Stevenage FC Foundation are delighted to announce the appointment of four new trustees joining its board.
Henry Hughes DLY, Jennie Sullivan, Mark Lewis, and Matt Rayner attended the August board meeting where they were formally accepted by existing trustees and appointed into their new positions.
Henry Hughes DLY
Henry is a Deaflympian (DLY) who represented Australia at the Deaflympics and two World Deaf Swimming Championships, having also been the Team Captain towards the end and World Medallist with two bronze medals in the relays. He is now selected to represent Great Britain at the upcoming Tokyo Deaflympics in November 2025.
Outside the pool, Henry is a Trustee for Board Racial Diversity UK & White Ribbon UK, Board Member for 64 Million Artists, Youth Advisory Board Member for EY Foundation & Mental Health Innovations and iWill Ambassador. Loughborough University is where he studies Sport Management and trains at Loughborough University Swimming.
Jennie Sullivan
Jennie is an experienced fundraising leader with over 25 years in the charity sector. Her expertise spans public fundraising, corporate partnerships, membership and legacies. As Head of Legacy & Donor Development at GOSH Charity, she has helped shape the organisation’s long-term fundraising strategy, generating significant income growth. She brings experience of fundraising regulation, marketing integration, supporter experience and patient and family engagement. She also volunteers with Hitchin Belles, where she sees the confidence, connection and sense of belonging sport can inspire.
Mark Lewis
Mark is currently Executive Headteacher for Barnwell, Roebuck and Thomas Alleyne schools and is Chief Executive Officer for Hart Schools Trust, a multi-academy trust based in Stevenage. Prior to this he was Headteacher of Thomas Alleyne Academy for 13 years. He is committed to working to enhance the lives of young people and their families in our community having lived and worked in the Stevenage throughout his life. Mark brings extensive governance expertise having served on a range of education and charity boards. Having seen the positive impact of the Foundation’s work he is excited about the opportunity to contribute to its future development as a trustee.
Matt Rayner
Matt is the Strategic Lead for Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership. He has nearly 20 years experience working in Hertfordshire, he is a public sector leader with a track record for shaping complex, cross-sector programmes across local government, education, sport, and community development. Matt brings expertise in multi-agency collaboration, risk management of high-value public contracts and public value delivery, with a strong focus on youth justice, place-based regeneration, and social inclusion.
Foundation Chair of Trustees, Steve McQueen said: “I am delighted to welcome Henry, Jennie, Mark and Matt to the Board of Trustees. Following a very successful recruitment campaign, we have been able to attract four high calibre individuals who I know are both passionate and dedicated to their new roles.
“Collectively, they bring valuable expertise in fundraising, public health, corporate governance, community engagement, and education and employability, areas that are central to our ambitions for the future. They are joining at an important time as we shape our new strategy, and the new trustees will play a critical role in helping set the course for the Foundation’s future. Just as importantly, they all share a deep commitment to making a positive difference in their local community.
“I very much look forward to working with them, as does the rest of the Board and the Foundation’s staff, as we continue to grow our impact.”
Foundation Chief Executive, Joe Goude added: “It is fantastic to have Henry, Jennie, Mark, and Matt joining the Foundation board. Between them, they add real in depth knowledge and lived experience of some of the key areas that the Foundation is looking to prioritise as we enter a new phase of the charity. The team look forward to working collaboratively with them all to continue to make an active, healthy, and positive life accessible to everyone in our community.”
