Our trustees
Walton Charity trustees give their time freely to support our staff team to deliver on the charity’s aims, monitor progress and agree future plans.
Sarah Tomkins, Chair
Sarah is currently CEO of an NHS Community Service, Community Interest Company and has a comprehensive understanding of local community challenges. Having lived in the Elmbridge area for over 40 years, she brings a wealth of local knowledge
Alex Fitzpatrick, Vice Chair
Alex is Deputy Director for Strategy, Implementation and Projects at Department for Work and Pensions. She brings long-standing experience in policy, with a particular focus on social policy including support for people with disability, wider welfare and education.
David Easson
David has more than 30 years' experience in property development. He also has extensive non-executive experience, principally on the Boards of registered housing providers and has spent seven years as Chair of Paradigm Housing Group.
Lindy Fozard
Lindy has been a GP in Weybridge for over 30 years. She is an active member of the fundraising committee and choir at St James Church in Weybridge and helps out the team at Runnymede Foodbank.
Jessica Harris
Jessica has been working in grant making since 2008 and is currently a Senior Associate at Greenwood Place. She has extensive knowledge of the charitable sector and is dedicated to supporting organisations and people working in this space. She also has good local knowledge having attended school in Weybridge.
Elizabeth Kennedy
Elizabeth has extensive retail experience, working for Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, Debenhams and has run her own business. Her charitable experience includes trustee and Chair of Transform Housing & Support, High Sheriff of Surrey, Chair of Cobham Heritage Day and a trustee of Disability Initiative.
Darren Bayley
Darren is a Chartered Marketer and Chartered Manger and is currently Director of Sales and Subject Support at the educational charity AQA. Before working in the charity sector, Darren gained extensive global commercial experience across a range of functions within the medical device sector. Darren lives and grew up in Elmbridge. He is also a member of the Worshipful Company of Marketors’ Charity Outreach Committee, supporting charities nationally.
Jeremy Parkes
Jeremy is a Chartered Accountant with broad commercial experience in the Finance and Telecoms sectors. He has lived in Elmbridge for over 35 years, and has been an active volunteer for the Walton and Hersham Foodbank since 2019.
Louise Cox
Louise is Head of Housing & Support for a Transform Housing association. She has worked in housing for over 30 years, most of which has been spent within Surrey. She brings a wide knowledge of the housing sector along with managing a range of support services working with the most vulnerable in Surrey.
Laura Yates
Laura is a Chartered Accountant with more than 10 years’ experience at KPMG, most recently as part of their Deal Advisory division. Outside work, Laura enjoys spending time with her husband and her two girls. She is a keen allotment gardener and has been allotment charity treasurer for the last two years.
Hayley Lyons
Hayley has held economic leadership roles in government, focused on skills, economic growth, and international development. Currently Head of International Nature Finance Evidence at Defra, she brings extensive experience leading analysis to shape impactful interventions to improve lives, learning what works and why. Her charitable experience includes an international NGO and weekly support in a local school.