Meet the Croydon Commitment Board
Croydon Commitment is governed by its Board of Trustees whose role it is to set the strategic direction of the organisation, approve the budget and ensure that Croydon Commitment meets the real needs of the community.
The board meets regularly to assess the organisation’s development and progression against the aims and objectives set out in the governing documents and business plans. The board currently consists of eight members who have the skills. experience and expertise to steer the organisation.
Katharine Glass
Chair of Trustees
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A marketing and events professional with nearly 30 years’ experience, Katharine uses her considerable communication skills to influence key stakeholder groups and work with diverse communities to mobilise resources, avoid duplication of effort and add value to all.
She founded Develop Croydon as a private-sector led initiative in 2010 to promote Croydon as a great place work, live and relax. Katharine is a board member of the London LEP, LEAP, and Vice-Chair of the voluntary Croydon Constructing Excellence Club.
Toni Letts OBE
Patron
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With a successful record in both public and voluntary corporate leadership, Toni has a wealth of experience in all aspects of business development. For 12 years she was Chair of Croydon Health Authority, Croydon Primary Care Trust, and London NHS Specialist Commission.
Having served in many senior roles within local politics for over 35 years, and Mayor of LBC twice, Toni has a large network within local, London and central government and businesses. She was honoured with an OBE from Her Majesty in 1994 for services to housing and the community.
Ian Palmer
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Ian joined the Croydon Commitment board in the Spring of 2020. He is a chartered civil engineer who has worked from global engineering, management and development consultancy, Mott MacDonald’s Croydon office for over 20 years.
Ian shares his professional analytical skills, his experience from chairing the governing body of a large London primary school and his desire to help businesses give back to society. He also provides a link between Croydon Commitment and its business partner, Mott MacDonald’s 2000 Croydon based staff.
Joanna Goodridge
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Joanna joined the Croydon Commitment board in 2024. She is the founder of JG & Associates, a local Bookkeeping and Accounting firm based in Croydon with over 25 years of experience in finance.
Joanna is also a Certified Financial Coach and has been an Independent Examiner for registered charities for more than 12 years. Her firm supports individuals, small to medium-sized businesses, and non-profit organisations (such as charities). She is connected to a few professional networks, such as The Bookkeepers Success Lounge, BNI Network, and Coach HQ, supporting others to stay up-to-date and deliver a friendly but professional service.
Affi Khan
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Growing up in Croydon, Affi began his journey with his first job at JD Sports in the Drummond Centre. Leaving school after completing his GCSEs, he feels fortunate to have built a successful career as an entrepreneur in the recruitment industry and is deeply committed to giving back to the community that shaped him.
Passionate about paying it forward, Affi focuses on supporting local charities and fostering opportunities for others. He believes in the power of service and strives to contribute meaningfully to his local community, ensuring that success is shared and benefits those around him.
Lt Col (Retd) GE (C) Leigh Jackson RE
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Leigh spent 38 years serving in the Royal Engineers from Sapper to Lt Col. He is an Infrastructure specialist, with a particular focus on Facility Management. He has extensive operational experience worldwide serving in all of the recent conflicts until his retirement from the Army in 2017. He continues to work in the Defence sector as a Project Manager delivering support to the MoD in the Middle East.
Leigh shares his extensive knowledge of the military and the needs of the military community to shape the future of this community. He is committed to the needs of the residents of Croydon and the progression of their fortunes, through his enthusiastic support of Croydon Commitment.
Shanaaz Carroll
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Director, Make The Link Ltd
Shanaaz has been an economic development and policy professional for over 25 years in both the public and private sectors. She has worked for local, regional and central government where she led programmes focused on economic policy, business and enterprise, neighbourhood renewal and retail led regeneration including private sector engagement. Shanaaz was, prior to setting up her own consultancy, Chief Executive of the Association of Town & City Management, where she worked for over five years supporting town centre partnerships of all shapes and sizes across the UK including working with international partners on EU funded programmes. As a consultant, Shanaaz works with numerous local authorities on issues relating to high streets and town centres including street markets. Shanaaz is also former Co-Chair of the Mayor’s London Markets Board and more recently Chair of the emerging London Markets Partnership.
Shanaaz also supports areas as an executive interim and is currently Head of Economic Development & Regeneration at Slough Borough Council.
Hayley Biley
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Hayley Biley is the founder of Nourish Club, a movement helping people in cities reconnect with food by growing their own. With a background in engagement and social impact, Hayley led engagement for one of the UK’s largest youth voter registration campaigns, Give an X, enabling over 500,000 young people to register to vote for their future.
She left the corporate world to focus on addressing the gaps in nutrition and food education, particularly for women and people from underserved areas. Her work combines accessibility, science and storytelling with a commitment to tackling barriers that prevent people from nourishing their bodies whether that’s limited access to green space, nutritious food or knowledge about how to grow it themselves.
Born and bred in Croydon, Hayley’s roots in the borough fuel her mission to build healthier, greener and more connected communities from the ground up.
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