Meet the team

Alex Page

Interim Vice-Chair of Trustees

I first came to CPSL Mind as a client going through my own challenges with mental illness and having volunteered within peer support and co-production it is now my absolute privilege to sit on the board of trustees. As I am a Trade Union rep and HR consultant in my day-job my specialism is in people: specifically leadership, coaching and employee relations; I’ve spent most of my career in the finance sector but also worked for newspapers, retailers and for a private language school in Japan.

In my free time I can most often be found reading with my headphones on or grumbling about football results – I am a supporter of Cambridge United and a qualified FA coach working with young players for Ely City Crusaders FC. I’ve also been known to play video games, but I try and (falsely) claim its only to join in with my son.

Maria Huber

Trustee and Treasurer

I moved to the UK for my post-graduate studies at the University of Cambridge 15 years ago and later began my working life as a Chartered Accountant for various organisations in Cambridge.  I am now working as the Head of Financial Planning and Analysis at the Royal Society of Chemistry so charity finance is my métier. I enjoy sharing my professional skills to support the fantastic work of CPSL Mind and, having had both personal and family experience with mental health issues, am truly excited to be part of this Board. I consider it a real privilege to work with such an innovative organisation dedicated to making a difference.

Sharon Gilfoyle

Trustee

My career in mental health started 33 years ago as a Nursing Assistant and Support Worker, then subsequently training as a Mental Health Social Worker. I have experience in teaching, peer support, recovery and equality, diversity and inclusion. Throughout my career, I have also experienced my own psychiatric challenges and have used this to help others on their recovery journey.

I have always worked closely with CPSL Mind and became a Trustee in 2017. I am proud to support an organisation that is close to my heart and has a brilliant local reputation.

Olly Biswas

Trustee

Growing up in Cambridgeshire, I am keen to support our community wherever I can. Coming from a humble background, my journey has allowed me to be exposed to some wonderful and often challenging experiences, and I am blessed to have met some extraordinary individuals along the way. My hope is to draw on those experiences to add my flavour of life to the diversity of thinking already offered at CPSL Mind.

Stuart Jessup

Trustee

I have a lifetime’s experience of being treated for depression and have been supporting mental health charities since 2011, when I walked around England with my Springer Spaniel, campaigning against mental health stigma and fundraising for mental health charities. Since then, I have been pleased to volunteer with CPSL Mind as a trustee, and I am a past chair of trustees.

Professionally, I am an electronic engineer. I used to design mobile phones and have many years of senior management experience in technology companies. However, following the death of my wife from cancer in 2005, I retrained as a teacher. I was teaching at Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge before moving to Lincolnshire in 2009, where my father-in-law is a semi-retired farmer. I now teach science at Boston Grammar School and have a special interest in the mental health challenges faced by communities in this large, sparsely populated, and mainly rural county.

Andrew Paylor

Trustee

I am an audit manager working predominantly in the local government sector. I am originally from Canada but moved to the UK in 2021. Now that I have established myself and put down roots in the community, I am looking for ways to give back. I have been an advocate for mental health in the workplace founding wellbeing committees in the offices I have worked at in the past. I am looking forward to applying my knowledge to support the continued important services that CPSL Mind provides.

Katarzyna Smith

Trustee

I am a new trustee, I started in April 2023. I suffered from mental health problems in my adult life and as a result I want to help others now. Apart from becoming a trustee for CPSL Mind, I am also studying to become a counsellor and volunteering with Age UK and Thames Valley Partnership providing emotional support to elderly people and victims of crime.

My professional background is in the education sectors. I have MA in English and I spent 10 years working for Cambridge University Press in various marketing and management roles.

I speak fluent Polish and I have experience and knowledge of Eastern European cultures and migration issues. I also have experience and knowledge of long- term illnesses – I’m a cancer survivor.

Scott Smith

Trustee

I have been passionate about mental health and wellbeing for as long as I can remember. I was delighted to be able to join CPSL Mind as Trustee in 2024. Having seen friends, family and colleagues battle with mental health problems as well as living through periods of poor mental health myself, I hope I can use my role to make a positive difference to the mental health of those in my local area.

I am a qualified solicitor by profession (I moved to Cambridge in 2017 when I first qualified!), and also sit as the current Equity Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the Local Law Society, so bring a legal background and EDI knowledge to the board of trustees. When I’m not wearing one of my professional “hats”, you’ll probably find me knitting a jumper, jogging around a Park Run or walking my pug around Mill Road Cemetery.

Michael Thelwall

Trustee

With twenty years working in large and small charities, I’m happy to share my knowledge and experience to help CPSL Mind to support local people with their mental health. Living with a mental health condition has given me the insight on the impact of poor mental health on others and the interest working with those who provide support.

On the rare occasions when I’m not thinking about fundraising, I’m usually cooking, listening to and playing music as well as learning German or looking around a historic tourist attraction.