Stonewall appoints new Vice Chairs and Trustee

Stonewall continues to strengthen the diversity of its Board of Trustees, following the appointment of Cat Dixon and Jean Vianney Cordeiro as Vice Chairs. Ayla Holdom has become Chair of the Remuneration Committee whilst John Dickinson-Lilley also joined the Board as a new Trustee.

Cat and Jean Vianney have both served on the Board for a number of years, with Cat serving six years as a Trustee and Chair of the Remuneration Committee and Jean Vianney serving three years as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance, Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee. Both step into the role upon the retirement of Mitch Oliver as Vice Chair after more than four years on Stonewall’s Board. Meri Williams and Kyle Ring have also retired from the board.

Cat brings a wealth of experience and expertise in leading major organisations, currently serving as Director General of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Cat was previously Chief Executive of the Law Society, NHS Resolution and a large HE/FE University College having previously been a senior executive in BUPA and General Counsel for the NSPCC and served as an Officer in the British Army. Cat is a practicing solicitor and mediator and has served on numerous Boards. Cat also holds the world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the world on a tandem which she set in 2020.

Jean Vianney brings extensive finance expertise to the Board, currently serving as Head of Corporate Development at Pets at Home. Following a career that has included investment banking roles at Morgan Stanley and RBC Capital Markets, he held a Corporate Development role at Smith+Nephew. He is a Trustee of Chichester Festival Theatre and is a CFA Charterholder and CPA (USA). In 2022, Jean Vianney ran 3 World Major Marathons, in 3 countries, in 3 weeks in support of Stonewall, raising over £10,000 for the organisation. Jean Vianney becomes the first person of colour to be appointed Vice Chair of Stonewall.

Ayla has been involved in Stonewall since 2015, initially as a participant in Stonewall’s Leadership Programme, and subsequently serving on Stonewall’s Trans Advisory Group before joining the Board in 2020. Ayla has exceptional professional experience having served in the RAF for over a decade, including a tour in Iraq in 2008, followed by 7 years as a Sea King helicopter Captain in the RAF’s Search and Rescue Force. Ayla came out as Transgender in 2010 and remained in active service throughout her transition as part of the RAF’s Search and Rescue Force, with the support and pragmatism of her colleagues and the wider armed forces. Ayla now works for the National Police Air Service.

John Dickinson-Lilley has worked for more than twenty years in communications and public affairs, recently holding Director of Communications roles at the British Museum and Goldsmiths, University of London. John has also competed internationally as a GB athlete, winning titles as double British and European para-ski champion and retiring in the World Top Ten. John has been a long-term Stonewall supporter, including as a Stonewall Sports Champion for our Rainbow Laces campaign since 2018.

Following Jean Vianney’s appointment to Vice Chair, Stonewall is excited to begin recruiting a new Treasurer and Chair of the Finance, Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee to join its board. Further details of current opportunities can be found on Stonewall’s website.

Welcoming the appointments, Iain Anderson (he/him), Chair of Stonewall, said: ‘We are so fortunate to benefit from the wide range of experience and wisdom that Jean Vianney, Cat, Ayla and John all bring to all of us at Stonewall. Mitch, Meri and Kyle haven been excellent Trustees over the past few years. Everyone at Stonewall thanks them for their commitment and leadership in our work to support LGBTIQA+ communities in the UK and across the world.’

Jean Vianney Cordeiro and Cat Dixon, Vice Chairs of Stonewall, said: ‘We are delighted to be taking on the role of Vice Chairs at Stonewall and playing our part in representing our vibrant LGBTIQA+ communities within Stonewall.’

Ayla Holdom, Chair of the Remuneration Committee commented: ‘Continuing to work with the talented team at Stonewall is an absolute privilege and a real responsibility. Working alongside our committed Board and impressive Senior Leadership Team, I’m focused on ensuring Stonewall delivers for all of the communities we serve.’

John Dickinson-Lilley, Stonewall trustee, added: ‘It’s crucial that the voices of disabled LGBTIQA+ people are heard within our communities, I’m thrilled to be given the opportunity to play my part in making that happen.’