Our Trustees
Stepping Stones (Luton) is a registered charity and charitable company limited by guarantee. We are governed by a group of Trustees, the Charity’s board of directors. Our trustees set the Charity’s strategic direction and guide, advise and support the Chief Executive Officer. As well as our trustees, we have a Charity Patron who helps raise awareness of our work.

Meryl Dolling (Patron)
Meryl has been our Patron for over five years and describes our work as ‘truly remarkable’. She is pleased to support us as we continue to empower women who have suffered domestic abuse.
Now retired, Meryl had a long career in teaching, first at secondary schools and then in adult and further Education. Meryl worked in several senior public sector roles in Bedfordshire and beyond, including as Director of the Rotheram Avenue and Technology Campuses at Barnfield College of Further Education.
Since her retirement, Meryl has continued to involve herself in the community. Meryl served as High Sheriff of Bedfordshire in 2019 and as Local Councillor for Stopsley Ward until January 2025. She is currently the governor of two local schools and a Trustee of Bedford and Luton Community Foundation.

Sandra Brown, Chartered FCIPD (Chair)
Sandra’s long-standing interest in women’s issues led her to Stepping Stones where she has been a trustee since 2018. She is committed to helping women and their families improve their lives.
Sandra has over 30 years’ experience in Human Resources. For 12 years she worked in the University sector as a part-time lecturer in business-related topics. These included organisational behaviour, strategic management and HR. She is also an executive coach who has coached and developed people across a broad range of disciplines
Sandra has a particular interest in communication, Emotional Intelligence and building resilience. She is CIPD mentor, an NLP Master practitioner and Hypnotherapist. As well as chairing the board at Stepping Stones, Sandra is currently a trustee at The Disability Resource Centre.

Victor Akunna PhD, FHEA, Academic Assoc. CIPD
Victor’s involvement with Stepping Stones reflects his deeper passion to help individuals and families move from survival to stability and from stability to significance. His lifelong mission is to empower people to overcome obstacles, discover their true worth and live with purpose.
Victor is currently, a Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management at the University of Bedfordshire. He combines his educational background with practical insight to empower learners and future leaders. His dedication to mentoring has helped many students develop confidence, gain clarity and achieve academic excellence. Victor is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). As well as a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and an accredited external examiner with Advance HE.

Helen Campbell, Chartered FCIPD (Safeguarding Lead)
Helen became a trustee in September 2024 and is committed to helping individuals and organisations develop and improve their skills. She believes that small changes in habits and behaviours produce great results.
Helen is an Organisational Development and Learning and Development professional with over 28 years’ experience. Working in both private and public sector organisations, she has coached and developed people across healthcare, retail, finance and manufacturing. Helen has a particular interest in mental health and wellbeing and is a licensed Mental Health First Aid England instructor. She trains and coaches individuals and groups in mental health first aid and resilience.

Seyefar Clement, PhD, FHEA, CMBE (Treasurer)
Seyefar became one of our trustees in 2024. He is passionate about improving the safety, independence and life opportunities of women and their children in the local community.
Seyefar is Principal Lecturer and Undergraduate Accounting and Finance Portfolio Leader at the University of Bedfordshire Business School. He has a strong background in education, governance, and financial oversight and leverages his expertise to support our mission. Since joining the board, Seyefar has contributed significantly to the charity’s strategic planning. He is helping to ensure our long-term financial sustainability and the responsible management of donor funds.

Rosie Hughes (Joint Vice Chair)
Rosie joined our board of trustees in September 2020, having previously been involved with several local voluntary organisations and charities. She was attracted by our dedication to empowering women who have experienced domestic abuse to turn their lives around.
Rosie has over 30 years’ business development and relationship management experience, predominately working for SMEs. She currently works in social housing and is motivated by making a positive impact on residents’ lives and the communities they live in. Her experience includes leading resident focussed social value initiatives and developing meaningful relationships to drive business growth and enhance reputation.

Claire McInally (Joint Vice Chair)
Claire joined us in April 2022 because she wanted to give something back to her local community. She was drawn to the charity’s work supporting women and is proud to play a part in helping them move forward with confidence and independence.
Claire has worked in the voluntary sector for several years and is currently a team manager at another local charity. Her role involves working closely with donors and fundraisers, developing engaging communications and supporting a range of fundraising activities. Claire is passionate about building strong relationships and ensuring supporters feel connected to the causes they care about.


