A SPECIALIST grant-giving organisation in Coventry which awards funding to community projects across the region has welcomed two new trustees including finance guru from Bromsgrove.

Heart of England Community Foundation has welcomed author, speaker and business founder Jude Jennison and financial services specialist Daniel Worthing as new trustees.

Jude works with executive boards, senior leaders and entrepreneurs to develop embodied leadership skills and create behavioural change.

She is founder of Leaders by Nature, based in Bishops Tachbrook, which offers a way of developing leadership by working experientially with horses and is the author of Leadership Beyond Measure.

Jude said: “I have wanted to become a charity trustee for a while to share my experience and give something back to the community. I was looking for one that not only adds value to the local area but is also run by business professionals, so the Foundation was an excellent fit.

“I am really looking forward to being part of the team. I am a visionary and a strategic person and I will be looking at how I can support the Foundation’s clear strategic vision.

“My corporate experience spans 25 years, including 16 years at IBM where I managed a budget of $1billion and led UK, European and global teams, so I hope to add value from a leadership point of view.

“I work with national and international companies, so I will also be looking to spread the word about the Foundation to any businesses looking to expand their corporate social responsibility.”

Daniel, from Bromsgrove, is an investment manager at Brooks Macdonald, in Leamington, and has worked in financial services since 2011.

He said: “The Foundation is an excellent charity which distributes grants right across the region and isn’t specific to one cause.

“I had been looking for a not-for-profit organisation to support for a while but I wanted one where my expertise would be of use, so when I heard that the Foundation was looking for someone with an investment background I was more than happy to offer my support.

“It is very interesting to see how a foundation works, and I have already been helping on the investment side. I look forward to continuing to use my expertise to assist the Foundation in the future.”

Heart of England Community Foundation manages a range of funds on behalf of individuals, companies and trusts in the region and awards the money to charities and social enterprises which make a difference at grassroots level.

Tina Costello, CEO of the Foundation, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jude and Daniel as new trustees of the Foundation.

“They both have different skills and expertise which will add value to the Foundation as we continue to develop and grow. They also share our value of supporting local projects which benefit the community.

“We already had a very strong board of trustees, and both Jude and Daniel are excellent additions to this.”