Trustee Bios
Mark Wakefield – Chair of Trustees
Mark has an enviable pedigree through a long career in senior management roles in the public, private and charity sectors. Additionally, Mark has had senior non-executive roles within the charity sector, with local and national organisations during his working life and subsequent active ‘retirement’.
He holds qualifications at degree level or above in education (B.Ed), Youth Work (Dip. Youth & Community Work) and Business (MBA) and was awarded a BEM in 2021.
His interests include travel, food and walking.
Sally Burrell – Vice Chair
Sally started her career in the advertising industry before moving into Innovation Consultancy helping clients create real change on the ground and stretch into new areas of growth. She has worked with a huge range of businesses and organisations ranging from global corporations to start-ups to public sector. She has also run several family businesses and is well versed in the complexities and challenges of the commercial world.
Sally is very immersed in her local community. She joined the board of Laurence’s Larder in 2022.
Toby York – Treasurer
Toby York is a chartered accountant and a director at Wealthvox, which delivers financial education workshops worldwide. He teaches accounting at Middlesex University and founded Accounting Cafe, a community for accounting educators and learners.
For over twenty years, Toby served as Churchwarden and then treasurer at St Matthew’s Westminster.
He joined the Board of Trustees in 2024.
Victoria Bentley – Trustee
Victoria has over 25 years' experience working with people in organisations. Specialising in resolving complex employment relationship issues, steering people and organisations through change and bringing a commercial and individual needs together to help create spaces where innovation, growth and support can work together.
As a Quaker and a long-time peace activist, Victoria also sits on the Board of Trustees for the Peace Museum, Bradford.
Victoria joined the board of Laurence’s Larder in 2022.
Anne Taylor – Trustee
Anne started her career in the Charity Sector 40 years ago as a secretary. Since then, she has held a variety of roles including Property Manager, Bookkeeper and Administrator. Anne was a lynchpin in the development of the All Stars Boxing Gym and Youth Club for over 30 years and acted in many capacities from chaperone and mentor to administrator and fund raiser.
Anne joined the board of Laurence’s Larder in 2023 and regularly volunteers as well as her board duties.
Michael Krzyzanowski – Trustee
Michael has worked in modern design and decorative arts for 40 years. He has worked in both the UK and the US, specialising in modernist furniture, art and design. He is now a private design consultant and has written, lectured and made films on design and architecture.
He owns a nascent company that aims to connect the art and design world with marginalised communities.
Michael has volunteered at Laurence’s Larder for 8 years and joined the Board of Trustees in 2022.
Saul Venit – Trustee
Saul is a local resident, who joined the board of trustees in 2022.
He brings a broad range of experience, having worked in the business/operations of television production and distribution for many years, served on several company boards, and as a trustee for a charity focussing on assistance for a community in Sri Lanka. Saul chairs the finance and risk committee of the Larder.
Louise Pudney – Trustee
Louise has 20+ years’ experience working for charities, both professionally and as a volunteer, encompassing digital marketing, campaigns, online, post, face to face and telephone fundraising, events and PR.
Louise became a trustee of Laurence’s Larder in 2023 and combines her varied charity experience whilst making a local contribution to her area. She has also volunteered at another local charity, the Lexi cinema, since 2013.
Chloe Court – Trustee
Chloe hails originally from Los Angeles but made London her home after studying Political Science at the London School of Economics. For the last 20 plus years she has been working as a TV Producer making Factual Entertainment and Documentary series for BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, Channel Four and Channel Five.
Chloe became a trustee of Laurence’s Larder in 2024.
Zadie Smith – Patron
Zadie Smith FRSL is an English novelist, essayist, and short-story writer. Her debut novel, White Teeth, immediately became a best-seller and won a number of awards.
Zadie grew up in North West London and volunteers regularly at Laurence’s Larder, she is also very active in fund raising for the Larder.
She has been the patron of Laurence’s Larder since 2022.