Trustees

4Children is led by our Chief Executive Imelda Redmond CBE and the organisation is managed by a Board of Trustees.

Board members have an excellent understanding of childcare 0-19 and children and family services, with expertise in training, quality, financial management, policy analysis and development, strategic planning and strategic management. Together they bring a range of skills to represent and champion the organisation.

Our Trustees are:

Pip O'Byrne
Pip O’Byrne has extensive experience in developing community based services for children, families and local communities. She has worked in a variety of posts within Health, Voluntary Sector and Local Government and has been a non executive member of CAFCASS as well as being Chair of 4Children for over 20 years. Pip has been an influencing voice in advocating for and in developing child and family centred policies and services. She is presently advising on the development of intergenerational children and family community centres. Pip is a qualified health professional, with a Masters in Human Resource Management and a Diploma in Child Law.

Gary Walker
4Children has worked with Gary on youth engagement and support in Enfield. Gary is a business person and adventurer who brings a broad background of business expertise.

Sally Hodges
Sally was the Director of Children’s Services for Staffordshire - a post she had held for a number of years. Staffordshire is one of the largest counties in the country. Sally has been part of our network of Directors of Children’s Services developing a joined up approach.

Jon McLeod
Jon is Chairman, Corporate Financial and Public Affairs. His sector experience spans healthcare, property, local government, financial services, media and telecoms, food and agriculture, defence and manufacturing, education and skills and public services. He has particular experience in legal affairs, including litigation communications, regulatory and corruption issues, and legislation. Jon is one of only two lobbyists ranked in both the Total Politics and PR Week top ten rankings of public affairs professionals. Described by The Independent as ‘a very powerful lobbyist’, he is often quoted on communications issues in the media.

John Cove
Currently vice-chair, John has been a Trustee for over 14 years. He is currently the Chief Executive of Milton Keynes Dons FC Sport and Golf Gifts Trust (MK Dons SET). John took this position up in February 2009 having formerly been Group Director of Sure Start and Community Learning at Milton Keynes Council, where he was for 22 years.

Paul Horobin
A Board member of 4Children since 1987, Paul is Head of Community Family Services with Camden Council. Paul formerly worked in the Government’s Sure Start Unit developing their early years and childcare policies.

Wendy Fabbro, Strategic Director People Services
Wendy has worked in Local authorities for over 30 years, managing both adults and children’s services and as a strategic commissioner in City, County and Unitary Councils for both social care and integrated care settings.  She has also led the development of customer services as an Assistant Chief Executive and maintains an instinctive commitment to seeing public service through the eyes of those who need our care. Twelve months into the role of Strategic Director for People services (Adults, Children,  Young people, Families and Education), Wendy would say she is still trying to find the best way to extract additional value from the structure for the people we serve.  Balancing investment in early help or intervention against the demands of delivering a robust quality service to protect children can seem to be more of an art than a science, so in Warwickshire an Early Intervention unit serving all ages signals commitment to actively embracing an evidence based response .