Teams

Olga has sixteen years’ experience of working with the Voluntary & Community Sector in supporting the development of community infrastructure. She served as Strategic Director of Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Council from 2015-2024, with responsibility for delivering strategic, regulatory and development functions. From 2008, Olga worked with the Department of Social Development and later the Department for Communities in relation to supporting Volunteering policy at a national and local level.

Jeannie joined the Volunteer Now Board of Trustees in April 2023. She has 13 years’ experience working across the public sector and civil society. Jeannie is a Social Value Advisor at the NI Strategic Investment Board. She advises the public sector on opportunities to maximise the benefit of Government buying power for people, communities and the planet. She leads on Social Value approaches for Services contracts, including by providing guidance and training on the NI Executive’s recently introduced policy, 'Scoring of Social Value'. Before joining SIB, Jeannie held several roles promoting social justice and active citizenship in civil society, including at Trócaire and Habitat for Humanity. She was a 2022 Fellow of the Social Change Initiative where her research focused on taking local action on global issues. She previously served on the Board of Trustees of Home-Start North Belfast. Jeannie is passionate about the role of volunteering in bringing people together to build strong communities where everyone can contribute.

Jenny has worked in the world of community development for 16 years and has a rich history in volunteer management within community organisations including: youth, older people, addictions and mental health. Her role in the leadership team at Mid & East Antrim Agewell Partnership, an older peoples charity in Mid & East Antrim includes managing the service delivery for a number of health related contracts, as well as building capacity in local community groups around funding, governance and project management. As a strong advocate for the voluntary sector, she has previously served on a number of third sector voluntary boards including Kells and Connor Pre School and The Alternative Medicine Theatre, as well as holding the coveted position of the Boardroom Apprentice for the Northern Ireland Charity Commission in 2018/2019. As part of her ongoing personal development, Jenny is currently studying for a Post Graduate Diploma in Leadership and Management for Health & Social Care.

Jenny joined the Board of Volunteer Now in September 2021. Jenny has 18 years' experience of engaging and involving volunteers: 5 years of schools and community fundraising with NSPCC and 13 years with the National Trust. Within National Trust, she worked alongside volunteers, directly managed teams of volunteers, was the Volunteer & Community Involvement Officer for a portfolio of properties with 450 volunteers and is currently the regional NI People Business Partner for volunteering and community. She is a voluntary trustee of Belfast Homeless Services and volunteered as secretary of St Columbanus College PTA for many years. Her experience means she understands the range of operational and strategic opportunities and challenges inherent in volunteering. She is personally and professionally invested in volunteering for deep mutual benefit at an individual, organisational and societal level and is honoured to support Volunteer Now's mission to support and advocate for volunteering, volunteers and volunteer involving organisations in Northern Ireland. The pandemic has accelerated societal change and the landscape of volunteering is changing at pace too; as a sector, we must work collectively to support volunteer involving groups and organisations to respond to the changing needs and expectations of people who want to give their time to causes they believe in.

Elaine is an independent trustee since April 2023. As one of Volunteer Now event volunteers, Elaine ‘meets and greets’ and signposts individuals and families, most recently, at the Belfast Ukraine Assistance centre. Enriching volunteering is Elaine’s enduring priority. Celebrating its value, both the quality of the volunteer experience, and its benefits to the group or community underpins Elaine’s 30-year career. Starting out by supporting communities in housing estates from Ballymena to Belfast, on how to set up groups, attract funding, establish community centres, run events, and implement bespoke training programmes, doing so and safeguarding everyone involved is paramount. Progressing Council community services, e.g., designed Newtownabbey Borough’s Volunteer Awards and Belfast City Council’s Children & Young People’s services. Leading regional services e.g., for older people, mental health support, or pioneering thematic priorities e.g., Community Safety, all has relied upon great volunteers at the heart of it. Elaine is keen to champion the future of volunteering, supporting the Volunteer Now team on their endeavours and quality assure the experience for all.

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.  

Marc joined 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.  Since leaving Sport NI in April 2018, Marc has 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 Independent Chair of Archery Northern Ireland and in that role is tasked with overseeing a period of change and growth for the sport in NI.

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.