equity business for the last 11 years.

He is married with two grown up children and likes to travel and take on adventure challenges.

 I have close to thirty years investment experience and am a Chartered Accountant. Having brought up three children, I have become very aware of the the many hurdles now facing young adults. I have been involved with two charities, Trust for London and Action Medical, who provide support for the young and I now look forward to helping Action4Youth where possible.

Louise is an experienced marketing, innovation and sales leader with over 20 years experience in big FTSE 100s and most recently start ups. She has worked in brand, innovation, customer marketing and sales roles on some of the worlds biggest brands such as Guinness and Smirnoff and also e-commerce brands such as Huel, a fast growing nutritional food brand. Louise has recently set up her own marketing company and helps several start up brands in the health and wellness space.

Louise loves helping people to grow through a combination of learning, coaching and practical application and is delighted to work with Action4Youth and loves seeing the value they add for so many young people. Louise has 2 young sons and is a rather inflexible lover of yoga