The Association is a membership organisation that is led by a group of elected Directors (also referred to as Trustees). The Association has a policy of appointing six Directors that also act in the capacity of Trustees of the charitable company for the period of their election (The Association is required to maintain a minimum of three Directors at any one time). The Directors divide oversight roles and responsibilities within the Directorate and commission the role of a National Officer and Operations Manager to support their activities in fulfilling the charitable objects of the Association.

The Directors term is usually three years and two Directors step down/stand for re-election on an annual basis. Elections take place at the Annual General Meeting and Directors take up their responsibilities from the 1st September. The role of Directors and officers are reviewed annually and assigned at the discretion of the Directors.

MIKE SEAL

National Officer

Professor Mike Seal is the National Officer for the Association and has oversight of bringing together members for activities, facilitating and organising the CPD of members, operationalising the strategic plan with Directors, and developing a community of practice. He is a visiting professor at Newman and Leeds Beckett Universities and a freelancer. 

DR TRACIE TRIMMER-PLATMAN

Vice Chair of the Association
(Trustee)

Tracie was elected as a Trustee in December 2021. Tracie is a Senior Lecturer at the University of East London on the undergraduate and postgraduate Youth and Community Work programmes.

PAULA SMALLCOMBE

Operations Manager

Paula is contracted to provide administrative services and manages the operations of the Association.

simon williams

Chair of the Association
(Trustee)

Simon was elected as a Director in June 2022.  Simon is Programme Lead for the undergrad Youth Work and Community Development for University of Derby and also Assistant Head of Discipline for Social and Community Studies.

jess achilleos

Secretary of the Association (Trustee)

Jess was elected as a Director in June 2022. She is a Senior Lecturer in Youth and Community Work at Wrexham Glyndwr University and Programme Leader for undergraduate Youth and Community Work programmes.

MANDY ROBBINS

Trustee

Mandy was elected as a Director in July 2023. Mandy is Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Social and Life Sciences at Wrexham Glyndwr University. She served on the Board of Governors for George Williams College, London for six years. She recently co-edited a special edition of the Youth Voice Journal exploring different methodological approaches that have been successfully employed in the youth work sector.