Our Wonderful Trustees

Jon has worked for over 25 years in the IT industry across a number of sectors and within a variety of organisations - from multi-nationals to start-ups - and now runs his own business as an independent IT consultant. He holds an MA in Mathematics from Cambridge University, postgraduate qualifications in Computer Science, and Chartered IT Professional status. Jon is an avid guitarist and has previously worked for several years at Orb as a guitar teacher and member of the house band, both as a volunteer and a session worker.

Richard has a background in financial services and served on boards in the UK and overseas before setting up his own Consultancy advising on and designing high value payment systems. He has had a long-standing interest in mental health and wellbeing issues and also served as a non-executive on the board of Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust. Currently Richard is the Chair of Pioneer Projects (Celebratory Arts) Ltd based in Bentham in the Dales which offers very similar services to Orb Community Enterprise and also serves on the board of the Leeds Diocesan Board of Finance.

After studying in Durham, Ernie taught drama in East Leeds for 5 years before leaving in 1979 for a career in TV Documentaries and Series, variously as film editor, sound recordist, cameraman and occasional director.
Also a passionate musician, Ernie wrote and produced scores for innumerable TV programmes and series worldwide, including children’s animation series.
In 2015 Ernie volunteered his film-making services at Orb and continues to help showcase the amazing work being done here, along with making films for several other local charities. He became a Trustee at Orb in 2020.

Sue has been CEO at local Community Anchor Organisation, Chain Lane Community Hub in Knaresborough since 2021, following five years running her own consultancy business supporting VCS organisations develop skills and capacity. Formerly CEO of the Your Consortium skills partnership (now Better Connect) she helped secure over £22m in funding for the voluntary and community sector across West and North Yorkshire during her time at the helm. During this period, she also led the team that brought Chain Lane Community Centre into community ownership.

Louise has worked for over 10 years in children and adults social care as an occupational therapist. Louise brings strategic knowledge and professional experience working with people from a range of backgrounds and with a focus on holistic wellbeing. She has been a trustee since 2014 and since 2019 has also represented Orb Community Arts on the Board of sister organisation Pioneer Projects. She remains committed to supporting the collaboration of both organisations.

Rose has over 40 years’ experience spanning the charitable, community arts, education and commercial sectors in York, including Co-founder and Creative Director of Accessible Arts & Media (AAM) for 35 years and Chair of Tang Hall Big Local for over 10 years, a lottery funded resident-led initiative to make Tang Hall, in York, a better place live.

Since retiring from AAM in April 2025, she’s established a new family business in Knaresborough, Helping Hands and Paws, allowing her and her family to continue helping and supporting others.

As an avid community musician and artist, inclusion, community and wellbeing are at the heart of everything she does. Rose has an in depth understanding of the issues facing adults and young people with learning disabilities, and those affected by mental ill-health and dementia. She also set up the first singing and signing choir in the UK over 25 years ago, Hands & Voices, to help adults with communication and learning difficulties communicate through music and performance. And she’s looking forward to sharing her passion of singing with the Orb singing group.