Peter has worked with charities and social enterprises for most of his career. Most recently as a freelance consultant, and before that in senior positions at the Social Investment Business and the National Lottery Community Fund. 

In earlier roles he volunteered in a homeless charity, worked for previous incarnations of Connected Voice, researched the first guide to grant making trusts in the region, supported the development of the Tyne and Wear and Northumberland Community Foundation and worked in regeneration. He has served on several governing bodies including Alcohol Concern, the Millfield House Foundation, Healthwatch Newcastle and two employee ownership companies, and he has chaired the BBC Children in Need Regional Committee. 

Hannah has a BSc in Environmental Science and has over 10 years’ experience working in sustainability and environmental management. Hannah is currently Sustainability Manager at Newcastle University, leading on development and delivery of sustainability projects and action plans to address the climate and ecological crises, and create a more sustainable future.

Hannah is passionate about all areas of sustainability and environmental justice. She has a keen interest in engagement and education for sustainability, as well as incorporating decision making on environmental and social issues within investment strategies to bring about positive change.

Elaine has worked in the charitable sector since 2004 and has a vast experience of supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged people.  She is currently the Chief Executive Officer at Tyneside Women's Health supporting women to improve their mental health and emotional wellbeing.  Elaine is a trained and qualified counsellor and is an experienced charity leader.

Paraphrasing civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, Alexandros describes himself as one of the “angelic troublemakers” every community needs. With 40+ years’ experience across the private, public and third sectors, he brings a strong multicultural perspective and a distinctive approach to solving complex challenges.

Values-driven, he is committed to integrity, service and amplifying unheard voices. He brings people and organisations together to build collaboration, guided by the principle “Nothing for us, without us.”

As a Governor of Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, he championed health inequalities, patient involvement, and inclusion, helping the Trust become an HIV Confident, award-winning organisation. He is a member of the Fast Track Cities Initiative for Newcastle Steering Group, part of the UN initiative to end transmission of HIV and Blood Borne Viruses and End Stigma. Alexandros also chaired Healthwatch Newcastle, including during COVID-19.

His international career includes roles with the British Council and in strategic communications. Passionate about the arts, he recognises their role in supporting mental health and wellbeing, including his own lived experience.

Bethan is Head of Operations at St Chad’s Community Project, where she provides strategic and operational leadership to support the organisation’s mission, long-term sustainability, and community impact. 

With extensive experience across the voluntary and community sector, she has led diverse teams and volunteers, overseen inclusive programmes, and supported partnership working across Gateshead and the wider North East. Alongside her leadership experience, Bethan holds an MA in Translation Studies and brings strong communication skills and a translational mindset to her work.

Passionate about people, community-led change, and helping organisations thrive through strong leadership and collaboration, she also has a deep understanding of the grassroots challenges charity leaders face. This insight is grounded in hands-on experience across community organisations, along with a commitment to building inclusive, sustainable approaches that enable people and organisations to flourish. Bethan is committed to supporting charities and community organisations to strengthen their impact through effective governance, collaboration, and inclusive leadership.

With over twenty years’ experience in the NGO and education sectors, Drew is a leading advocate for global LGBTQ+ rights. Until 2024, he was a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Sunderland, specialising in global LGBTQ+ rights, activism, international development, and global health.

Drew is Founder and CEO of ReportOUT, an internationally recognised human rights organisation documenting abuses against LGBTQ+ communities worldwide. He also serves as Outreach and Volunteer Manager at the ONE Centre, Gateshead’s first LGBTQI+ community centre.

He is Chair of the UK Alliance for Global Equality, a coalition of civil society organisations advocating for international LGBTQ+ rights, and sits on the Advisory Council of Kaleidoscope Trust’s Global LGBTI+ Rights Commission. Drew has also been selected for Harvard University’s Program for Global LGBTQI+ Advocacy and Leadership.

A Company Director, charity trustee, and award-winning educator, Drew was previously voted by the Pride Power List as one of the top 100 most influential LGBTQ+ people in the UK.

Keith was appointed onto the Connected Voice board in February 2023 for his financial expertise and breadth of experience as a trustee in the VCSE sector. Keith is now retired from a distinguished career as a Chartered Accountant, and has previously been President of the Northern Society of Chartered Accountants. Keith has served as a trustee on the board of local charities including Northern Stage, and is currently a Non-Executive Director of Tyne Theatre and Opera House, and a trustee of a national LGBTQ+ support charity.

Peter was Chief Executive at Azure Charitable Enterprises for 21 years (having previously worked in a variety of manufacturing businesses). Azure provided services to people with disabilities (support for living, training, job finding and placing disabled people in work with other employers and within Azure’s own trading businesses). He was a member of the Bank of England Commercial/Industrial Liaison Panel for many years and was twice Chairman of the Northumbria branch of British Institute of Management. A governor of Northumberland College for 3 years he then served as Chairman for a further 14 years. Peter also served on the Further Education Funding Council.

Busola is currently the Senior Administrator and HR Lead at The Angelou Centre, where she focuses on strengthening people management, staff development, and organisational systems to support women and children from the Black and racialised communities. Prior to this, she spent over a decade managing Success4All, a local education charity, where she had the privilege of working alongside children and young people across the North East, celebrating their creativity, resilience, and talent.

With a background in Psychology (MSc) and Drama (BA), Busola brings a creative and people-centred approach to her work. Connected Voice is her first trustee role, and she is proud to support its mission and amplify the voices of those often unheard.

Salha is currently Artistic Director at Teakisi.  She is a social entrepreneur, gender equality, empowerment champion and a self-taught blogger with multiple skills that she has acquired over the last 15 years. Fuelled by passion for empowering and promoting African girls and women, their voices, equality and diversity, she considers herself a “forever student,” eager to both build on her academic foundations in Sociology and Politics, while staying in tune with the latest digital and in person strategies that will amplify the voices of African women, her local community and those of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities.

Sam has 15 years’ experience in public health, occupational health and wellbeing, performance sports, and voluntary sector - managing multidisciplinary teams in some of the most competitive and complex environments in the world, including internationally in the UK, USA, Malta, France, and India. With cross-sector experience including; elite professional sport, private sector, public health, public sector services, universities, and healthcare charities – including work with member organisation Newcastle United Foundation. Sam has made contributions to research and large scale projects featured in reputable media outlets including; The Independent, The Guardian, The Athletic, BBC News, BBC Match of the Day, and ITV News. Currently Sam works for Macmillan Cancer Support (one of the UK’s biggest healthcare charities) as National Health and Wellbeing Manager.

Tracy is NHS GP Practice Manager, West End Family Health. Tracy has worked in the healthcare and voluntary sector for 15 years, taking responsibility for leadership and governance for medical and community services, maintaining a focus throughout on equal access to healthcare for those less able to access it easily.  In addition, Tracy helped to establish and grow West End Family Health CIC, a collaboration of practices who came together with voluntary sector organisations explore new ways of working to improve the wellbeing of people living in Newcastle.