About
Our Trustees
Alison Walton: Chair
Alison joined as a trustee in 2022. She has practised law as a commercial solicitor for over 20 years, working as a partner specialising in commercial contracting and public procurement at Newcastle law firm Muckle LLP. Alison has held a number of national Head of Procurement roles at national and international law firms and has worked for a number of charity and public sector clients. Alison has three teenage girls, four dogs, two cats and is a keen equestrian with two horses which keeps her busy in her spare time!
Stephen Lightley: Treasurer
Stephen has been a Trustee for over four years, and has been a chartered accountant for almost 40 years. He has worked in the profession and industry and in the public sector. Stephen has held, and continues to hold, a number of financial positions with other charitable organisations.
Jackie Slesenger
Jackie joined the Foodbank in its early years whilst a Newcastle City Councillor. She was Lord Mayor 2012 to 2013. She taught law for many years at Tynemouth College and served as a magistrate on North Tyneside Bench. She has been a volunteer for the Probation Service, Aged Concern and the Citizens Advice Bureau. Jackie is a Trustee of the Gosforth Group of Academies and past Vice Chair and now a member of Sacre (advisory group for religious education in schools.) She has been Chair of Trustees of the Theatre Royal and served for many years on the Health and Education Scrutiny Committee on Newcastle Council.
Monju Meah
Monju has been supporting the Foodbank for 7 years and joined as a Trustee in February 2022. He has worked at Capgemini for nearly 10 years starting out as a technology consultant and in 2015 made a move into the Corporate Social Responsibility team, working within digital inclusion and volunteer engagement. Monju has experience working on international development projects and fundraising for charities working towards the alleviation of poverty, chiefly for the Foodbank.
Steve Cockburn
Steve joined the Trustees in January 2022 and currently serves as the Head of Economic and Social Justice at Amnesty International, managing the organisation’s global research and campaigns on the rights to health, housing, work and food. He has previously worked for other charitable organisations including Oxfam and WaterAid, and has served as a Trustee of Transparency International UK. Steve has volunteered at the food bank site in Benwell, and supports the NUFC fans’ foodbank collections at St James’ Park on match days.