Our Trustees
Julie Dent
Chair of Trustees
Julie has a wealth of experience, having chaired Devon Partnership NHS Trust, London Probation, User Voice (a charity for offenders), as well as
Libraries Unlimited. She has had an exciting executive career in the NHS before retiring to enjoy Devon. Julie has great insight into, and knowledge of CoLab’s areas of focus and will support the staff and Board of Trustees on their journey of evolution. Julie is passionate about raising the profile of the issues experienced by the most vulnerable in Exeter and Devon, and working with partners to find solutions that enable people to lead the best lives they can, whilst supporting them through the most difficult times.
Jonathan Alder
Jonathan is the founder and Managing Director of a branding agency, Alder and Alder, based in Exeter. He works with senior leaders in commercial businesses, social enterprises, charities and local authorities, helping them to understand how brand can drive their success. At the heart of this approach is understanding how brand can change what people think, believe or understand about an organisation.
Jonathan’s approach is to adopt the role of “trusted advisor”, someone who can offer practical, impartial advice. The key to building this kind of relationship is establishing trust. He believes it’s important to take the time to understand an organisation, by asking the right questions and listening carefully to the answers. It is this approach that he hopes to bring to his role as a Trustee, helping to drive the success of CoLab.
Anthony Farnsworth
Vice Chair of Trustees
Anthony became a Trustee in June 2021. He worked for Devon County Council as a Social Worker before joining the NHS in 1995. After working in Exeter for a number of years he moved to Torbay care Trust in 2006 and became Chief Executive of the Torbay Care Trust in 2009. After retiring from the NHS in 2015 Anthony has worked for himself in various senior roles in both NHS and Social care organisations. He has held a long standing interest in mental health services, especially for those where the Criminal justice system is also relevant. He has a lot of experience in making positive working arrangements between partner organisations and wants to support CoLab to make a positive difference for people.
Julie McLaren
Julie is a freelance Innovation Practitioner and Honorary Research Fellow at The Bartlett School, University College London. Her research and practice focuses on inclusive social change and how we build the infrastructures we need to work together and create healthy and sustainable cities. As a freelance consultant and practitioner she has worked with a wide range of organisations including universities, government departments and agencies, local government administrations and arts and cultural organisations. Prior to her current work she was Deputy Director of Research at the University of Exeter until 2019, and before that Associate Director of Research and Innovation Programmes at the UK Research Councils. To her role as a Exeter CoLab Trustee she brings a desire to champion the most vulnerable in our community and to see a strong level of community involvement in local decision making and the shaping of Exeter as a city.
Andrew Rome
Treasurer
Andrew is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and is CoLab’s Treasurer. In addition to a wealth of commercial and financial experience across a wide range of business sectors Andrew has particular knowledge of the children and young adult’s social care system and the way in which government bodies interact with service providers and other non-governmental bodies.
Sebastian Stevens
Dr. Sebastian Stevens, with his robust academic background culminating in a PhD in Medical Education and Regulation, holds key positions in the healthcare sector that reflect his expertise and commitment. As the Managing Director of Apollo Health Innovations, he applies his deep understanding of healthcare innovation and digital health to drive advancements in the field. His role involves a strategic focus on integrating new technologies and approaches to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
In addition to his responsibilities at Apollo Health Innovations, Sebastian serves as a Non-Executive Director of Livewell Southwest. In this capacity, he contributes his expertise in healthcare quality improvement and policy reform, particularly in addressing health disparities and inequalities. His work is characterised by a pragmatic approach to healthcare management, balancing innovative solutions with operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.
Lisa Vanstone
Lisa is managing director of Exeter based communications consultancy One Voice, specialists in PR, marketing, content creation, events management and media buying. Employing a team of 11, Lisa now owns the business and having led it through the pandemic, is turning her focus on the business strategy, company culture, employee wellbeing and social impact.
“CoLab does great work in Exeter supporting both individuals and the community to improve people’s immediate situations, their aspirations and ultimately their lives. I’d like to play my own small part in that by bringing my skills, time, and experience to support CoLab, so I’m really pleased to become a trustee.”