Before retiring, Vanessa was a member of the senior leadership team at Aylsham High School. She was also a National Lead Practitioner with the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, leading networks of senior leaders to develop strengthen links with communities and engage with parents. Vanessa was part of a core group forming a strong collaboration between schools.

Ray comes from a career background in Special Educational Needs and former head of Bushey Place School. He is founder and chairperson of Aylsham Blind club, and has a life-long commitment in local Methodism and other denominational church work.

Claire is a Learning & Development Social Care Consultant. With over 23 years of working across Norfolk and Suffolk Social Care, Claire has amassed a wealth of hands-on experience and is passionate about the delivery of compassionate, person-centred care along with ensuring the workforce are upskilled and supported. Claire was a co-founder of the Norfolk Care Awards.

Derek is retired and living in Aylsham. He had a long career working in local government, central government, housing associations and local charities. He was Founder Chair of Saffron Housing Association (South Norfolk) and remains interested in good governance in the charity sector and well-being strategies for older people.

For the past 27 years Sally has been the Director of Moore Networking Limited supporting young people into apprenticeships across the South and South East of England. Heading up both a social enterprise and a non-profit making organisation, she has a wealth of experience within partnership work, facilitating people networks and people management, and is committed to creating innovative and sustainable solutions to problems thrown up by modern day living.

Helen moved to Norfolk 15 years ago to work for the National Trust, leading a team of volunteers and staff to conserve our heritage for future generations. Prior to that she had a global role for a scientific publishing company, leading teams in UK, Germany and USA. Since her retirement, Helen has enjoyed volunteering for Blickling, the WI and as a Trustee for ACT.

Brought up in Norwich, Paul studied law at Trinity Hall, Cambridge and qualified as a solicitor in London, specialising in corporate and commercial law. Paul later switched to banking, working for leading international banks for 20 years in global roles based in London, Frankfurt and Singapore. Paul recently returned to Norfolk with his wife and two young sons after 15 years in Singapore.