Trustees
Our Board of Trustees: Committed to governance and growth.
The trustees play a significant role in ensuring YMCA Heart of England operates effectively, ethically and in line with our stated purposes. Our trustees have a legal responsibility to ensure good governance in a number of areas.
These include: Ensuring the Charity carries out its purposes according to our constitution, and that we are complying with the law and charity governing requirements. Our trustees must always put the charity’s interests above personal interests and have oversight of our finances and approve our budgets.
Trustees importantly must ensure we protect our assets and avoid undue risk. Our trustees are also responsible for ensuring accountability
regarding key aspects such as reporting to regulators, funders and paying due attention to the oversight of our annual accounts. Similarly, trustees are expected to lead by example according to our values and Christian ethos.
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Our Trustees
Dawn Ward CBE - Chair
Dawn Ward CBE, Chair of Trustees, has dedicated her life to raising aspirations for young people. An award-winning leader in vocational education, she brings global experience, senior board expertise, and a passion for equity, diversity and inclusion to YMCA Birmingham and beyond.
Everton Burke OBE DL FCFE - Vice Chair
Everton OBE, FCFE, DL, brings over 25 years of experience in further education, community engagement, and governance. A trustee since 2019, he champions safeguarding and continues to support individuals and groups through education, advocacy, and strategic leadership across the West Midlands.
Mike Hew - Trustee
Mike Hew joined the YMCA board in 2017 after a distinguished career as a Chief Executive in housing. A Chartered Institute of Housing fellow, he brings expertise in strategic housing, governance, and change management. He also supports youth and faith communities through local church work.
Gabriel Imevbore - Trustee
Gabriel joined YMCA Birmingham as a resident after coming out of emergency accommodation. Gabriel has since become a Resident Representative for YMCA Birmingham, won the Young Leader of The Year at the 2017 Youth Matters Awards and is now the youngest member of the Board of Trustees in YMCA Birmingham’s history. He has future ambitions of becoming a successful entrepreneur and has started his first business – iMev Marketing Ltd, a social media marketing agency.
Stephen Marchant - Trustee
Stephen Marchant, a Chartered Building Surveyor and Director at Masefields, brings extensive experience in property and a strong commitment to the community. A mentor and grassroots sports supporter, he joined the YMCA board in 2024 to help shape its future with practical expertise and social impact.
Mark Farmer - Trustee
Mark Farmer has over 30 years' experience in youth services, from frontline practice to course leadership at the University of Worcester. A former YMCA housing support worker, he joined the board in 2024 and now contributes to the Housing, Safeguarding and Youth Committee.
Mark Bruckshaw - Trustee
Mark began his career in local authority housing and has since led professional teams delivering government-funded housing services. With over 25 years of involvement in the YMCA movement, as both employee and trustee. He brings extensive governance experience and a deep commitment to the Christian values of the organisation.
Fran Steele - Trustee
Fran is an accomplished leader with experience across executive and non-executive roles in both public and private sectors. With a background in the NHS, consultancy, and board governance, including sport and pensions. Fran joined the YMCA board in September 2024 and currently serves as a Non-Executive Director for Birmingham Women’s & Children's NHS Foundation Trust.
Edward Owusu-Ansah - Trustee
Edward Owusu-Ansah is a Chartered Accountant and director with expertise in health, social care, and private equity. He founded and scaled a multimillion-pound care business, later co-founding a PE firm. A trustee at YMCA Heart of England, he brings financial and sector insight to community-focused initiatives. He studied private markets and sustainable finance at Oxford.
