Staff

Our main offices are based at the Truro Sight Centre, where all staff can be contacted, although several of us work throughout Cornwall in various locations.

Terri Rosnau

Terri Rosnau, started working at the Charity as a volunteer five years ago after overcoming a brain disorder, kidney failure and depression.

Discovering a passion for helping blind and partially sighted people like herself she later accepted the position of Trustee and became an ambassador for the Charity. Shortly afterwards she was made Chair and has governed the Board for two years.

Terri is delighted to be in working as the Director of the Cornwall Blind Association, the charity that helped her when she lost her sight. .

Charles Whitehead

Charles Whitehead is the Cornwall Blind Associations Head of Finance and Deputy Director, he is responsible for fund raising, facilities and all aspects of finance.

After serving in the army for over 20 years he left to take up a staff officer position in the Ministry of Defence. He then worked for three multinational IT companies, taking charge of projects within major global organisations.

Now Charles lives in Blisland with his wife Anne, who is the artist Lizzie Snell. He has served on committees in the village and helps to organise the annual "fun day". He is a spectator of rugby and cricket but regrets his playing days are long gone. He writes travel articles and is an avid collector of fountain pens, for which he also serves as Trade Liaison Officer for the Writing Equipment Society.

Jackie Southon

Jackie Southon is Head of Service Delivery. With 20 years management experience Jackie entered the Charity sector in 2002. Having moved to Cornwall in 2006 she joined Cornwall Blind Association in January 2008 as Fundraising Manager. Jackie's experience has been gained in service delivery and fundraising, working in both small and larger organisations adding strength to the senior management team.

Ruth Broad

Ruth Broad is the Benefits Advisor at the Cornwall Blind Association. The main part of her job is to give advice to visually impaired clients and if necessary visit them at home to complete benefit applications.

She also raises awareness of the benefits available by attending clubs around the county, so that she can introduce herself and the service.

Previously Ruth worked for the Department of Work and Pensions for 21 years processing Short Term Benefits and has acquired a wide knowledge of the benefits system.

Catherine Collier

Catherine Collier is the Trusts and Grants fundraiser, responsible for making applications, raising vital funds, and developing CBA's relationships with grant makers and charitable trusts. Catherine works across the organisation to ensure our work is monitored and evaluated, and the impact our of services is communicated to our funders.

Catherine has worked in the charity sector for many years, and years of fundraising experience. In her spare time Catherine studied with Open University to gain her Certificate in Fundraising Management.

Debbie-Marie Henshaw

Debbie-Marie Henshaw is the Community and Events Fundraiser.

Fire walks, sky dives, talent competitions, sponsored walks, car rally's, and even supermarket collections, Debbie's job is certainly varied.

She is responsible for community groups and teams of volunteers who work tirelessly for the charity organising events up and down Cornwall. But there is always room for more people to get involved and over the next two years Debbie is looking to find new fundraising teams in places like; Falmouth, Fowey, Torpoint, Saltash, Liskeard, Bude, Launceston, Newquay, the Isles of Scilly and all the towns and villages in between. So please give her a call on 01872 266709

Kerry Keast

Kerry began her career with the Association in 2002 as Receptionist before becoming PA to the Chief Executive in 2004. She is now the Client Contact Officer for the Association, ensuring clients know about all of the services the Charity provides. She also looks after the membership of the Association and is the contact point for the linked clubs. Kerry also organises client holidays and links with other organisations to provide activities and holidays for young people.

Rod Keat

Rod Keat is the Access Technology Officer here at the Cornwall Blind Association. He is responsible for the running of this vital service that provides Assistive Technology support to visually impaired people throughout Cornwall.

From Assessments to installations and from training to the purchasing of equipment the service is comprehensive in its delivery.

Rod has over 10 years experience in working with the visually impaired. He is a qualified teacher and spent six of these years teaching Information Technology and Braille to Visually Impaired adults at RNIB Manor House.

Christine Luff

Chris Luff is the Project Leader for the Talking Support. She joined the charity in 2005 and set up this new service for our visually impaired Cornish community.

