Our Trustees 

Baljit is the Director of Nucleus Legal Advice Centre, where he has worked for the past 24 years. The organisation was established 35 years ago to provide advice to the local community. His aim for the organisation is for it to thrive and retain its values and spirit and to retain its community focus within a changing and competitive environment.

When he took up this post he received lots of support from the AdviceUK London Regional Network as the organisation went through a big change process. He hopes that his involvement as a Board member will help AdviceUK to continue to support its diverse membership.

He volunteered at Woolwich CAB which started his interest in advice and subsequently worked in a law centre before taking up his current post. Prior to this he had trained as a civil engineer. He became politicised at university where he was a member of the Anti-racist Alliance which resulted in a change of career path.

Following Hayley’s graduation from University in 1998, she volunteered at a local charity to gain experience of working with offenders (with the eventual aim of joining the Probation Service). Hayley enjoyed working in the voluntary sector and did not hesitate to apply for the position as a trainee Money Adviser. When her contract ended, she successfully applied for a trainee Manager position at Ipswich Housing Action Group, a small independent charity that primarily helps single homeless people. Hayley has now been managing the Money Advice Service at IHAG since 2002 and continues to expand and develop the service in order to reach as many marginalised, vulnerable people as possible who would find it difficult to access advice elsewhere.

Hayley had been a member of AdviceUK from the start of her career in this sector and valued our support. Becoming a Trustee has not only enabled Hayley to meet new people and gain new experiences, but also enables her to represent smaller organisations such as IHAG at a national level.

Jawanza entered Advice through Students’ Unions, having held elected positions as an Officer for Leeds Beckett Students’ Union, and the National Union of Students with a focus on LGBTQ+ and Disability Liberation. During their time in elected positions Jawanza held roles in the National Disabled Students’ Committee, National Executive Council of NUS and as a Trustee of Unipol; a unique student housing charity, established in 1975.

Jawanza also sat on the Higher Education Advisory Panel for the Office of the independent Adjudicator for 5 years.

Jawanza has a passion for being technological forward thinking with Advice, and brought in some of the first online self-booking systems in a Students’ Union, trailed the use of Smart NFC Posters, and made use of popular medias such as WhatsApp as a delivery of advice appointments.

Jawanza currently Co-Chairs ACSU- the Advisors and Caseworkers in Students’ Unions Network.

Vicki stepped into the world of advice as soon as she graduated from Lancaster University. She began working in community advice on a pilot project that had been brought in by the local council and tendered out to local charities across Lancashire. The purpose of the project was to provide an advice service that could support the community through the up-coming cuts to the social care system. It was certainly a challenge to try to help create an advice service from scratch. Fortunately, the service thrived for a number of years, teaching her a huge amount in the process.

Following this, Vicki stepped back into Higher Education, this time to become a Student Advisor at the University of Manchester Students’ Union. It was certainly a transition from community advice but she thoroughly enjoyed her time working at the largest Students’ Union in the country with never a dull moment.

Over a decade after leaving, Vicki decided to return to Lancaster as the Senior Student Advisor and Deputy Safeguarding Lead at Lancaster University Students’ Union. She utilised her skills from her previous roles to build up the service, which doubled its casework numbers within her first two years of running the service.

Vicki is also part of the membership of Advice UK, as are many other Students’ Union advice services. She hopes to bring her prior experience particular in Students’ Unions to the forefront in her role as a Trustee.

Avinash has worked in the Advice Sector for nearly 29 years after graduating with degrees in Law and Education. Whilst working, he continued with his academic studies and obtained Post Graduate Diploma in Social Welfare Law from University of Leicester and an M.A. with Merit in Peacebuilding from Coventry University.

Presently, Avinash is Advice Service Manager at the London School of Economics and Political Science Students’ Union. Previously, he was Welfare and Advice Manager at Sangam Centre, where the advice service was developed pan London to assist as many people as possible.

Avinash has always enjoyed working in the advice not for profit sector, and his previous employment has been with Newham Council, Bedford Community Rights Centre and Shelter.

Avinash has been a member of AdviceUK for a significant period of time and has always valued the continued invaluable guidance and support.

Nathaniel has been working in I.T. for over 25 years. Since 2009 he has specialised in Salesforce CRM systems and today works as a Salesforce contractor.

Nathaniel has helped many businesses and charities with their digital transformations. He has designed and implemented technical solutions to businesses for diverse applications including commercial sales systems, advice helplines, marketing and survey systems.

With a passion for using technology to improve processes and productivity, Nathaniel aims to bring that experience and expertise in his role as trustee.

Tom Evans is a solicitor and Professional Deputy based in Cardiff. He works for AdviceUK member, QualiaLaw, which is a not-for-profit community interest company providing legal advice and financial safeguarding for vulnerable and neurodiverse people. Tom specialises in Court of Protection Deputy and Attorney Services.

Tony Quinn has been an AdviceUK Trustee since July 2021 and is the Chief Executive Officer of GEMAP (Greater Easterhouse Money Advice Project) Scotland, an organisation offering free support to local people, inspiring them to transform their lives by offering financial inclusion and money advice.

Chris is one of the newest members of the AdviceUK Board of Trustees and brings his experience as a Lawyer with GLD to the team.