HERIB’s Board of Trustees is responsible for the governance and strategic direction of the charity. They also ensure that the charity and its staff work within charity law and regulations.

Our trustees are volunteers and receive no payment for their work. They have been chosen for the skills, expertise and experience they can bring to the organisation.

Several of our trustees have a visual impairment which ensures that the charity always remains focussed on the interests of those we help.

Eric Harrod, Chairman of HERIB’s Board of Trustees

Eric is a retired Optometrist. He became a Trustee in September 2010, and Chairman a few weeks later. Eric ran his own business for over 30 years and has extensive experience of committee work mostly in the services sector. He is very enthusiastic and is happy to learn on the job.

Tim Shields, Treasurer

Tim is currently his second stint as a Trustee of HERIB. Tim is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Certified Accountants and is the Accountant for a local company operating in the horticulture industry. Prior to this Tim worked in private practice. Outside of work and charity commitments Tim is a keen runner and football fan, being a lifelong supporter of Darlington Football Club.

Sue Watling

Sue became a HERIB Trustee in September 2010 and continues to work for HERIB as a volunteer supporting people using computers and accessing the Internet. One of Sue’s areas of interest is setting up a self-help group for local computer users with sight loss and creating resource materials for people getting started with computers. Sue is also involved with ensuring the HERIB website is fully accessible to all users of assistive technology. Sue lives in Hull and works full time at the University of Lincoln where she develops virtual learning environments and teaches and researches into digital exclusion.

FR John Tasker

Fr John Tasker has been offering his services at HERIB as a priest and counsellor since 2007. He has sat as a member of the University of Hull Convocation Standing Committee for the last twenty years. Fr John was invited to become a Trustee of HERIB in 2010. In September 2011, he is to made President of the Hull Council of Disabled People in addition to becoming their Chaplain.

Brian Hickling

Brian was appointed a Trustee of HERIB in September 2010, following a short time attending field visits with the Resource bus. Brian has over 35 years in senior management roles with blue chip international consumer companies, mainly in areas of marketing & sales, including Reckitt Benckiser and most latterly 10 years senior management with Beverley based HomeServe Chem-Dry Group. Additionally Brian also is a volunteer driver for Beverley Community Lift, a charity that provides local transport for people with mobility problems.

Margaret Fisher

Appointed a Trustee Nov 09. Has a long standing association with HERIB having joined as a junior staff member in 1955 rising to General Manager in 1979 until her retirement in 1999. Margaret’s emphasis is the maintenance and expansion of support and services which benefit people with sight loss.

Other trustees include: Paul Brocklebank, Robin Russell, Carol Winter & Nigel Beckwith