Board of Directors

Listed below, in alphabetical order, are the cdfa’s Board of Directors for 2010-11:

Sean Dennis

Chief Executive, Capitalise Business Support

Sean entered the world of Enterprise Agencies and CDFIs seven years ago via a career in Commercial Banking with NatWest. His career in banking mostly focused on the commercial side of things with vast experience gained from a variety of roles, from front line relationship management to underwriting, debt management and credit risk analysis. Since beginning trading in 2004 CBS has gone from strength to strength into a sub-regional CDFI covering the whole of Kent, Surrey and Sussex providing enterprise loans to micro and small businesses plus social enterprises for up to £20,000.

Melanie Elliot

Chief Executive, MCF Loans

Melanie Elliot is the Chief Executive of MCFLoans (formerly Derby Loans), a CDFI that started operating in Derby in May 2003. Under Melanie’s leadership the business has successfully expanded across boarders into Derbyshire, South Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire and opened local branches, making affordable finance more accessible to the community. Previously Melanie worked for HBOS and Abbey National (18 years), with roles including branch management and operational training. She was instrumental in setting up/managing call centres with 200 staff in retail banking, and as a management consultant she established UK-wide leadership programmes. Passionate about the community and regeneration, she has a desire to develop people to reach full potential thus developing the CDFI sector for the long term.

Jonathan Girling

Operations Director, East London Small Business Centre

Jonathan joined East London Small Business Centre in January 2005, having been on the Centre’s Board for seven years. Prior to this he enjoyed a successful career at NatWest Bank, covering a broad range of responsibilities around the UK, achieving Senior Management status. During this time he became involved in the local business community, including chairing various Chambers of Commerce, a local Business Link and Enterprise Agency. Responsible for the operational management of ELSBC, Jonathan is also a non executive director on two equity investments made via the Centre into local businesses.

Sandra McLean

Fund Manager, DSL

Sandra McLean is a Fund Manager for DSL specialising in assessing loan applications from small businesses and social enterprises. She has over 12 years experience with DSL and manages the bank accounts and cash flow for the loan fund issued by DSL. She project managed the administration of the National Microcredit Programme for three years on behalf of Scottish Enterprise. Sandra also provides an internal audit role to ensure all staff comply with policies and procedures.

Roger Millar

General Manager, Goole Development Trust

Roger Millar is General Manager of Goole Development Trust, a social enterprise company limited by guarantee owned and controlled by the community. The Trust is a Charter Member of the cdfa. It is also an accredited Investors in People Company and an accredited Customer First company. The Trust has had a loan fund since 2001. It provides loans of up to £15,000 to new and recent start businesses and social enterprises. The Trust has lent well over £1m to more than 175 businesses. In addition to the loan fund the Trust has managed workspace , a local lottery that started in 2008 and is now generating £25,000 p.a. for local causes, a property company and a cafe/bar. Prior to starting work for Goole Development Trust in 1999 Roger worked for local authorities in business development and town planning. He has run his own business making electrical looms for lorries, been a welder, worked on farms, driven lorries and worked in a call centre.

Ann Oldroyd

Chief Executive Officer, Key Fund Yorkshire

Ann Oldroyd has been the Chief Executive Officer for Key Fund Yorkshire since 2004, providing loans and investments to community owned organisations working in disadvantaged communities in Yorkshire and Humberside. Ann’s career prior to the Key Fund has been spent in resource management, including periods in manufacturing, agriculture, HM Services and education. As well as being a Director of cdfa, Ann is also the Vice Chair of the Social Enterprise Investment Fund.

Roger Ong FIFS

Senior Lending Manager, Charity Bank

Roger Ong FIFS is a Senior Lending Manager with Charity Bank Limited, providing guidance, advice and assessment on financial requests to Registered Charities, Not-for-Profit and For Profit Organisations with Charitable purpose. Prior to this appointment he held a variety of positions: – Corporate Manager and Area Operations Manager within the commercial banking sector Visiting lecturer of an associate FE College of Kent & Canterbury University Financial Director and Director for educational and arts based charities. In addition to his current job with Charity Bank, he is a Trustee/Director of the European School of Osteopathy and Director of Inclusive Finance a newly formed Community Interest Company. He also writes and delivers financial training courses for both the profit and not for profit sectors.

Eric Thompson

Chief Executive, Moneyline Yorkshire (IPS) Ltd

Eric is the CEO of Moneyline Yorkshire, a personal lending CDFI operating in Sheffield. He is also CEO of Sheffield Credit Union and Financial Inclusion Services Yorkshire, a registered charity set up to help to tackle financial exclusion in Sheffield, as well as co-Chair of the Sheffield Financial Inclusion Consortium. Sheffield is one of only three areas in the country to be awarded Beacon status for its financial inclusion work and Eric has been a key player in the successful bid. Prior to joining Moneyline Eric worked for 27 years for Barclays, and for the last eight years with the bank was a Head of Small Business. He is passionate about the need to tackle financial exclusion and the role that the third sector can play.

Stephen Waud, cdfa Acting Chair

Executive Director, Bradford Enterprise Agency Ltd

Steve Waud came to the CDF sector late in his career; previously he had been a trouble shooter and business development consultant for a number of companies in different sectors, with first hand experience of dealing with bankers and venture capitalists, but from the other side of the table. Since joining the Business Enterprise Fund in 2004, as its Fund manager, Steve has seen the organisation grow ten-fold and has overseen the expansion of the fund from just Bradford at its inception into Leeds and North Yorkshire; he now manages BEF as its Executive Director with funds in excess of £3 million. A Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and a qualified engineer, Steve also holds a degree in law along with an MBA.