Teams

Martin is a Chartered Banker who worked for many years in AIB Group/ First Trust Bank, and more recently as NI Regional Manager for Charity Bank. While at First Trust, he chaired the Staff Charity Committee which had a number of very successful fundraising partnership with local charities. His role at Charity Bank dealt specifically with a range of charities and social enterprises across Northern Ireland., In the voluntary sector Martin was a Director of Building Change Trust where he was a Board member and Chair of the Finance sub-committee. Prior to becoming a Volunteer Now Trustee, he was an independent member of Volunteer Now’s Audit and Risk Committee. Martin also chairs his local church’s Finance Committee. In his spare time he describes himself as a music aficionado, and a sideline consultant for his youngest son’s football team. Martin is also on Volunteer Now Enterprises Ltd's Board.

Marc joined the Volunteer Board of Trustees on 4 September 2018. Marc has over 15 years’ experience in the sports sector working initially with the Scottish Institute of Sport and Scottish Hockey before relocating to Northern Ireland in June 2009 to work with Sport Northern Ireland. Marc specialises in governance and leadership with his role at Sport NI entailing working with sports governing bodies to improve governance standards across the sector and to assist professional and volunteer workforces build capacity to be well placed to manage public investment. On leaving Sport NI in April 2018, Marc established Progressive Edge, a management consultancy with a primary focus on working with voluntary sector organisations to build board capacity, develop strategy and apply best practice processes to their work. Marc is currently the Chief Executive of Ulster Hockey, leading the organisation into a period of strategic growth. From a voluntary perspective, Marc was the Independent Chair of Archery NI from 2018 – 2022 and is currently the Vice-Chair of the NI Sports Forum.

Nicole Fitzsimons

PA to CEO

Nicole not only provides PA support to Denise and the Board members but also supports the finance team.

Denise Hayward

Chief Executive Officer

Denise has been Chief Executive with Volunteer Now since August 2017 and prior to that Director of Engagement since 2010. She has extensive experience in supporting volunteer involvement. She has wide ranging expertise in public and organisational volunteering policy development, volunteering research and supporting good practice in volunteering. She is experienced in third sector governance issues through many years working at a senior level in the voluntary and community sector. Denise is an active volunteer for Portadown YMCA, Armagh Rural Transport and Belfast Central Mission.