Chris moved to Cornwall in 2003, from Berkshire, and had planned to retire. The majority of her working career had been spent in the charity fundraising world. She was London Area Manager for Macmillan Cancer Support for eight years and she then spent a further three years as Head of Fundraising and Communications at Thrive, the Berkshire based gardening charity for people with disabilities.

However, Cornwall Blind Association approached her and she became increasingly involved over the next year. When Talking Support was being discussed, she thought that perhaps she had some experience to offer.

Helen Snashall

Helen Snashall is the Volunteer Co-ordinator, overseeing all aspects of volunteering within the organisation and working with the various departments to ensure our volunteers have a good experience and are effectively supporting the work of CBA.

Since the age of 11 Helen has been involved in volunteering with a number of different organisations. She has also worked as a trustee with an overseas aid charity and most recently managed the Isle of Wight Volunteer Centre.

Julie Pomery

Julie Pomery is the Low Vision co-ordinator for Cornwall Blind Association. She has worked for the association for eight years.

It is her responsibility to ensure the smooth running of the Low Vision Department. She undertakes home visits to clients across the county and is at present exploring feasible ways to decentralise the Low Vision service by setting up Assessment Clinics at Truro, Penzance, St Austell, Penryn and Wadebridge.

She is also involved with working with other agencies and departments and represents the Low Vision department at various meetings where she looks at suitable ways to improve and develop our services.

Alison Sullivan

Alison Sullivan is the North Cornwall Co-ordinator joining the Cornwall Blind Association in the Spring of 2008. She oversees the Resource Desks in Bodmin, Bude and Launceston. The resource desks are there to give advice and support to clients and also to families and carers.

She hopes to increase awareness of sight related problems to the general public and see where the services of the Cornwall Blind Association can be of benefit to the visually impaired in her community.

Alison is helped by a valuable team of volunteers, who man the desks when she needs to be elsewhere.

Linda Petzing

Linda Petzing is the Penwith co-ordinator. She joined the association in June 2009, after a 30-year career in banking.

Five years ago, fulfilment of a childhood ambition to trek in Peru motivated her recovery from a long illness, revealing a latent passion for charity work. "The experience was incredible. Life changing, emotionally and physically challenging." She has worked with other local charities on a voluntary basis in various roles since that time.

"I love the broad people-centred, outreach aspect of my role in Penwith. Helping all visually impaired access many of the other charity's services and developing opportunities to engage in social activities. Building relationships with local hospitals, health professionals and the wider community is another important facet of my job".

Christine Crossey

Christine is the Caradon Development Coordinator. "After working as a member of a training team providing vocational skills courses and then delivering courses to unemployed people to help them back into work, I joined the RNIB as part of a project team. This team, which included Scope, the LA and Job Centre, worked with disabled people who were seeking employment or training and I specialised in working with VI clients and employers. I developed this work with the Local Authority as I wanted to continue working with VI clients and eventually joined CBA where I can, with the help of local volunteers, actively support people living with sight loss and promote the charity and its services.

"I have in the past been a volunteer myself so understand the commitment required and the difficulties volunteers can face but also the many benefits of volunteering."

The rest of the team

Lynda Thomas - Low Vision Administrator: Lynda Thomas is the Low Vision Administrator, based at the Truro Sight Centre, and has worked for Cornwall Blind Association since October 2004. She has a background of various administrative roles, including working in an opticians for 4½ years before joining CBA.

Chris Kent - PA to Director; Chris has worked for Age Concern among other organisations and brings a wealth of experience to the post.

Clare Greenwood - Events Coordinator; Clare has already been organising events across Cornwall to engage communities and to raise money for local charities.

Sue Fyleman - Corporate Fundraiser; Sue has worked in the organisation for the past year but now will use her experience to help us engage with business in Cornwall.

Kate Richardson - Finance & Fundraising Assistant; Kate has worked in the private sector for a number of years and she brings new skills to the team.