As CEO of Changing Lives, Stephen feels privileged to work with people who want to see real change and make a real difference to others in a time of crisis.
Stephen’s experience covers serving on various National and Regional groups and boards across the voluntary and public sectors. These have included Homeless Link Governance Committee, where Stephen steered policy change for those effected by homelessness and related issues.
Stephen has received national recognition for the work he has done including the Voluntary Sector Entrepreneur of the Year Award and was privileged to receive a Queens Honour for his services to the homeless.
Becky is Changing Lives’ Deputy CEO and is responsible for setting strategy and all operational services across our four themes: housing & homelessness; recovery from addiction; women and children and employment.
Becky represents the homelessness sector on Homeless Link’s National Advisory Council, is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ending Homelessness Steering Group, and also sits on Newcastle City Council’s Voluntary Sector Liaison Group. She has been with Changing Lives since July 2013.
As Executive Director (People) Lesley-Anne has overall responsibility for the health, wellbeing and safety of Changing Lives' employees.
An experienced people leader, Lesley-Anne joined Changing Lives in 2019. She has previously worked for Northumbria Police and the Commission for Social Care.
As the interim Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of Changing Lives, Nigel supports and aids development within the Finance department, as well as supporting staff, systems, communication and working closely with other departments.
Nigel is a chartered accountant and a large proportion of his career has been working for a large family business in the North East which operated Care homes, Nurseries, Home Care, Retirement Housing and Property Development.
Dean Fielding operated as Group Finance Director of LSL Property Services PLC from 2002 to 2010.
Since then he has been a non-executive Director and Chair of other businesses within the Property Sector.
Dean was Chair of Arc Light, before it became part of Changing Lives in 2016.
Catherine is an Independent Consultant working in the cultural, media and charitable sectors helping businesses become more creative, resilient and nimble. She recently stepped down as CEO at Helix Arts. Catherine trained as a producer and director with the BBC and ran BBC London TV News, BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and then BBC Midlands between 2003 and 2013.
Catherine graduated with a French and Spanish degree from University of London and has an MA from Warwick University in Creative and Media Enterprise.
Mike spent 39 years of service in Lancashire and Durham Constabularies, retiring as Chief Constable of Durham. He led the implementation of Problem Orientation and Restorative Justice training in Lancashire, providing victims with a voice and meaningfully challenging people who have committed offences to change their behaviour. Over the last decade he transformed Durham into the world’s leading police organisation in the adoption and use of Problem Orientation.
He has also been actively involved in charities and community groups as trustee and chair. In 2017 he was named ‘Communicator of the Year’ in the North East in 2017 and enjoys regular appearances in the media.
Steve had a long and varied career in the civil service until his retirement. For the past eleven years he led work on single homelessness and rough sleeping.
He was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List in recognition for his services to rough sleepers. He has worked with Changing Lives over a number of years.
Steve is married with two children. His hobbies include walking, squash and supporting Chelsea.
Peter has had a long successful career in the Probation Service and brings significant knowledge and experience of the Criminal Justice system to the Board.
Peter initially obtained a degree in Modern History and Politics at Liverpool University before going to work in the voluntary sector. He obtained his C.Q.S.W. from University College Cardiff before beginning his career in the Probation Service.
He worked in London and Humberside before becoming Chief Officer in Northampton in 2005, moving to North Yorkshire two years later where he remained until his retirement in 2014. During this time he obtained an MBA from the University of Hull.
Peter brings with him considerable experience of leading multi-agency working, having chaired Criminal Justice Boards, Drug Action Teams, and Safeguarding Boards during his career.
Geraldine has worked in the Housing Sector at a senior executive level for over 25 years. She was previously Deputy Chief Executive at Tees Valley Housing Group (now Thirteen) with particular interests in regeneration, housing market renewal, community investment and supported housing. She spent the first 12 years of her housing career working for local authorities in Hartlepool, Derwentside and Middlesbrough in various operational and strategic posts.
She is passionate about the North East and has a keen interest in its economic development and future governance. She has been actively involved as a Board member of a number of partnerships across the region aimed at making and improving the economic, housing and social prospects of local areas.
Lesley Telford has worked in the banking sector for over 26 years, covering areas across the North East and Tees Valley areas.
She has more latterly worked in the SME sector but has also previously worked with businesses operating in the larger business space. She has knowledge of structuring deals in the healthcare and not for profit sectors and also has some experience in structuring funding solutions in the oil and gas sector.