Homeshare International is governed by a group of trustees who are invited to serve by the Board.
Trustees are drawn from many of the countries where homeshare operates and are chosen on the basis of their expertise as practitioners, researchers and administrators. Members of the Homeshare International Network are also invited to nominate members of the Board.
Trustees are supported by a group of National Advisers and International Ambassadors and by various ad hoc working groups.
Read more about governance and finances.
Patron
Rabbi The Baroness Neuberger DBE
President
Professor Malcolm Johnson, Director, International Institute on Health and Ageing, UK
Vice-president
Professor Anne-Lotte Kreickemeier, Founder of Wohnen für Hilfe in Germany
Ambassadors
Carmel Hurst OAM, Australia
Professor Mariano Sanchez, Spain
Hilary Todd, UK
Role of an Ambassador
- An ambassador provides their skills, abilities, and contacts voluntarily so that Homeshare International can draw on their help when organising events or submitting funding proposals.
- An ambassador remembers Homeshare International when funding or public relations opportunities arise and takes the opportunity to speak about the charity both publicly and in private.
- An ambassador permits Homeshare International to use their name as a particular friend of the charity endorsing its efforts and activities.
Trustees |
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| Elizabeth Mills OBE, (Vice Chair), UK | ||
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With a background in the voluntary sector, Elizabeth ran the medical research charity Research into Ageing and merged it with Help the Aged (now Age UK). She was awarded the OBE for services to medical research and has two honorary doctorates. She is a genealogist, is a member of the board of the Witney Educational Foundation and also chairs the board of trustees of the Creative Dementia Arts Network. Elizabeth took over the running of HI in 2007 when our late founder, Nan Maitland, retired. She now serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. |
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| Régis de Kerautem, Belgium | ||
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Régis co-founded 1Toit2Ages with Claire, his wife, in 2009 and supports the charity as its President. Under their leadership, homeshare has spread from modest beginnings in Brussels to cover most of Belgium’s large towns and cities. His day job is in consumer protection in Europe, a field he has specialised in for the past ten years. Régis joined the HI Board in 2018. He is fluent in English and French. |
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| Estelle de Saint-Bon, France | ||
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Before joining ensemble2générations, Estelle was responsible for Development and Partnerships within the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. She was also member of the Executive Board and it was in this capacity that she met Typhaine de Penfentenyo who, with her husband Alain, founded ensemble2générations in 2006. Estelle also used the services of E2G for her 93-year-old father and saw the human benefits of homeshare services. She is now President of ensemble2générations, Estelle became a trustee of HI in February 2022. She is fluent in English and French. |
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| Wendy Francis, Australia | ||
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Wendy has worked for over 20 years in Australia alongside older people and their families, to help them remain living in their homes while staying connected and engaged with friends, families and communities. She has helped to establish Homeshare services within Australia and is a Board Member of HANZA, the peak body for Homeshare in Australia and New Zealand. Wendy is also working as a Homeshare Development Officer for HANZA, promoting the amazing outcomes of Homesharing and helping to establish new Homeshare services. |
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| Marlene Welzl, Austria | ||
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Marlene helped to set up and run an award-winning homeshare programme, WohnBuddy (formerly WGE!-Gemeinsam Wohnen), in her native Vienna. In addition to supporting conventional homeshare matches, the programme also places students in nursing homes and retirement communities. Marlene became a trustee in September 2017. She is fluent in English, French and German; she has also studied Cantonese, Italian and Latin. |
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| Cyril Wood, (Honorary Treasurer), UK | ||
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A qualified Chartered Accountant, Cyril has had a varied career, in both the private and voluntary sectors. He is the Chairman of The Association of Church Accountants and Treasurers as well as acting for a number of charities as a trustee and honorary treasurer. |
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| Sibel Whitehead, UK | ||
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As the co-founder of Supportmatch Homeshare, Sibel has been leading a homeshare business in the UK since 2013. She has had a very successful experience running homeshare programmes and is also director of the social enterprise Support&Match Homeshare CIC. She believes homeshare is not only a great idea, it is a solution to give independence to young and old. Sibel has a nursing qualification, has studied social work, has been a carer-support service coordinator and loves spending time with her young daughter. Sibel joined the Homeshare International Board of Trustees in 2020. |
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National Advisors
AUSTRALIA: Beris Campbell, Homeshare Australia and New Zealand Association (HANZA)
AUSTRIA: Marlene Welzl, WohnBuddy (formerly WGE!-Gemeinsam Wohnen)
BELGIUM: Claire de Kerautem, untoit2ages
CANADA: Cheryl Snider, Homeshare Canada
FRANCE: Estelle de Saint-Bon, ensemble2générations
SPAIN: Alfonso Fajardo Barreras, Solidarios, Madrid
USA: Kirby Dunn, HomeShare Vermont
National Advisers together make up the charity’s International Advisory Group and each should
- be active in a Homeshare programme, either in an executive or non-executive capacity;
- be willing to act as a national focus and conduit between Homeshare programmes in their own country and the Homeshare International network;
- be prepared to provide advice and support for Homeshare International when required;
- act as a sounding board for policy documents and changes in governance for Homeshare International
- provide contributions to the HI newsletter when requested;
- support the biennial World Homeshare congress, provide input to the program, encourage attendance, and assist in hosting;
- participate in or advise HI on relevant research projects;
- contribute to the website, including providing advice about its content and features;
- maintain the national programme page of the website, and an up to date list of programmes if possible;
- act as a mentor for start-up programmes who approach HI for advice and support.
