Clare is an accomplished CEO and director with over 25 years of leadership experience across the public and not-for-profit sectors. She has built a strong reputation for driving business growth, strategic development, and delivering impactful community initiatives that bring lasting benefit to the people and places she works with.
Passionate about innovation and collaboration, Clare is committed to creating sustainable income streams, building opportunities for individuals, and ensuring that organisations thrive at the heart of their communities. She is known for her ability to engage quickly with teams, adapt seamlessly to new environments, and deliver immediate impact.
Since 2012, Clare has been Chief Executive of the Chichester Community Development Trust (CCDT), guiding its transformation from a one-person organisation with just £17,000 investment into a thriving charity projecting £3.5m turnover in 2024/25. Under her leadership, CCDT has supported more than 60,000 people, including vulnerable families, isolated older residents, and young people at risk. She has successfully secured 14 community assets through freehold transfers and long-term leases, while building a dedicated team of staff and 125 volunteers. Alongside this, Clare has overseen the development of innovative projects, training programmes, and community initiatives that have strengthened local connections and opportunities.
In addition to her role at CCDT, Clare founded Connecting Spaces Ltd in 2020, which has generated over £1.2m in consultancy and trading revenue since 2022, supporting voluntary organisations to develop robust business models and sustainable growth. She also established the Chichester Bike Project in 2024 as a community benefit society, raising £115,000 in just four weeks through a community share offer and securing premises on a 250-year lease. Clare is also Chair of The Steadings Community Management Trust, a new stewardship organisation in the Cotswolds responsible for the long-term development and management of a 2,500-home community.
Her leadership and innovation have been recognised with a number of awards, including the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2025, the Sussex Heritage Trust Award in 2023, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Individual Achievement Award in 2024. Clare brings expertise in strategic and business planning, asset management, income generation, and community engagement, alongside a proven ability to deliver meaningful outcomes for both organisations and the communities they serve.
