Governance

Tina Cunliffe

In addition to her responsibilities as Chair of the Board, Tina works as Director of Corporate Services and Company Secretary for Bolton at Home. Throughout her 30-year career in social housing Tina has supported individuals and communities to transform their lives; a shared synergy with Groundwork Greater Manchester’s mission.

Tina is advocate for community empowerment and has witnessed what can be achieved when people unite under a common banner. As a nature lover, she is particularly passionate about the importance of greening urban areas, providing green spaces where people can come together, grow fresh food and connect with nature.

Tina’s experience with business development and governance brings value to the Groundwork board, as well as her hunger for learning and drive to get involved in new things.

Three words that describe Tina; Caring, Committed and Curious.

Joanne Yates

Joanne is a registered mental health nurse who has 30 years’ experience working in NHS organisations across the North West and is now a nurse lecturer at the University of Salford.

Her first-hand experiences have demonstrated the symbiotic relationship between the health and wellbeing of people and the communities in which they live. As such, she was drawn to join Groundwork as a Trustee, recognising the positive differences Groundwork makes for vulnerable people and the communities in which they live. 

In addition, Joanne is an advocate of social prescribing and recognises the connection between access to green space and positive mental health, regularly spending time outdoors with her family and two dogs.

Joanne brings to the board a real sense of understanding of the people Groundwork supports and commits to interrogating data in order to present considered challenge.  

Three words that describe Joanne; Reflective, Passionate, Compassionate

Cllr Tom Besford

Councillor Tom Besford represents Littleborough Lakeside on Rochdale Borough Council, a community who has first-hand experience of the devastation caused by flooding. This is one of the reasons Councillor Besford became a Trustee at Groundwork; recognising how Groundwork’s environmental management and green skills training provision safeguards our homes and communities.

As well as political advocacy within Rochdale Borough Council, Councillor Besford brings with him insights from his career in the music industry, where he supports emerging musicians to build sustainable careers, sharing a likeness with Groundwork’s skills and coaching provision.

Three words that describe Tom; Empathetic, Detailed, Relentless.

Stewart McCombe

After a career in banking, Stewart developed boardroom experience across the arts, leisure and social care sectors, before joining Groundwork Greater Manchester as a trustee in November 2022.

A firm believer that every citizen has a duty to leave the world in a better shape than they found it, and inspired by the landscapes of his hometown in Scotland, Stewart felt a connection with Groundwork’s mission; connecting communities with greenspace.

And ever since Stewart witnessed individuals in Manchester being left behind a number of years ago, he has been on a mission to offer his own voice in support of anyone who is not being heard.

Stewart brings with him to the role a passion for genuine stakeholder voice and representation in decision making, alongside a continual desire to learn and understand.

Three words that describe Stewart; Always. Building. Lego.

Steph Everett

Steph grew up and spent the early years of her career in areas that Groundwork supports, seeing first-hand the importance of its work in supporting places and people at community level.

Now with over 25 years’ experience in strategic planning, regeneration, housing and placemaking, she helps to drive forward the growth and renewal of towns and neighbourhoods across Greater Manchester and the North of England.

As an advocate for social inclusion and the value of the natural environment in our towns and cities, Steph was delighted to join Groundwork GM as a Trustee in 2022. The genuine passion and belief of everyone involved to deliver the vision of creating a greener, fairer & stronger future for all people, communities and places in Greater Manchester was what inspired Steph to become a part of the team.

Three words that describe Steph; Optimistic, Creative & Passionate.

Tessa Wiley

Tessa’s background in museums, at the National Lottery Community Fund and, most recently, as Business Partner with the Co-operative Group, have all demonstrated to her the value of listening to local community voices.

With this idea central to her working practice, alongside a desire to deliver sustained, long-term action, Tessa led a £15 million pound climate change project at the National Lottery Community Fund. 10 years later, projects from this fund continue to deliver environmental and community outcomes and continue to inspire future decision making.

These shared values drove Tessa to join the Groundwork board in 2021, inspired by the impact and difference the charity makes across Greater Manchester, particularly in relation to life skills and employment initiatives.

Bringing with her knowledge of the funding sector and strong stakeholder management experience, Tessa supports business development with the trust.

Three words that describe Tessa; Loyal, Team Worker & Committed

Jack Collier

Jack is a proven leader in the digital industry, having worked with organisations such as the BBC on their transformation journey, or with the Department for Education on tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. Jack hopes to use his experience to realise the opportunity of digital and data to create fairer outcomes in society and change the dynamic between organisations and their users.

Whatever the challenge, Jack puts users and the teams delivering for them at the heart of his work. He returned to Manchester in 2019 to take a more local and community-driven approach to policy and service development in government. He’s a passionate supporter of Groundwork’s mission to empower communities and tackle inequality. His work with the Department of Energy and Climate Change and with vulnerable people in the education and justice system has highlighted just how important local community is to achieve the change we need.

He’s excited to make Groundwork’s mission a reality for the people of Manchester.

Three words to describe Jack: Mission, Collaboration, People-focus

Rosie East

Rosie first became familiar with Groundwork Greater Manchester whilst developing and delivering the Green Recovery Challenge Fund for Defra during the COVID-19 pandemic – a time when the importance of access to green spaces and green jobs came to the fore.

The growing evidence base of the benefits of nature and green space for wellbeing and climate resilience, as well as her person belief that collaborative action for climate and nature can have huge co-benefits for people and community wellbeing – Rosie felt that the work Groundwork undertakes in collaboration with other organisations and local communities has never been more valuable. 

Rosie brings with her to the trustee role a wealth of funding and policy experience in climate change, nature recovery, education and housing and, equality and diversity.

Three words to describe Rosie: committed, collaborative and keen to learn and find positive solutions!

Janet Thomas

Janet’s current role in the Probation Service strongly aligns with Groundwork’s mission to improve the life chances and prospects of people wanting to turn their lives around and away from crime. Within her Trustee role, Janet is keen to introduce new partnership opportunities within the criminal justice network to the Groundwork employment and communities teams.

Outside of work Janet is an active volunteer in her community, salvaging and redistributing surplus food from local supermarkets to a local Community Hub.

Three words to describe Janet: confident, calm & creative.

Executive Director: Deborah Murray

Director of Finance & Resources: Gary Cunningham

Director of Employment & Enterprise: Venetia Knight

Director of Communities & Neighbourhoods: Michaela Howell