Centre for Ageing Better appoints two new trustees

The Centre for Ageing Better is delighted to welcome two new trustees, Chris Sherwood and Alexia Clifford, to its board. Bringing diverse experience from the public and charitable sectors, Chris and Alexia will make invaluable contributions in the organisation’s efforts to make ageing better for everyone.

Chris Sherwood has been the Chief Executive of the RSPCA, the world's oldest and largest animal protection charity, since August 2018. Prior to this Chris was CEO of Relate, the UK's leading relationship charity – a role he was promoted into from the position of Director of Policy and External Affairs. He also led the ageing programme of work at Nesta, the UK's innovation agency for three years. Chris has nearly 20 years of experience in the voluntary sector and has been a trustee of two small charities. Additionally, he is a Leadership Fellow at St George's House, an organisation that facilitates leaders to engage in constructive dialogue, and a Fellow at the Royal Society for Arts, Manufacturers, and Commerce.

“I am really looking forward to joining the Centre for Ageing Better as a trustee. Having worked on issues related to ageing before, I am strongly committed to the vision of Ageing Better. I hope to bring my knowledge, skills, and experience to support the Centre in delivering its ambitious and exciting new strategy.”

Alexia Clifford is Chief Communications Officer at GambleAware, the leading charity working to keep people safe from gambling harms. Before joining GambleAware, Alexia was Director of Marketing at Public Health England, where she was responsible for flagship government public health campaigns, such as Change4Life and Stoptober. She has also led a number of award-winning digital products which have changed behaviour at a large scale, including the Couch To 5K running app. Alexia sits on the Advertising Standards Agency Industry Advisory Panel and has been named as one of Campaign magazine’s Power 100 list of the UK's most influential marketeers.

“I am delighted to be joining the board of trustees at the Centre for Ageing Better and look forward to supporting the charity to achieve its ambition to transform the way we think, feel, and talk about ageing.”

Over the past few months, Ageing Better has begun delivering its new strategy, which focuses on creating more age-friendly homes, workplaces, and communities to enable us all to live a good later life. The targeted strategy was developed to ensure that Ageing Better’s evidence-based research and advocacy work generates the greatest impact.

“I am thrilled to welcome two new trustees at such an important period in the Centre for Ageing Better’s life. With their advice and support, we will be one step closer towards tackling ageism and reducing the inequalities people experience as they grow older.

“Alexia and Chris’ broad, relevant, and extensive experience of marketing, communications, and business development will support our work to enable more of us to experience good health, financial security, and respect as we age.”

Alexia and Chris will replace Professor Nicholas Mays, who has served as trustee since September 2015, and Dame Lin Homer, who joined the Ageing Better board in August 2017. The new additions will be part of Ageing Better’s board of ten trustees, who have a wealth of skills, knowledge, and experience to guide Ageing Better’s work.