Our Trustees
Christine Bowden (Chair)Christine is the former Deputy Mayor of Newham, with over 30 years' experience of charity management. Along with volunteering alongside a busy career in business, the Voluntary Sector and local politics, she has dedicated many years to successfully guiding and supporting disadvantaged young people, giving them opportunities that allow them to grow, develop and aspire to greater things which may not have been within their own vision of their future.
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Dave BurnsBorn in Hackney and an east London resident, Dave is the joint owner and Managing Director for Clark Electrical Industries Ltd, an electrical testing and maintenance contractor who have been established in Canning Town since the 1970's. Dave is a very keen cyclist and has completed the London to Paris charity cycle ride raising £2,500 and was part of a team that did the trek to the base camp of Everest which raised collectively £90,000 for charity. Dave has always supported AAA, and was very happy to join our team us as a trustee.
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Colin GraingerColin is a freelance journalist, editor, sub-editor and layout man. As former Editor of the Newham Recorder and Sub-editor on The Guardian, he has 44 years experience in the media industry. Colin is also the life freeman of Newham based charity Community Links and has actively been involved with charities and community organisations for over 40 years.
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Cllr Sarah RuizSarah brings over 30 years experience of working for and supporting charities in Newham, as the former secretary NCVS for 15 years and more recently the founder director of Eat E16 a community café. Sarah is a local Councillor in Newham and is the current cabinet member for Children and Social Care.
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Melba PalhazyMelba is a freelance programme and business development consultant and manager, bringing expertise in developing partnerships and community projects. Melba's past experience includes leading projects supporting vulnerable young people in east London and managing sports development programmes. A keen sportswomen, Melba was nominated to be a London 2012 torchbearer and Olympic ambassador.
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Eustace BellevueEustace is an IT Consultant and Manager with over 35 years experience in delivering complex IT and business change programs for large corporations around the globe. His passion is supporting youth development, through wellbeing and sporting projects, reflected in his stewardship whilst acting as chairman of ProStar Youth FC, and more recently establishing The Atoms FC, a new football player development club whose focus is on supporting boys and girls to be the best they can be, by way of excellent coaching, delivered by local youth and like-minded adults.
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Sharon KaurSharon Kaur is the Managing Director of Sahara Care Limited, a company she built from scratch. She was named “East London Business Person of the year” at the Thames Gateway Business Awards in 2006, “Entrepreneur of the year” at the Asian Women of Achievement Awards in 2007, and “Businesswomen of the Year” at the Asian Women Awards, also in 2007. Having left school at 15, Sharon founded Sahara Homes, professional care homes of distinction for people with learning difficulties, in 1997. She is as passionate about her company and the community she serves and actively supports several charities.
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Karen AyKaren is owner and director of graphic design agency Chomp Creative Limited. She has a long-standing passion for community based, grassroots football as well as the arts and is co-founder of The Atoms FC, a youth development football club based in Canning Town. In the past she has worked on the Haiti Earthquake Fundraiser at the Roundhouse and The Blank Canvas Project at the Big Chill Festival. Karen is also editor and producer of LoveEast Magazine, an East London focused print magazine which reaches Hackney and parts of Tower Hamlets, Walthamstow, Wanstead and Newham.
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John BerginJohn is the current Chief Executive of Newham Music, the award-winning Music Education Hub for Newham, providing high quality music-making opportunities for children and young people in schools and music centres across the borough.
John is also a trustee with Drake Music, a leading national organisation working in music, disability and technology. His musical expertise stems from his earlier working life as a violinist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Mark PerkinsMark is a former Head of Commissioning for the London Borough of Newham with over 25 years experience in the direct management and commissioning of a wide range of services including; parks and open spaces, leisure centres, libraries, sports development, volunteering and community grants. Mark has worked closely with AAA since its inception to help develop facilities at Ark in the Park and Abbey Hub.
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