Member-Trustee Nominees

The following members are standing for election to be Member-Trustees of Open Age at the Open Age AGM on Friday 26th September, from 1pm-3pm, at our Avenues Centre.

Marcia Blakenham - Currently an Open Age Member Trustee

Marcia was one of the founders of Maggie’s Centres and has worked and continues to work with them since their inception over twenty years ago. There are now 25 Maggie’s Centres across the UK. She has been co-client on the building of all of them. She was a trustee of Maggie’s and for some years vice-chairman. She worked on the buildings committee and the audit committee.  

She is interested in Open Age because the aims of Maggie’s and of Open Age are very similar, to give proactive relevant help in inspiring surroundings to people whose circumstances require it. Maggie’s gives help to people who are coping with a diagnosis of cancer while Open Age’s offer is to people who want to engage in active ways of getting older, better. This growing section of the population needs support and a good model of support.

Marcia Blakenham has had twenty years’ experience considering how to help people in specific challenging circumstances. She believes, with Open Age, that the most useful help increases an individual’s confidence in their own ability to help themselves. Active engagement is key.

Hilary Bowker- Currently an Open Age member Trustee & Member of the Finance Committee

Hilary first joined Open Age when she signed up for art and dance classes in early 2018.  She was co-opted as a Trustee that March becoming a Member Trustee in January 2019.

In her previous life, Hilary was a London based correspondent for ABC news before joining CNN where she became Senior European Anchor. In 1999 she set up Bowker Media + Communications to help organisations develop their media strategy and make their events interactive and engaging.  Hilary moderated and designed high-level conferences and seminars for both the public and private sectors.  Among others, she worked with the United Nations, the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, the International Youth Foundation, and the Financial Times.

Colin Campbell - Currently an Open Age Trustee & Treasurer who chairs the Finance Committee

Colin first became aware of Open Age when his wife joined and encouraged him to do the same, when he became of age. He was co-opted as a Trustee in May 2022 and has attended the Spanish for Beginners class.

His last role was as a Chief Operating Officer at Barclays for its Public Policy & Corporate Responsibility function. During his tenure, he was accountable for reputation risk governance across Barclays, and governance and controls, cost management, business change and supplier management for the function.

Prior to Barclays, Colin held positions at Cable & Wireless, JP Morgan and Total Oil Marine, covering a number of disciplines including product management, programme management, corporate strategy, investor relations, and management accounting.

Sandra Franklin - Currently an Open Age Member Trustee

My working career has been very diversified. Having had a stage training I worked as a Fashion Model both in the UK and abroad, organised high level conference for visitors worldwide and catering for official functions, property management and sales, PA, Medical Secretary and Practice Management at several NHS Surgeries. Another 'diversification is that of a film/tv Supporting Artiste! 

I have been a Volunteer for 39 years at a specialist hospital of which I am currently the President and a Trustee of the Friends, remain a committee member and served as Chairman for 4 years.  I am also a committee member and Trustee of the Kensington and Chelsea Music Society.

Since joining Open Age I have had the pleasure of meeting many members, both locally and those from further afield.  The Zoom talks and quizzes have introduced me to many topics where all participants are very enthusiastic and happily share their experiences and knowledge. The wide spread of interests covered by the classes provided are very diversified, giving the opportunity to try something new.  I have attended several and found both the instructors and those attending very friendly - the choice of deciding what to attend is the only problem! I know that great benefit is gained by those attending the classes and courses and that many members are supported by the unpublished services provided by the very caring and professional staff of Open Age.  It would be a privilege to be re-elected to continue as a Trustee.

Malti Joshi - Currently an Open Age Member Trustee

I was born in Kenya and brought up in London. I have been here in the UK forever. I heard about Open Age through a friend and I joined the organisation just before the start of Covid. It has been great fun to have access to a variety of Open Age activities and indeed it has been a very positive experience.

Currently I help with the small family business and I also teach on a freelance basis. I have had some experience of being on governing bodies, so I am mindful of the strategic function of Open Age Board of Trustees. At the later stage of my mother’s life I took care of her. This gave me a refreshing insight into the challenges and opportunities of growing old, while simultaneously gaining a better understanding of the diversity of needs of my mother and her friends. And of course for all of us life and work experience teaches and sometimes forces us to reflect on the changing needs of different generations as we journey through life.

Ann Lewis - Currently an Open Age member Trustee & Member of the Finance Committee

Ann has lived and/or worked in the North Kensington and North Westminster area for over 50 years. Most of her working life has been spent in the voluntary and community sector. She qualified as a solicitor in 1985 and specialised in housing, homelessness and domestic violence. Between 1993 and 2002, she was Director of the North Kensington Law Centre and was then Policy Director at the Advice Services Alliance until 2013. She has been a Trustee of several other charities, mainly in the legal advice sector.

Ann became an Open Age member in 2017 and has, since then, enjoyed a variety of activities including pilates, history of art, science talks and learning to draw.  She joined Open Age’s Board in 2022.