Board of Directors

Frank Moxon - President

Member of the Remuneration & Search Committee

Frank was elected to the Board in May 2018.  An economics graduate, he is an experienced board-level financial adviser and corporate financier and is or has been a director, trustee or governor of private and quoted companies, several charities, a professional body and a comprehensive school.

Belinda Bulsing - Vice President

Member of the Performance Review Committee

Belinda was elected to the Board in May 2014. She is involved in her local community as chairman of the parish council at Pettaugh and trustee of a charitable trust supporting the services of the maternity unit at Eye, Suffolk. Belinda is a qualified solicitor, and has worked in both private practice and in-house legal roles.

Joy Burnford

Member of Membership & Community Engagement Committee

Joy was elected to the Board in May 2021. She has 20 years’ business and leadership experience serving as an executive director for three companies over the past 14 years, and is the founder of professional development company My Confidence Matters Ltd. She is an advocate for gender balance in the workplace and pioneers research on female leadership. She has supported a number of local community efforts including chairing her local primary school PTA for 6 years.

Sally Chicken

Member of the Remuneration and Search Committee

Sally Chicken, MSc was first elected to the Board in May 2009, serving for 8 years until 2017. She stepped down at the end of her second term of office for a year and stood again in May 2018.  

She has wide ranging experience in starting and managing credit unions in Wales and the East of England over the last 20 years, and is currently a volunteer Director at two: Eastern Saving and Loans in Ipswich, and Rainbow Saver based in Lowestoft and Peterborough. Her interests include Community Energy, and the restoration of Shotley Pier.

Esme Cole

Member of the Performance Review Committee

Esme was elected to the Board in May 2021. She began her career as an officer in the British Army before moving into significant operations and project management roles over a diverse range of industries. Most recently Esme specialised in leadership and organisation development consultancy both in the UK and internationally. She holds a certificate in environmental management and is a keen advocate of sustainable business. Esme is completing a Masters degree in business administration this year, holds a governor position at a local secondary school and is a trustee of a charitable foundation.

John Cook

Member of the Audit and Risk Committee

John was elected to the Board in 2012. He has a background in finance and audit, but since 1996 has worked for the Labour Party in Norfolk and more recently in Suffolk. John is secretary of the Suffolk Branch of the Co-operative Party as well as being Treasurer of East of England Party Council.

Mandy Errington

Member of the Performance Review Committee

Mandy is a well-known, established local businesswoman and the owner of a popular fashion boutique in Ipswich. She possess key experience which spans over 30 years within the retail and marketing industries. Mandy is well versed with the Society’s operation, after her previous 14 years of service. Over this time she gained a succession of managerial promotions - which eventually led to her position as Head of Marketing for the overall Society. She has successfully pioneered a number of initiatives in the past and whilst running her own business.

Nicola Fox

Member of the Audit and Risk Committee

Nicola began her working career in the publishing industry before moving to positions in Health and Education. She has gained over 20 years experience across marketing, communications, managerial and administrative positions in both the public, private and charity sectors. Nicola is a qualified therapist and now runs her own practice. 

John Hawkins

Member of the Remuneration and Search Committee

John spent his working life in local government initially as a solicitor and for the last 14 years as Chief Executive of Tendring District Council. He has experience of planning law, property and governance issues. He is now retired and working in a voluntary capacity, including for St Helena Hospice and the National Trust.

Emma Howard

Member of the Performance Review Committee

Emma began working for our co-op as a checkout assistant. Since then she has progressed through several different roles and now works in our Finance Team where she is studying accountancy.

Caroline Ley

Member of the Audit & Risk Committee

Caroline worked for many years in the Civil Service across social security, health and justice, gaining experience in operational and policy roles. Following a move to Suffolk some years ago she has worked in a variety of administration roles in the public, private and charitable sectors.

Judi Newman

Member of the Membership and Community Engagement Committee

Judi has worked in the charity sector for over twenty five years, as a fundraiser and philanthropy advisor. She is the Development Director of St Elizabeth Hospice and is Honorary Fellow of the University of Suffolk. Judi and her family run Topthorn Arena, a local equestrian venue in Stonham Aspal. She has been on the Board of the East of England Co-op since 2017.

Jane Nice

Member of Membership & Community Engagement Committee

Jane became an employee at our Co-op in 1994, working within the Personnel Department. Since then, she has progressed to her current role as a CIPD qualified HR Business Partner. Through her time with the Society she has gained experience and knowledge in the majority of the areas within the business. 

Beverley Perkins

Member of the Remuneration and Search Committee

Bev was elected to the Board in May 2013. She has postgraduate qualifications in both Management and Environment and worked for over 20 years in a number of management roles. She is very active with a number of projects in her local community, including the popular Mersea Island Food, Drink and Leisure Festival.

Maria Veronese

Member of the Membership & Community Engagement Committee

Maria was first elected on the board in May 2016.  She is a qualified journalist who has worked in newspapers, radio and television in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom.  Most of her career has been working for the BBC as a television producer and news reporter.  She also runs her own training and property businesses.  Maria’s a keen supporter of the East Anglian Air Ambulance, and has twice run the London Marathon, to raise money for the charity.

Richard Youngs

Member of the Audit and Risk Committee

Richard is a former Royal Air Force Officer who specialised in Finance, Infrastructure and Personnel. He also has experience as a school bursar, a trustee of a service charity, a school governor and as project manager with a local credit union.