Presenter Bios

Meet the Presenters

Heritage Volunteering ’26 brings together speakers and facilitators from across the heritage, cultural, and voluntary sectors. Each presenter brings real‑world experience, practical insight, and a commitment to strengthening volunteer engagement in a changing world.

This page will be updated as we have more information to share about our full line‑up.

Keynote Speakers

Denise Hayward, CEO, Volunteer Now

Denise has been Chief Executive with Volunteer Now since August 2017 and prior to that Director of Engagement since 2010. She has extensive experience in supporting volunteer involvement, both in small community based projects and large region events. She has wide ranging expertise in public and organisational volunteering policy development, volunteering research and building quality in volunteering. She is experienced in third sector governance issues through many years working at a senior staff and board level in the voluntary and community sector. Denise is an active volunteer for Portadown YMCA, Armagh Rural Transport and Belfast Central Mission.

Dominic Pinkney, CEO, Hammersmith & Fulham Volunteer Centre, Volunteer Centre Camden and Works4U

Dominic “always banging on about volunteering” Pinkney is a leading UK expert on volunteering and a prominent figure in the VCSE sector. He is CEO of Hammersmith & Fulham Volunteer Centre, Volunteer Centre Camden, and the social enterprise Works4U, and co‑chairs both the London Volunteer Centre Network and the national Employer Supported Volunteering network. Dominic led the London Vision for Volunteering and has authored influential reports on the future and impact of volunteering. Internationally, he has represented the UK at the United Nations, and he currently serves as an Amersham Town Councillor. Dominic also served in 2024 as Mayor of Amersham, championing community volunteering.

Workshop Hosts

Eldina Bolic, Birmingham Museums Trust

Eldina joined BMT as Volunteer Manager three years ago. Prior to this, they worked for Barnardo’s, the children’s charity, as Volunteer Co-ordinator for Primary Mental Health for Children, a joint project between the NHS and Barnardo’s. Throughout their career, they have worked for charities where volunteers played a significant role and have more than 25 years of experience working with volunteers in a variety of capacities, including supervision, training, project management, and volunteer leadership.

Tuesday Davies, Macmillan Cancer Support

Tuesday works in volunteer management and specialises in building and improving the systems that sit behind effective volunteer programmes. She has experience developing volunteer journeys, CRM systems and operational processes to support consistent and sustainable service delivery. She is particularly interested in helping organisations create practical, aligned systems that improve volunteer experience while reducing pressure on teams.

Emma Flack, Chatsworth House Trust

Emma oversees the development of engaging and inclusive experiences that connect people with the organisation’s mission. They lead the volunteer strategy and support a rewarding environment for all. Passionate about people and the value their skills can bring to the trust, they strive to enhance every volunteer experience and empower volunteers to make a meaningful impact.

Rachel Gegeshidze, Tempo

Rachel is CEO of Tempo Time Credits, with over a decade of experience working in communities to build inclusive, reciprocal approaches to volunteering. She has led national programmes across Wales and beyond, supporting over 15,000 volunteers to improve wellbeing, reduce isolation, and strengthen community connections. Rachel is passionate about diversifying participation in heritage and creating meaningful pathways from first engagement to sustained community involvement.

Lee Greenwood, IYVS

Lee is a former Scout volunteer turned non-profit founder, with a focus on AI-guided dispute resolution. Through his work at Independent Youth Volunteer Support, he advocates for stronger support systems for volunteers and the organisations that rely on them.

Charlotte Linton, Durham Community Action

Charlotte provides specialist knowledge on volunteering management and good practice in working with volunteers. Charlotte delivers training, develops guides and videos on accessing advice from DCA on volunteering and supports and facilitates regular meetings of the County Durham Volunteer Coordinators Forum. She also ensures that quality is embedded in DCA’s Volunteer Centre service.

Jennie Mann, Bloom Volunteering

Jennie is a charity sector leader with over 20 years’ experience driving positive change across national and local charities. Through her consultancy, Bloom Volunteering, she helps charities reimagine how they engage, support and grow their volunteer communities.

She specialises in change management, unpicking what’s not working and helping teams build something better, more inclusive, effective, and joyful. She’s not afraid to challenge the status quo, especially when outdated systems or assumptions are holding back impact.

She brings fresh perspective, honest insight, and practical solutions grounded in real-world experience to help organisations strengthen and grow their volunteering offer.

Tracey O’Neill, Tracey O’Neill Consultancy

Tracey is a globally recognised leader in volunteer engagement and founder of Tracey O’Neill Consulting. With over 25 years of experience, she works with organisations to rethink volunteering and how people participate in community. Tracey supports leaders to uncover hidden barriers, shift assumptions, and design more meaningful, accessible ways for people to contribute and create impact. She is a co-editor of Engage, and host of the Making a Ruckus podcast.

Susannah Pickering-Saqqa, University of East London

Susannah is a senior lecturer, course leader in Sustainable Development and Social Change and founder and Director of UEL’s Charity Sofa. She specialises in NGO management in the context of global development with a particular interest in faith-based NGOs and volunteering. Her recent work focuses on how researchers can support the struggling small charity sector in the UK, especially around volunteering. She partners with a variety of development NGOs and charities in an advisory capacity, researching and delivering workshops.

Mirabai Ruskin, English Heritage

Mirabai is a Learning and Development and Volunteer Engagement professional with over 20 years’ experience in the charity and community sector. Driven by creating connection and enabling growth, her career spans roles at Sustrans, NUS, Volunteer Centre Hackney and Girlguiding, as well as a year in China with VSO as an Organisational Development Adviser. She brings strong expertise in nurturing people and organisational capability, and now supports volunteer programme growth and best practice at English Heritage. Mirabai is a Board Member of the Association of Volunteer Managers and an Associate Member of the CIPD, having recently completed L&D Consultant Business Partner qualification.

Rachel Stewart, FRS Consultancy Ltd

Rachel is a Career and Leadership Coach specialising in volunteer leadership within the charity and public sectors. With nearly 20 years’ leadership experience and a background spanning education, the Civil Service and the voluntary sector, she has led services, developed volunteer programmes, and coached leaders across charities and the NHS. Rachel now supports volunteer leaders to grow their influence, strengthen their leadership identity, and take their next career step.

Chris Wade, Time for Impact

Chris is the founder of Time for Impact Volunteering Consultancy, bringing over 25 years of executive leadership experience in the UK charity sector. Dedicated to modernising volunteer strategy, Chris helps organisations unlock the true return on investment of their people. Through his innovative impact tools, tailored consultancy, and the popular Time for Impact Podcast, he empowers leaders to transform goodwill into meaningful community action and measurable organisational success.