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Leadership Team
Steve White is the Interim Chief Executive of Papworth Trust
Steve is a seasoned senior executive and has many years’ experience at CEO level including roles at The Law Society, University of Southampton and four years at The Hyde Group, a large London-based housing association.
He recently spent time as interim CEO at Habinteg Housing while his time at the Hyde Group saw him develop a passion for housing and the role that good quality housing plays in helping some of society’s most vulnerable people live rich and fulfilling lives.
In addition to his day job, Steve also holds non-executive board roles at Moat and Chairs Origin, a London-based housing association and care provider.
He was also previously a trustee at Centre 404, a learning disability charity, and now also advises the trustees at BLESMA, a military charity that helps service people who have suffered limb loss.
Steve, who lives near Saffron Walden in Essex, is an above-knee amputee having had his left leg amputated in 2008.
Jacqui Penalver, Transformation Director
Jacqui Penalver is the Trust’s Transformation Director, leading change at Papworth Trust. She has worked in leadership roles in a number of national disability charities including Scope, the Multiple Sclerosis Society and Sense. Her career has included leading on a number of significant change programmes – Jacqui has a strong track record in transformation.
Mark Blake, Director of Central Services
Mark Blake is the Director of Central Services which will include Finance, Human Resources, Procurement and Internal Insurance. Mark brings significant national and international experience from the charity and private sectors ranging from Fauna & Flora International to the highways and rail maintenance company Amey PLC.
Helena Harris, Director of Operations
Helena graduated from University of East Anglia with a Bachelor of Education (Hons) degree. She went on to establish her own company at the age of 21, which developed from a small retail outlet into a very successful retail, wholesale, mail order and manufacturing company which was sold as a going-concern 17 years later, in 2000.
In 2000, Helena joined Papworth Trust and has worked in a variety of roles over the last fifteen years, including a number of years as Head of Employment. Helena is currently the Director of Operations.
She has three children and many interests outside of work, including gardening and antique restoration.