PENNIES FROM HEAVEN - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Founder
- Non Executive Director
Non Executive Director Anthony Law, Chairman is the Co-founder of Pennies from Heaven in 1999, now enjoying a very busy retirement living in North Norfolk.
Having worked on an assignment for VSO in South Africa after leaving school Anthony embarked on a 30 year career in insurance broking working for the Sedgwick Group in various european countries (20 years) returning to the UK from Denmark at the end of 1990. Roles were largely marketing related & included operational responsibility latterly for the Nordic countries.
Job Titles:
- Distribution Manager
- Financial Controller
Catherine qualified as a chartered accountant with Coopers & Lybrand working in tax before a brief period as a financial journalist. Having taken time off to have a family, she is now a senior teaching fellow in accounting at Lancaster University. In her spare time, she has gained a PgDip in Charity Accounting at the CASS Centre for Charity Effectiveness, and is learning to row.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Directors
- Trustee
David has been a longstanding trustee and volunteer in the charitable sector. He is Trustee/Treasurer of Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice, Chair of Governors at Blackheath High School GDST and Treasurer of one of the City Churches. As a Chartered Accountant his early career was spent with Reed Elsevier and then for many years David was Group Finance Director at Grayling, an international public relations and public affairs group. Now a consultant, he helps charities and businesses with strategy, organisation of financial operations and financial and stakeholder reporting.
Gemma joined Pennies from Heaven in September 2023 as our Team Administrator. After taking a career break and being fortunate to be able to spend quality time with her two sons, Finlay and Edmund; Gemma had time to evaluate the important things in life after being dealt such a tragic blow following the loss of a very close member of her family. Gemma's passion to help and care for others is paramount and she felt that she wanted to offer her help and support to others by working for the team.
In 2000 she travelled the world for a year visiting America, Hawaii, Rarotonga, New Zealand, Australia, Bali, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
Gemma has over 16 years' experience working in the NHS and the private sector as a Theatre Assistant at The Great Western Hospital and Ridgeway Hospital in Swindon. Gemma loved working in theatre, finding it interesting, she learnt so much and loved the nature of the job. As well as caring and preparing patients for surgery her role involved a huge administrative responsibility.
After returning from maternity, while on a career break, she became a Child-Minding Assistant for a year then moved on to be an Ofsted Registered Nanny and continues this role alongside her current position with Pennies from Heaven. Gemma is also kept busy with her two young boys and in her voluntary role as Assistant Treasurer (PA) at the local primary school.
Hobbies include dog walking, supporting and caring for others, cooking, entertaining, spending time with family and friends and can often be seen on the sideline, cheering her eldest Son, Finlay on at football.
Isabel has had a wide ranging career, having started in banking she then spent over 15 years in central Government working across the Home Office, Cabinet Office, Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General's Office. She is currently working at Surrey County Council delivering their Data Strategy. Isabel is committed to a wide range of local charities and values the opportunity to support Pennies from Heaven deliver its mission of getting payroll pennies to charities.
Kate joined Pennies from Heaven in 2005 and became CEO in January 2017
Kate has led Pennies from Heaven through an ambitious growth period, increasing the number of people and organisations participating in the scheme by 50% in three years. Having spent ten years as a marketing professional and strategy director at Barclays Bank, Kate joined Pennies from Heaven to fulfil her passion to make a difference to the charity sector. Kate led the development of Pennies from Heaven across the NHS and to date NHS staff have donated over a £1m via the scheme. Much of these donations have benefited the work of NHS charities themselves.
Kate is a passionate believer that people want to give more to charity and if we can make it accessible and easy to do so then people will want to join in and will feel good about doing so.
Kate is an experienced business communications strategist, Kate has over 15 years' experience of working with companies to successfully implement and execute stakeholder engagement campaigns to promote, protect and enhance reputation. Kate has an excellent track record in advising the Boards and management teams of many UK and international public and private companies on their capital markets communications activity, including corporate transactions, financial calendar reporting and IPOs.
Kate has worked alongside leading brands to create and implement integrated business-to-business, corporate and consumer campaigns, targeted on achieving commercial success. Her experience has spanned all sectors and ranges from FTSE 100 to AIM listed companies, as well as private businesses.
Rebecca has over 20 years experience in the Banking industry working for some of the UK's largest retail banks. Her career has focused on the delivery and governance of change ensuring policies and compliance are adhered too and change is delivered efficiently. In her early career Rebecca worked as a Management Consultant for PwC and Cap Gemini followed by lengthy employments at Barclays Bank and Lloyds Banking Group. Now working for the AA Rebecca continues to lead change delivery. Alongside her roles at the AA, Pennies from Heaven and being a Mum to 2 young boys, Rebecca is also on the executive team for her local Scouting Group supporting the Scouting leaders and ensuring continued successful running of the local team.
Job Titles:
- Head of Communication and Brand
Tony Smith has been a Motor Underwriter all his career initially in the Lloyd's market and latterly in the company market. Tony has now retired to Norfolk where he is currently a member of the Norfolk Bench. Tony was previously chairman of Peaceful Place, based in Essex a charity for people with early onset dementia.