Meet the LGF trustees
The Board of Trustees of the LGF are the first and final decision making authority within the LGF.
In addition to Board meetings, Trustees are actively encouraged to join one or more of the Board Sub Committee's which generally meet monthly and look in-depth at specific topics, and develop proposals to recommend to the Board for agreement. Currently the Board Sub Committee's include: Finance, Fundraising, Governance and Membership and Service Improvement.
The full Board meets quarterly, but it’s Sub Committees often meet monthly. To manage its affairs when not sitting, the Board have four Officers: The Chair, The Vice–Chair, The Secretary and The Treasurer. Each position has a term of office of one year.
All Trustees receive thorough in-depth induction and training.
Our Trustees
David McGovern
David has been a volunteer with the LGF since 2003 working on the Helpline.
In 2006 David became a Trustee and briefly served as the Company Secretary before being elected as Chair of the Board in January 2007. He is currently also a member of the Finance and Governance Sub Committees.
David has worked in the public sector for over 20 years and is currently a senior manager in the Passenger Transport Executive. He is also a Magistrate in his beloved home City of Salford.
John Finn
John joined the board in 2004 and was elected Company Secretary of the LGF in 2006.
He has been a volunteer with Icebreakers since 2000 and not long after became a regular volunteer with the Fundraising Team and can be found shaking a bucket up and down Canal Street on all occasions.
John is a member of the Fundraising and Governance & Membership Sub Committees.
James Barnard
James began volunteering for the LGF Helpline in 2005 and became a Trustee in 2006. His experience of business and indirect taxation led him to join the Finance Sub Committee and he maintains a watching, and helpful, brief on the indirect tax consequences of the LGF’s business and charitable operations.
Although retired James continues to serve on the LGF Helpline and its Steering Committee. He also acts as local representative for Christian Aid and its fundraising activities for overseas development aid.
Paula Goergen
Paula became a trustee in 2010. A published author, Paula has 3 children, is bi-lingual (German) and has travelled more than 50 countries on four continents.
Paula says, "I expressed interest in becoming an LGF trustee to support its aim of being a voice for LGBT people, helping to reduce prejudice. My background is in sales with many years management experience at senior level.
"Due to gender transition and the LGBT hostile environment in Ireland I exiled myself to the UK on the 5th of July 2001 and started a new career, now working as Deputy Manager at the City of Manchester branch of Victim Support."
Glyn Jenkins
Glyn has been a Trustee since 1997 following his retirement from the bank where he was the Bank Manager for Healthy Gay Manchester.
He is at present the Treasurer of the Board of Trustees and also chairs the Finance Sub Committee where his financial background has been of great help to us over the years. At the 2009 AGM Glyn was made Honorary Lifetime Treasurer.
Glyn is also the Treasurer of a number of other charities and has been involved with his local committee of Cancer Research UK for over 40 years.
Ian McIlveen
Ian joined the Board at the 2009 AGM and subsequently became it’s Deputy Treasurer. Ian’s vast experience in financial and governance matters stems from a long career in Commercial banking and as a member of the Governing Council of the National RSPCA, acting as Treasurer for 6 years.
Having stepped down from the RSPCA in 2008, he was attracted to the opportunity to bring his experience to the LGF and help it make a difference to the LGB community in the North West.
Ian sits on the Finance and Governance & Membership Sub Committees.
Les Patient
Les became a trustee in 2010 though initially trained as a helpline volunteer and has worked with the LGF closely and continuously for a number of years.
Les is one of the lawyers who conduct the fortnightly Legal Advice Surgery at the LGF and in that capacity put together our Civil Partnership guide and Legal Rights guide.
Les says, "I feel that my legal skills and maturity provide me with skills to assist in the management of the LGF from a Trustee's perspective. I am a listener as much as a doer."
David Rogerson
David has been a Trustee since 2007, joining the Board when his skills were needed to help the LGF expand and develop.
He has been a volunteer since 2002, starting with the Icebreakers group and then with the LGF Helpline. He currently sits on the Service Improvement and Fundraising Sub Committees.
David joined the Board because “The LGF is unique, providing valuable services to our community which simply wouldn’t exist without it”.