Host and Guests

Rachel Dawson

Chartered Legal Executive, Ellisons Solicitors

Rachel is an Associate Chartered Legal Executive with Ellisons.  She has a wealth of experience assisting clients with the administration of estates, including complex trusts, advising clients in relation to inheritance tax planning, Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney. 

Rachel is also a Dementia Friends Champion; a trained volunteer who encourages others to make a positive difference to people living with dementia in their community by hosting Dementia Friends information sessions to help create Dementia Friendly Communities.

Evelyn Rutter

Bereavement Counsellor, East of England Co-op

Born in Australia, Evelyn visited the UK in 1978 for a holiday and has been here ever since. After learning her trade in the UK with several qualifications, and even living in Moscow for a year, Evelyn joined our Funeral Services division, based in Colchester, as the Bereavement Support Services Lead in 1999. 22 years later and with a wealth of experience, Evelyn is still offering vital support to bereaved families and individuals.

As well as Evelyn’s amazing work she also enjoys being a Toastmaster and Master of Ceremony in her spare time.

Joanne Burrows

Funeral Co-ordinator, East of England Co-op

Jo is a Funeral Co-ordinator with The East of England Co-operative Funeral Services at Norwich Road, Ipswich.  Jo joined the company just over a year ago and has helped many families arrange a fitting service for their loved ones. 

Nikki Insley

Head of Membership, Community and Insight, East of England Co-op

Nikki has worked at the East of England Co-op for almost nine years.  As part of her role as Head of Membership, Community and Insight she oversees the membership programme and community outreach activity for the Society including the operation of the East of England Co-op Community Cares Fund.

The fund was created in response the Coronavirus pandemic. It uses grants to support community groups adapting and creating support services and activities in response to the crisis.  The first grants, totalling £75K, were shared amongst local foodbanks, Age UK and Community Foundations for Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. In the last eight months the fund has given away more than £254K worth of grants with over £100K of these being to food banks and other organisations dealing with the consequences of food poverty.