Mazeda Alam is Head of Guidance & Practice at the Charity Commission for England & Wales.

After a career in education, Mazeda moved to the Charity Commission where she has worked for 17 years. After working in both compliance and permissions (for example, helping charities to modernise their trusts), Mazeda moved to policy and guidance, where she helped develop the 5-minute guide range for trustees. She has been Head of the Trustee Guidance team for the past 4 years, leading the team during the implementation of the Charities Act 2022.

Her current focus is on continuing the team’s ‘guidance redesign’ programme, which is aimed at improving Commission guidance by producing shorter, more accessible guidance for trustees with the team prioritising core governance and finance topics such as trustee decision-making, conflicts of interest and fundraising.  

Tony is a former Managing Partner and now Consultant at Bennett Brooks Chartered Accountants.

Alongside his professional career, he has made a significant contribution to his local community, serving as Provost of Altrincham and receiving a British Empire Medal in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours for his work in the re-generation of Altrincham and his charity fundraising.

In 2017, Tony was diagnosed with advanced stage prostate cancer, a life changing moment that has shaped his work ever since. He is an ambassador, speaker, volunteer and fundraiser for Prostate Cancer UK. He is also a Trustee and Vice Chair of Tackle Prostate Cancer who are responsible for supporting over 150 prostate cancer support groups across the UK.

Tony is a Trustee of Altrincham FC Community Sport and The MileShy Club as well as an ambassador and regional champion for 5K Your Way - a peer-to-peer support group encouraging those living with and beyond cancer to exercise (part of the Move Against Cancer Charity).

Before his diagnosis, Tony was an accomplished endurance runner, completing all six World Marathon Majors and multiple ultramarathons. He continues to push physical and personal boundaries, inspiring others and achieving things that people without stage 4 prostate cancer would struggle to do!

Catherine is a Senior Associate in the governance, funding and corporate team at Anthony Collins Solicitors.

Catherine advises charities on their governance and compliance with charity law and regulation.

She regularly advises on a range of matters including charity governing documents, trustee duties and responsibilities, mergers, group restructures and engaging with the Charity Commission on regulatory matters.

Catherine also brings first-hand experience as a trustee of both large and small charities.

Simon Holman is a Partner at Castlefield, where he leads the client relationship team.

He began his career in Edinburgh as an equity analyst and later a fund manager, specialising in European and global equities.

Since joining Castlefield in 2010, Simon has combined investment expertise with client leadership, and now focuses on supporting clients with portfolio insights and market updates. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Chartered Member of the CISI.

Outside work, Simon is an accidental marathon runner, keen parkrun participant and volunteer, and Sale Sharks supporter. 

Bronwyn is a Senior Client Manager at Castlefield, working closely with charity and private clients to support their ethical investment journeys.

She acts as a key point of contact, helping clients navigate both day‑to‑day queries and longer‑term strategic decisions.

Bronwyn’s career spans investment management, including roles as a fund manager and equity analyst, as well as running her own businesses, giving her a practical perspective on financial decision‑making. Bronwyn is a Chartered Member of the CISI and holds the ASIP qualification from CFA UK.

Outside work, she is active in her local community, enjoys travelling, and is currently learning Norwegian.

Rachel leads the philanthropy services programme at The Charity Service, where she supports donors to develop effective giving strategies and make impactful charitable decisions.

She is a skilled relationship manager with extensive experience across the charitable and higher education sectors.

Most recently, Rachel worked at Manchester Metropolitan University, managing relationships with business, public and third-sector clients.

Prior to that, she led the major gifts team at the University of Salford, working closely with philanthropists to support their giving, and previously managed a portfolio of major donors at Oxfam Australia.

Rachel’s work is driven by a focus on developing meaningful relationships that lead to sustainable and impactful change.

Outside of work, she enjoys reading (particularly crime fiction) and tackling cryptic crosswords. 

Emma is a Senior Associate in the projects team at Anthony Collins Solicitors.

Emma advises organisations across the private, public and third sectors on commercial contracts, regulatory compliance and corporate reorganisations.

Her background includes advising health, housing and social care providers, with a strong focus on helping organisations grow and improve their services responsibly.