Trustees

Derwyn Jones

Chair of Trustees

My background and experience entails being a CEO and Chair, both within the commercial and charity sectors. I worked for many years in global corporations before setting up my own business advising a wide range of companies on strategic planning, cost control, fundraising and operational efficiencies. I am passionate about animals and like nothing better than going for a long walks in the countryside with my wife and our dog, Alfie.

I am proud and honoured to be Raystede’s Chair of Trustees, working with all the teams and continuing the great work that has been done over the last 70 years.

Helen Tracey

Honorary Treasurer & Vice-Chair of Trustees

I am Finance Director at Sussex Housing and Care. With over 25 years' experience as a qualified accountant, I am a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.

My experience spans major corporations, working for a leading animal welfare charity and education. Originally from Sussex, I spent several years working overseas before returning to Sussex. I now live on the coast where I enjoy walking my two rescue dogs. I am delighted to be a Trustee for Raystede and working with the team to give animals a better life.

Ian Kerr

Trustee

I co-founded the international charity ActionAid in the early 1970s. I've been a Fellow of the British Institute of Management and the Administrative Accounts Institute. I've since worked extensively in the charity sector and chair an African animal charity. I was a founding member of the Institute of Fundraising. Then I returned to my passion for animals, serving on the boards of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust & international equine charity, The Brooke. I've always had Collies; rescuing animals is one of my most satisfying achievements.

Steve Derrick

Trustee

I have always had a passion for the environment that we live in and the animals we share our spaces with. I have worked in commercial businesses my entire career. Since 2012 I have been driving commercial best practice and developing new opportunities firstly at the National Trust and more recently with the RNLI. I will bring my extensive commercial knowledge to Rayste­de to bring in additional income and to support the charities great work whilst at the same time enhancing the visitors experience.

Dr Sam Gaines

Trustee

I am currently the Head of Companion Animal Science and Policy at the RSPCA and have worked in the field of animal welfare science for over 20 years. I have a PhD in the welfare of kennelled dogs and prior to joining the RSPCA, studied the behaviour, performance and welfare of dogs used by the armed forces and police. I passionately believe that all animals should be able to experience, at the very least, a life worth living. I am really looking forward to working with the Raystede team to help them maintain the highest welfare standards and to ensure that, at all stages of care, animals experience good welfare.

Helen Paxton

Trustee

I’m a passionate animal lover and feel blessed to share my home in Little Horsted with many much-loved family members including horses, dogs, ducks, chickens as well as my husband and 2 children! I’ve spent my 30-year career so far in the food retail industry and I’m currently HR Director at Sainsbury’s. I’ve admired Raystede for many years and feel privileged to become a Trustee and work with the team to give as many animals as possible a better life.

Claire Brown

Trustee

My background and passion have always been animals and their welfare. I have worked with animals for over 20 years and am currently Cat Welfare Manager at Cats Protection and have a BSC (Hons) in Animal Management and Welfare. I also have a background in volunteer management.

My young family and I have always shared our home with animals such as our much loved cat Salem. I am hugely passionate about animal welfare and helping to promote good welfare practices be that in the home or in a rescue. I am extremely excited and looking forward to working with the team at Raystede and having a part to play in helping them continue to provide the highest standards of animal welfare.

Sally Wright

Trustee

After 25 years working in Private Banking as an Investment Manager, I decided to change direction and move into the English Wine sector. I am currently working at Plumpton College as the Programme Development Manager for the Wine Division Short Courses. I was based in Hong Kong for a number of years and this is where my journey as an owner of rescue dogs began. I currently have two Hong Kong village cross-breed dogs, Roger and Mimi, who I brought back to the UK in 2020. They now live a very different life in Burgess Hill, chasing squirrels instead of monkeys!

I am a big supporter of animal adoption and providing animals with the opportunity for a safe and happy home. I am a firm believer that kindness, patience and love can make a huge difference to the lives of rescued animals. I am delighted to be a Trustee of Raystede and have the opportunity to support the management team to provide high standards of animal welfare and animal care education programmes.

Daisy Laramy-Binks

Trustee

I have always worked in the consumer products space, firstly at Lamborghini in Bologna developing their consumer products lines, then at International Management Group managing brands such as Vivienne Westwood, Wimbledon, Oxford University and working in celebrity management. I have spent the last 12 years working at Iconix International where I am the MD of the EMEA business, developing consumer product ranges for our 35+ owned fashion brands at retailers such as Zara, JD Sports, Selfridges etc.

My true love and greatest personal achievement has been rescuing neglect/medical case ex-breeding dogs and I am a passionate advocate for ‘adopt, don’t shop’. Whilst growing up I had horses, guinea pigs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, rats as well as a lot of rescue dogs, several from Raystede, where it is now a real privilege to be able to join the team and support their fantastic work.