Fields in Trust have announced that Jo Barnett, the Executive Director of Virgin Money Giving, has taken over as Chair of Trustees.
Jo developed, launched and lead Virgin Money Giving and has more than ten years' experience in running the UK's biggest not-for-profit fundraising platform. Jo also headed up Virgin Money’s sponsorship of the Virgin Money London Marathon.
With a professional background in advertising and media, Jo has previously operated her own marketing consultancy. Her extensive trustee board experience includes roles with Heads Together, an initiative of the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry to tackle the stigma around mental health; the Business Emergency Response Group of the Prince’s Trust; the advisory board for mental health charity Mind, and as a judge for the Black British Business Awards.
As the charity sector shifts, Jo’s role at Virgin Money Giving and sector governance experience places her in a unique position to understand how changes in charitable giving are impacting on organisations.
Speaking of her new role Jo Barnett said: “Parks and green spaces are vital to community health and wellbeing and form part of the solution to public health challenges, including inactivity, obesity, mental wellbeing and loneliness. My own experience and working with the London Marathon has reinforced to me the need to provide people with green space and room to exercise wherever we live. I am looking forward to building on the long history of Fields in Trust to ensure that future generations continue to enjoy green spaces for good”.