Our Trustees
Our Executive Team
Josh Schunmann
Director
Josh Schunmann is the Director of the Charity. Josh, who lives in Soham, brings invaluable experience from establishing a thriving charity and has a depth of understanding of local politics as an elected councillor for Cambridgeshire – at both county level and East Cambs District. With a passion for driving transformation and making a real, lasting difference, Josh is looking forward to continuing the great work that the charity has already begun and excited about the future opportunities
Our Trustees
Sarah Howard MBE
Chair, Trustee
Sarah Howard is Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce and a local business owner. She received an MBE in 2015 for services to the local community.
With a background in recruitment and management, Sarah has worked for high profile organisations including JP Morgan and KPMG. Sarah runs a small software consultancy called Sarand Business Software with her husband Andy in Haverhill.
Sarah is also the Independent Chair of the West Suffolk Alliance, which works together to improve the health and care system in West Suffolk for all people, and Chair of Trustees for Abbeycroft Leisure.
James Crowhurst
Trustee
James graduated in 1978 from the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge.
Having worked in Queensland, Kentucky and New South Wales, he returned to the UK to work with Professor ‘Twink’ Allen at ARC before joining Greenwood Ellis & Partners in 1981. He became a partner in 1984 and is now a Consultant Equine Veterinary surgeon with Newmarket Equine Hospital, also managing a small Stud in Newmarket, where he was born.
James is also a Trustee of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Chair of their Veterinary Committee, and served as a Trustee of the Animal Health Trust.
James’s principal interest is stud medicine and he was Chairman of the Newmarket Stud Farmers Association between 2001 and 2006.
Rachel Flynn
Vice Chair, Trustee
Rachel Flynn is an employment law partner with ground breaking alternative business law firm Keystone Law, having worked at Cambridge-based Taylor Vinters and before and during that working in the horseracing industry for 30 + years.
Rachel first came to Newmarket in 1987, working in a racing yard before going to University and gaining work experience with several local firms. She now assists her husband Rae Guest who trains a medium sized team on Hamilton Road, rides out most days and remains personally involved in racing as an owner, breeder and former amateur jockey.
Nick Patton
Trustee
Nick joined Jockey Club Estates as Training Grounds Manager in 2010, taking over as Managing Director in 2017.
Previously Nick was Clerk of the Course at Market Rasen and Nottingham Racecourses (Jockey Club Racecourses) for 6 years.
He has a degree in Rural Estates Management from Royal Agricultural University. He also undertakes outside consultancy work advising racecourses internationally and private trainers nationally.
Nick lives in Norfolk with his wife, Victoria, three children and a variety of pets.
Laraine Moody
Trustee
Laraine Moody is the Principal of Strategic Growth and Partnerships at West Suffolk College which incorporates the College’s work with businesses across East Anglia and beyond to use education as a catalyst for positive change.
Laraine is a member of the Council of Governors at West Suffolk Hospital, the Board of the West Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, the Board of the Smart Manufacturing Alliance
Laraine has worked in Further Education for over 30 years and although she was not born in Newmarket, both of her children were and it is the town she is very proud to call home.
Kevin Hancock
Trustee
Kevin is Managing Director of Yutree Insurance, a Chartered Insurance Brokerage based in Newmarket. He is also the chair of the Society of Insurance Broking, with a core objective to improve consumer confidence and trust in the profession.
Kevin is a former Director of the British Insurance Brokers Association and was chair of BIBA’s General Insurance Brokers Committee, the Smaller Brokers’ Advisory Board and also the national Broker Panel for Pool Re.
He founded the local business networking group, the Newmarket Network and, more recently, the Anglia Business Club. Kevin lives near Newmarket with his wife, Laura, with three children, a giant cat and some normal-sized chickens.
Dave Hall
Trustee
David left corporate comfort in 2011 to establish The Ideas Centre Ltd, to pursue his passion for business transformation through the release of individual potential.
A highly engaged and inspirational speaker, he coaches businesses of all types to unblock “breakthrough thinking”, introducing an “ideas culture” that drives the innovation process. Having experienced 25 years in Board Level leadership in a range of sectors, his practical approaches to creativity and innovation are geared to embedding systematic approaches within the organisation.
Prior to the Ideas Centre, David was CEO of HFL Sport Science Ltd, a drug surveillance and contract research organisation based in Newmarket. More generally – since 1984 he has held leadership positions in a range of sectors (oil & gas, scientific instrumentation, contract electronics). Creativity, innovation, and a pursuit of the perfect culture provide a common thread throughout his career to date.
Simon Gibson
Trustee
Simon is currently assisting several charities and a large medical endowment (Lifearc), having left Newmarket-based Wealth Managers Mattioli Woods in 2023.
He is a seasoned Chair in both the financial services profession and in voluntary organisations, and is a public speaker of note. Simon’s most relevant experience includes as a Trustee for a large North American Foundation, and as a Champion and fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Simon is a former school governor, international media distribution agent (paper boy) and has had a lifelong interest/involvement (including having been Chair) with Newmarket Twinning Association.
He lives near Newmarket with his fiancé, Cath, and has a growing collection of Trojan Records reggae (on vinyl), three children, two bicycles and is a published author (of one book).
