Chair of Trustees
Strategy & Governance
The Wales Air Ambulance is a registered charity governed by a Board of Trustees who have a legal responsibility to ensure the Charity meets its objectives while complying with all regulatory requirements and best practice.
The Board determines the Charity’s long-term strategy and approves the annual business plan and budget and delegates the day-to-day management of the Charity to the Chief Executive and Senior Management Team.
Our Trustees are all volunteers, they give up their time and expertise feely to help run the Charity and are selected for their abilities to make an effective contribution to the service.
Specific responsibilities are delegated to five committees which report back to the Board on a quarterly basis. They consist of at least two Trustees one of which is elected as Chairperson, and a member of the Senior Management Team. The five committees are HR and Organisation Development, Finance, Remuneration, Aviation and Health & Safety.
How do our Trustees help the Charity?
- Protect the long-term stability of the charity by ensuring there are adequate financial reserves.
- Ensuring compliance. The Trustees are legally responsible for the Charity and ensuring that we comply and meet regulations.
- They bring a variety of skills and experience, including clinical, finance, governance, legal, fundraising and HR, to name a few.
- The Board meets regularly to review and direct the Charity’s strategy, budget and performance. Certain matters are reserved for Board approval, including changes to strategy and budget.
Meet our Trustees
Dr Kyle Jacques
Name:
Dr Kyle Jacques
Role:
Chair of Trustees
Name:
Dr Kyle Jacques
Role:
Chair of Trustees
Dr Kyle Jacques BDS MBBCh FDSRCS FRCS
Born in Gwent, Kyle initially studied dentistry at Guy’s Hospital, London, and then worked up to consultant level in maxillofacial surgery. He then studied medicine at the University of Wales College of Medicine before undertaking junior medical jobs and joining the All-Wales Training Programme in Emergency Medicine.
During this time, he developed a subspeciality interest in Prehospital Emergency Medicine Qualifying from the London Air Ambulance medical crew course, Kyle subsequently worked with Kent Surrey Sussex Air Ambulance and Great Western Air Ambulance (Bristol). His other pre-hospital critical care work includes volunteering on the British Association of Immediate Care Medserve scheme in South East Wales and working on the Physician Response Unit run by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. Alongside his pre-hospital work, Kyle was a consultant in the North Bristol NHS Trust, gaining invaluable experience in prehospital medicine and how to run a major trauma team. He was awarded The Queen’s Jubilee Medal for services to pre-hospital care.
Having been exposed to cutting-edge care in the prehospital field and the functioning of a well-run major trauma centre, Kyle wanted to help introduce this level of care in Wales.
Kyle became a Wales Air Ambulance Trustee in 2012 and until recently was Vice-Chair. He was unanimously voted in as Chair during the Charity’s 2024 AGM.
Kyle recently retired from clinical practice and now lives in rural Carmarthenshire.
Amanda Burdge
Vice Chair
Name:
Amanda Burdge
Role:
Vice Chair
Name:
Amanda Burdge
Role:
Vice Chair
Amanda joined the board of Trustees in 2020. She is a member of the Charity’s Finance Sub Committee and in this role helps to set the strategic direction and oversee the organisation’s finances and investments.
Amanda is a Partner at Quantum Advisory, an independent financial services consultancy based in Cardiff. An experienced investment professional, she is Head of Investment for the business and oversees the investments of pension schemes across the UK. She also sits on the Regulation Committee for the Pensions Management Institute, ensuring the regulatory strategic objectives of the Institute are being delivered and remain appropriate.
A Welsh learner, Amanda also enjoys walking and reading in her spare time.
Paul Harris
Trustee
Name:
Paul Harris
Role:
Trustee
Name:
Paul Harris
Role:
Trustee
Craig Hampton Stone
Trustee
Name:
Craig Hampton Stone
Role:
Trustee
Name:
Craig Hampton Stone
Role:
Trustee
James Phillips
Trustee
Name:
James Phillips
Role:
Trustee
Name:
James Phillips
Role:
Trustee
Laura Davies
Trustee
Name:
Laura Davies
Role:
Trustee
Name:
Laura Davies
Role:
Trustee
Stephen Ley
Trustee
Name:
Stephen Ley
Role:
Trustee
Name:
Stephen Ley
Role:
Trustee
Stephen joined the Board of Trustees in 2020.
