Who we are

Directors

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    Fiona Carden

    Chief Executive Officer

    Fiona Carden is a visionary leader with over 20 years of experience driving social change through learning and collaboration. As CEO of CoLab Exeter, she has been pivotal in transforming the organisation into a dynamic hub for cross-sector collaboration, addressing complex social needs and fostering inclusive communities. Fiona’s leadership is rooted in a commitment to social justice, empowering marginalized communities through learning, innovation, and social capital development. Known for her compassionate and values-driven approach, she has built strategic relationships across government, health, education, and the voluntary sector. Her work has been recognized with accolades such as the Exeter Living Civic Award, and the West Country Women’s Community Award. Passionate about lifelong learning and community wellbeing, Fiona's personal interests in nature, mindfulness, and social inclusion inform her work and leadership, which are grounded in connection, resilience, and hope.

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    Jon Cook

    Deputy CEO (Director of Practice & Operations)

    Jon is a creative and purposeful leader with extensive experience across a range of mission driven and not-for-profit organisations. He has considerable experience in the substance misuse sector and is committed to delivering services and projects that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Jon takes a values led approach to inspiring, coaching and leading teams to collaborate effectively and achieve proven outcomes, with a focus on building trust and cooperation. He brings a calm, focussed and inclusive approach to managing multiple priorities, driving continuous improvement and navigating complex challenges with integrity and care. He is passionate about wellbeing and is a keen advocate of the mental health benefits of nature in general and the craft of spoon carving in particular!

     “My first involvement with CoLab was in 2015 when I was part of the initial steering group before the official launch in 2016. I have been a keen supporter of this amazing organisation ever since and when the opportunity presented itself to join as the Deputy CEO in 2023 I jumped at the chance!  I feel really proud everyday to work as part of a team of people who see the world in a similar way and want to deliver the best possible services. CoLab, as an organisation and as a wider community of agencies is somewhere where we all look out for each other, find ways to help and support each other and genuinely have fun and prioritise ways to bring joy into our work. Working in this sector can be really challenging so this is something that I feel is really important”

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    Andy Puleston

    Director of Finance

    “I joined the team in 2022. I have previously worked in various sectors but wanted to return to the charity sector. My passion is to make order out of chaos, to turn data into something meaningful. I do compare my work to that of an artist to anyone that will listen, but I understand that they may not share my viewpoint. CoLab is a fantastic place to work with a team full of compassion, passion and drive. I want my work to have a purpose, to work in a place where I can help make a difference in people’s lives. CoLab is such an organisation, and I am proud to be part of the amazing team.”

Heads of Service

Board of Trustees

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    Julie Dent OBE

    Chair of Trustees
    Julie brings a wealth of experience, having chaired Devon Partnership NHS Trust, London Probation, User Voice, and Libraries Unlimited. After an exciting executive career in the NHS, she retired to enjoy life in Devon while continuing to support CoLab's mission. With great insight into CoLab’s areas of focus, Julie supports staff and the Board of Trustees as they continue to evolve and grow. She is passionate about raising the profile of the issues faced by the most vulnerable in Exeter and Devon. Working with partners, Julie is focused on finding solutions that empower people to live their best lives, while offering support through their most challenging times.

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    Anthony Farnsworth

    Vice Chair of Trustees
    Anthony became a Trustee in June 2021. He previously worked for Devon County Council as a Social Worker before joining the NHS in 1995. After several years of work in Exeter, he moved to Torbay Care Trust in 2006, becoming Chief Executive in 2009. Since retiring from the NHS in 2015, Anthony has worked for himself in various senior roles across the NHS and social care. He has a longstanding interest in mental health services, particularly in relation to the criminal justice system. Anthony brings extensive experience in building effective partnerships between organisations and wants to support CoLab in making a positive impact.

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    Hugh Groves

    Treasurer
    Hugh is a former Director of Finance with extensive experience across a wide range of NHS settings, both as a commissioner and provider of services, including mental health and wellbeing support. His roles have covered health and care services in Bristol, Somerset, and Devon, and included work on the NHS England’s personalised care programme. Hugh has also served as a Trustee for various charities and is pleased to take on the role of Treasurer Trustee at CoLab, where his professional expertise and personal values align well.

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    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.

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    Julie McLaren

    Julie is a freelance Innovation Practitioner and Senior Honorary Research Fellow at The Bartlett School, University College London. Her research and practice focus on inclusive social change and building the infrastructures needed to enable collaboration and create healthy, sustainable cities. She has worked with a wide range of organisations, including universities, government departments and agencies, local government administrations, and arts & cultural organisations. Previously, she was Deputy Director of Research at the University of Exeter until 2019 and Associate Director of Research and Innovation Programmes at the UK Research Councils.

    In her role as a CoLab Trustee, she advocates for the most vulnerable in our community, promoting strong community involvement in shaping Exeter as a city.

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    Lisa Vanstone

    Lisa is the Managing Director of Exeter-based communications consultancy One Voice, specialists in PR, marketing, content creation, events management, and media buying. Leading a team of 11, Lisa now owns the business and, after successfully navigating it through the pandemic, is shifting her focus to business strategy, company culture, employee wellbeing, and social impact.

    “CoLab plays a vital role in Exeter, supporting individuals and the community to improve their immediate circumstances, build aspirations, and ultimately transform 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 be a trustee.”