Meet our Trustees
The Eikon Charity has grown significantly over recent years and we are now working to support thousands of children, young people, and families across Surrey. Part of this growth is due to the incredible support of our highly skilled and dedicated Board of Trustees, who volunteer their time. Our trustees bring a range of skills and lived experience and use their expertise to oversee the strategic direction, governance, core policies, financial oversight, legal compliance, and general performance of the charity to meet its charitable purposes.
Pauline McGee – Interim Chair
Pauline is a chartered accountant, accredited coach, presentation skills trainer and data protection expert with over 37 years’ experience in the accounting and audit profession, both in the UK and internationally. Pauline brings a wealth of experience spanning financial reporting, audit, regulation, data privacy, risk management, internal and client training, employee relations, investigations, strategic leadership and team leadership.
Pauline was a Partner at BDO LLP for 15 years where she sat on several leadership committees and led large teams of professionals. After retiring from the firm in July 2025, Pauline wanted to volunteer with a charity supporting young people. She was drawn to Eikon because its values and purpose really resonated with her. She starting working as a volunteer mentor in early 2026. Pauline has been a volunteer with Bookmark since 2023, reading with primary school children, and is Finance Governor in a primary school.
Kevin Young – Finance Trustee
Kevin is a Price Waterhouse-trained chartered accountant with more than 30 years’ experience in senior finance roles, including at local civil engineering business Mouchel. He was inspired to join Eikon by our leadership and management and the team’s enthusiasm, dedication and determination. Kevin wanted to use his experience to support our work, having experienced first-hand, through wider family and other volunteering work, some of the many difficulties and problems young people face.
Rebecca Wakefield
Rebecca is a communications and engagement specialist with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, focusing on a wide range of issues such as education, climate and the built environment. She brings valuable knowledge and support to our communications strategy, marketing efforts and work to develop external relationships. Rebecca lives close to the area we serve, enjoys helping to support local children and says ‘it would have been great’ to have had access to a service like ours when she was at school.
Michelle Charnley
Michelle is a highly experienced corporate lawyer with over 20+ years of legal and regulatory expertise, gained through roles in private practice and at the global energy company, BP. She brings a deep understanding of board-level strategy and decision-making skills, offering valuable insight and support in both legal, governance and compliance matters.
Raised in a close-knit family and a parent herself, Michelle is passionate about children’s wellbeing and recognises the vital role that strong, supportive foundations play in helping young people thrive into adulthood.
Michelle also contributes to her local Surrey-based community as Co-Chair of Governors at a primary school and as a governor at a secondary school specialising in special educational needs (SEN).
Debbie Boughtflower
Debbie has worked with vulnerable children for over 30 years, volunteering for a number of charities at home and abroad, and as a respite foster carer for Surrey County Council for 14 years. Following 30 years as a programme and operations manager in the private and public sectors, Debbie moved to the charity sector, first with the NSPCC and currently with The Poppy Factory, supporting service development, delivery and evaluation for vulnerable young people and adults. Debbie was drawn to Eikon because of its focus on prevention and early help, as she believes in empowering young people to thrive and develop the confidence to be whoever they want to be.
Julie Gillis
Following a long career in the public sector, where she delivered major government change programmes, Julie brings a wealth of experience at board level, in operations and in financial compliance. She is passionate about improving social mobility and children’s mental health and shares a strong sense of purpose and values with Eikon’s CEO and leadership team. Julie is a committed mentor with a focus on equality and diversity, and has more recently been working in secondary schools supporting children and young people with special educational needs.
Michael Pyman
Mike brings a young person’s perspective to Eikon’s board. He was motivated to join us as a trustee after receiving support from Eikon at secondary school. He was also inspired by our CEO, Chris Hickford, and by what he describes as Chris’s drive, selflessness and dedication to improving young people’s lives. Supported by us during his five years at Fullbrook School, Mike believes he wouldn’t be where he is today without Chris or Eikon and wants other young people to receive the same help and support he did.
Amanda Stevens
Mandy is a registered nurse with 33 years’ clinical and managerial expertise and experience at NHS board director level. Recognised as a subject matter expert in mental health, Mandy has 15 years’ clinical experience across a range of mental health services and says her personal experience of using mental health services has had a significant impact on the way she approaches her work. A vocal advocate for mental health, including national mental health awareness campaigns, suicide prevention and anti-stigma campaigns, Mandy is also a national expert advisor to the Mental Health Safety Improvement Programme.