He retired from his role as a Partner at Deloitte LLP in 2021, after more than 23 years with the firm. He was the global co-leader for payments and for several years led Deloitte’s technology risk practice. Stephen has served on the boards of several other charities and regularly advised boards during his professional career.
Stephen lives in Pembrokeshire with his family where he a local tour guide, photographer and writer. He is enjoying learning and practicing Welsh.
Louise Church
Trustee
Name:
Louise Church
Role:
Trustee
Name:
Louise Church
Role:
Trustee
Louise joined the board of Trustees in 2020.
Louise is an experienced health and safety professional with over 16 years of experience gained from working within a research led HE institution with a diverse portfolio of H&S hazards, and other large organisations. Louise also owns her own health, safety and wellbeing consultancy through which she works with a broad range of SMEs and larger organisations.
In addition, Louise works for NEBOSH (an awarding organisation for professional qualifications in health, safety and environmental management) and volunteers for a charity working with vulnerable and homeless people in Swansea.
David Gilbert OBE
Trustee
Name:
David Gilbert OBE
Role:
Trustee
Name:
David Gilbert OBE
Role:
Trustee
David joined the Board of Trustees in 2009 and was the Chairman between 2013 – 2024.
David retired from the role of Deputy Chief Executive at Carmarthenshire County Council in 2015 after 12 years with the Authority. He had also worked in Neath Port Talbot and Swansea Local Authorities since moving to Wales in 1992. He is a Board member of Swansea Bay City Region and recently joined the Advisory Board of the Port Talbot Enterprise Zone.
In 2012 David was awarded an OBE for services to Regeneration and Skills in West Wales. Originally from Hereford, he is still a season ticket holder at Hereford FC and a regular at Llandovery RFC.
Des Kitto
Trustee
Name:
Des Kitto
Role:
Trustee
Name:
Des Kitto
Role:
Trustee
Jim Wagstaffe
Trustee
Name:
Jim Wagstaffe
Role:
Trustee
Name:
Jim Wagstaffe
Role:
Trustee
Jim Wagstaffe joined the Board of Trustees in 2013. Jim has worked in Human Resources and management roles for more than 30 years. His experience extends from private sector manufacturing to the public sector and NHS, and now runs his own HR and Management consultancy. He chairs Wales Air Ambulance’s HR committee on the Board.
Jim lives in north-east Wales, where he enjoys spending time with his family and volunteering as a school governor. He is a fan of the North Wales Crusaders Rugby League.
Owain Davies
Trustee
Name:
Owain Davies
Role:
Trustee
Name:
Owain Davies
Role:
Trustee
Owain is Managing Director of Amcanu Ltd, a specialist designer and manufacturer of Acoustic Attenuating Enclosures and sheet metal solutions.
He is also a qualified helicopter pilot and served as a helmsman on the lifeboat at Burry Port for nearly 25 years.
Owain is a council member of the CBI (Confederation of British Industry) in Wales and Chairman of the Enterprise Forum for the SME Sector (Small to Medium Enterprise).
He became a Wales Air Ambulance Trustee in 2017, sits on the Charity’s Aviation Subgroup and is Director of Cardiff Heliport.
Mark James
Trustee
Name:
Mark James
Role:
Trustee
Name:
Mark James
Role:
Trustee
Mark is one of only two of the original Trustees still involved with the Charity. Professionally, he is a freelance Broadcaster, Writer and Television Director; his work includes directing outside broadcasts for ‘Crimewatch Roadshow’ for BBC One and eight years reporting on the World Rally Championship for BBC TV and Radio.
Besides his involvement with WAAC, Mark has been a Community First Responder for the Welsh Ambulance Service since 2009 and was part of a Coastguard cliff rescue team for over thirty years. Mark is a Welsh speaker and frequently gives media interviews on behalf of the Charity.
