Following our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and #FindingYourWay Conference, we are delighted to welcome a trio of new faces to the Sands Board.
Jonathan Bird, Joel Mitchell and Dr Sarah Stock were elected following a vote by Sands’ members at Resource for London in Holloway Road on Saturday 23 November.
Jonathan Bird is a proven business owner, international speaker, dedicated marketer and a bereaved father. He uses his vast knowledge of social media platforms to deliver expert business advice to high-profile clients in various major sectors.
Joel Mitchell is the Managing Director for Stagecoach South East, a bus and coach company in Kent and East Sussex. Joel first became involved with Sands in February 2008 following the stillbirth of his daughter Maisie. It was at that time that he took up running, completing the Great South Run in Maisie’s memory in October of 2008.
Dr Sarah Stock is Sarah is a Consultant Obstetrician at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and a Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. She leads research which aims to reduce the number of baby deaths and improve care for women and their families, and collaborates with experts from around the world on projects on the prediction and prevention of pregnancy complications.
The hour-long AGM which included the vote was hosted ahead of the #FindingYourWay conference and provided Sands’ members with an opportunity to hear an update from the Board of Trustees on activities and progress made during the past year.
Clea Harmer, Chief Executive at Sands, said: “I am thrilled to be able to welcome Jonathan, Joel and Sarah to the Sands Board. They have demonstrated how dedicated and passionate they are in making a real difference to bereaved parents and families; and will help us ensure our three year strategy helps us achieve our vision and mission.”
The conference provides an opportunity for all those who support Sands and are involved with the charity to celebrate what has been achieved and focus on how we can work together to support anyone affected by the death of a baby, improve bereavement care and save babies’ lives.