Probation Trust Board

Each probation trust is overseen by an appointed Board.

Functions of the Board are:

• to oversee the strategic direction of the service
• to monitor the performance of the service
• to manage the budget.

Board Meetings

Board meetings are all held at the Headquarters Office at 13:30. Meetings have been scheduled for the following dates:

• 20 February 2012
• 26 March 2012
• 21 May 2012
• 25 June 2012
• 10 September 2012
• 19 November 2012

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Probation Trust Board members

Kevin Ellis – Chair of Trust Board
John Budd – Chief Executive Officer
Chris Emerson
Cris Rees
Barry Smethurst
Dr Rod Pullen

Biographies

Kevin Ellis – Chair of Trust:
has been employed in a variety of roles in his career. He started off in the construction industry after graduating from Warwick University then worked for the Greater London Council until it was disbanded. Kevin then worked for himself for 5 years until joining the National Health Service in 1990. He left the health service in 2006, having spent his last 5 years as chief executive, initially of a Primary Care Trust and finally of an Ambulance Trust.

Kevin’s interest in the Probation Service stems from a close friend who has been a probation officer for the last 30 years and who has kept him up to date, in great detail, on the trials and tribulations of the service.

Outside of work, Kevin’s interests include walking, cycling, ski-ing, sailing and driving, although his rally car has been in pieces in his friend’s garage for longer than he can remember.

Chris Emerson:
has a background in the Charity sector (including fundraising), but more recently has been involved in Complaint Investigation and Resolution for local Social Services departments and NHS Trusts. Chris also serves as a Children’s Advocate and has a strong interest in Children’s Rights issues. Chris has lived in the area for the last 13 years and has a good familiarity with many of the local communities within Cambridgeshire.”

Cris Rees:
is a member of the Diversity, HR and Audit Committees as well as being a member of the Greater Peterborough Partnership. His full time job is General Manager Nene Valley Railway which has benefited hugely from community payback – hence his interest in the Probation Service. Cris is the board representative for the Huntingdon office.

Barry Smethurst:
spent his career working for multi-national food companies as a Director of Sales and Marketing and Trading. He spent most of that time working for the Mars/Wrigley organisation both here in the UK and in Russia. Barry has been involved in School Governance in Cambridgeshire for over 20 years and is current Chair of the Cambridgeshire Governor Advisory Group, a member of the Cambridge Forum and The Independent Appeals Panel. He is a Childrens Advocate on the Huntingdon Strategic Partnership for Children and Young People. This involvment with Young People led to Barry’s interest in the Probation Service. Barry has lived near St Ives for 27 years.

Dr Rod Pullen:
studied science at Oxford and Sussex Universities, but then spent almost 30 years working for the Foreign Office; the last 12 continuously in Africa. On leaving in 2006, he settled in Cambridgeshire.

His interest in the Probation Trust stems from his work in the developing world, witnessing the experiences and challenges for those on the margins of society, wherever they may be.