Robert Thomas
Lead Executive
Robert’s career began in the food industry transforming supply chain relationships. He went on to establish his own business coaching commercial strategy. The profits from his business funded an Education Think Tank developing the role of schools in social and economic regeneration.
Robert chairs Team Herefordshire Gold Group with other agency and business
leaders – providing leadership to integrated community management in the City and Market Towns.
Rev. Simon Tarlton
Chair
Parish Priest, keen gardener, volunteer fundraiser and a school governor. Prior to ordination he was a head gardener at a number of estates in UK and Europe and before that he spent 20 years in the shipping industry in UK and Hong Kong.
Steve Sully
Street Presence
Steve’s career has been in the recruitment industry as a Consultant, Branch Manager, Area Manager and National Account Manager. He negotiated national advertising contracts, and was closely involved in the production of marketing material, working alongside professional agencies.
Steve has led Hereford Street Pastors since our formation in May 2013 and now he has responsibility for all Vennture’s Night Time Economy activity.
Rev. Lady Jane Lisvane
Trustee Portfolio for Finance, Performance & Risk
For 25 years Jane worked in business consultancy with SME’s across the South West Midlands and was a non-exec director in the NHS for 15 years.
Jane has chaired successfully several local charities, including being vice chair of HALO sports taking it through significant investment led growth. Jane was High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 2017/2018.
Dave Hider
Trustee for New Projects & Development
Dave is an experienced senior business leader who has spent the last 30 years leading teams through transformational change delivering enhanced performance and results in challenging environments. He now heads up his own leadership development business. Dave graduated from the Advanced Directors Programme at Cranfield University and received an MBA (Distinction) in Leadership & Management from York St John University. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management (FInstLM)
Andy Butterfill
Trustee for our Work with People Sofa-Surfing or Rough Sleeping
Andy is a retired medical practitioner and is a member of St Peter’s and St James’ Church, Hereford, where he is Treasurer. He has 13 years’ experience as a school governor.
Since retiring, Andy has championed the needs of Hereford’s homeless community leading the night shelter work in Hereford.
Liz Stuffins
Trustee Board Secretary
Liz was part of the original management team that revived Vennture in 2012. Liz has serves faithfully in supporting the management team and Trustees. Liz has extensive experience serving as and supporting school governors.
Executive Leadership Team
Ian Purcell
Street Presence Lead
Ian graduated in Accounting and Finance from University of West of England. After a brief accountancy career he has spent the last 37 years in community based, charity settings in a range of roles – internationally, nationally and city based.
Hilary Thomas
Home Presence Lead
Hilary concentrated on her family providing a strong, nurturing home environment raising her four boys. In a voluntary capacity, she built two local children’s club with over 200 children on roll, to promote a values-based education programme.
Hilary led an initiative to capture the voice of the child in Welsh schools before taking up school leadership – specialising in supporting children with special education needs. Hilary progressed to lead Hereford’s most challenging school. Hilary joined Vennture to build a team to provide the support to address the children’s very troubled home lives.
Julia Over
Human Resources
Julia retired from a successful HR career in the Health Service where she rose to lead the Hereford hospital’s HR function. Julia brings a wealth of experience in the practical day to day aspects of Human Resources and the development of HR strategy and policy.
Lisa Charles
Individuals Lead
Lisa has worked for 18 years delivering community regeneration in the housing, local authority and voluntary sectors. She leads our team supporting individuals, with particular emphasis on the single homeless people in our society.