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Our Board

Meet Our Executive Board

Our executive board is comprised of some of the most accomplished, well-regarded and experienced members of the social care sector.

Lance Gardener MBE

Chair

Lance was previously a Non-Executive Director for Be Caring (from 2016). He became Chair in April 2018. His emphasis and priority is on our safety and governance, bringing a keen focus and advice on clinical aspects. 

About Lance Gardener MBE

A nurse by trade, Lance has worked in and around the NHS for more than 20 years and with Social Enterprises for 15 years. Lance has an MSC in Ethics in Health Care from Liverpool University (1992) and was awarded an MBE in 2000 for services to Primary Care Nursing. He is a Fellow of the Queens Nursing Institute.

 

Starting out as a nurse practitioner in Runcorn, he went on to become the General Manager of the Medical Division of Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals Trust. Lance also worked for the Department of Health as an adviser on the Governance Arrangements for NHS Foundation Trusts and advised on Public Mutuals and Social Enterprises.

 

Previously, Lance was Chief Executive of Care Plus Group in Grimsby, a Social Enterprise Mutual, with a turnover of £24m, employing 820 staff and responsible for the day to day operational management of all 35 services for adult care within North East Lincolnshire.

 

Lance has significant experience in older people’s care including: successfully running 4 care related businesses, including the first nurse-led primary care practice in Salford; Executive Lead for Older People at Locala (public sector mutual social enterprise) in Kirklees; and, in 2017, was an independent management Consultant working mainly in housing and care of older people.

 

Currently, Lance is the Chief Executive of Salford Primary Care Together, a social enterprise that offers support and facilitation to 43 GP practices across Salford. The organisation also provides all Covid-19 services in the community, including home visiting service, Covid assessment service and testing centres.

Georg Stratenwerth

Non-Executive Director

Georg joined Be Caring as Non-Exectuive Director in 2016. On the Board he has a particular focus on the Finance and Corporate Governance issues. He brings a wealth of experience in supporting companies both in the not-for-profit as well as for-profit sector though financial as well as strategic advisory and mentoring services.

About Georg Stratenwerth

Georg serves as a member of the Investment Committee of Big Issue Invest- a group of funds that provide finance to and support the growth of sustainable social, as well as for profit-with-purpose enterprises in the UK. He is also a member of the Ashoka Support Network, a global community of business leaders from a variety of fields who support Ashoka fellows (social entrepreneurs) both financially and strategically.

 

Georg also serves on the Board of Trustees of Client Earth, an international environmental charity that uses the power of law to protect people and the planet. Client Earth is comprised of over 100 full time lawyers across 6 offices in Europe and Asia who all work on finding practical solutions for the world’s biggest environmental challenges (climate change, protecting oceans and wildlife, making forest governance stronger, greener change, making business more responsible and pushing for government transparency). Client Earth work on laws throughout their lifetime, from the earliest stages to implementation. And when those laws are broken, Client Earth go to court to enforce them.

 

Georg’s previous expertise is in investment, Private Equity and Management Consultancy. He acted as a non-executive Director of Pillarstone, a KKR backed investment vehicle to restructure non-performing bank loans. His career in Private Equity was as Partner with Advent International (2003-2016) and JP Morgan Partners (1993-2003). At Advent International, he acted as general manager in the Frankfurt office. He then opened and was responsible for the Mumbai office before returning to London. At J.P. Morgan Partners, he worked in New York, London, and Munich, where he opened and headed up the office.

Sharon Lowrie

CEO

Sharon joined CASA in April 2018 as Chief Exec, and the immediate aim was to stabilise the organisation financially whilst considering our reputation – having a strategy for the organisation to fulfil our potential as an employee owned social enterprise which led us on the journey to Be Caring.

About Sharon Lowrie

Sharon graduated from the University of Sheffield with a BA (Hons) in Accounting & Financial Management & Mathematics and Qualified as a Management Accountant while working for the University of Sheffield – receiving a commendation from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

 

For 5 years, Sharon worked for Save the Children as one of 5 Global Finance Managers, supporting in excess of 100 country programme teams working tirelessly to improve the lives of children.

 

Sharon became a Director of Finance at the age of 29 at a National Charity – Sova, who supported ex-offenders through mentoring, training and employment opportunities. While at Sova, Sharon set up a social enterprise in recycling, providing long term employment opportunities for ex-offenders in an emerging market.

 

In 2015, Sharon became Locala’s Director of Finance & Business Development, stabilising the organisation’s finances where she met Laura Mwamba and worked together to grow the organisation by £10m per annum (18%).

Laura Mwamba

Director of Business Development, Communications & Marketing

Joining Be Caring in December 2018 as Head of Business Development, Laura was appointed as Director of Business Development and Innovation in August 2019, and now provides leadership and direction for communications and engagement for Be Caring. 

About Laura Mwamba

Laura’s experience is predominantly in business development, but with a background in youth work and substance misuse. Laura graduated in 2001 with a 1st class honours degree in Sports Development and Coaching at Sheffield Hallam University and achieved the highest grade in her school, receiving the Graham Solley Memorial Award.

 

Upon leaving university, Laura worked for 2 years with a local football-based community charity – Communities United Project, before moving on to Lifeline Project Ltd for 10 years, a national drug and alcohol charity. Here, Laura moved into bid writing and honed her business acumen before working briefly for the HSCIC as a Business Analyst, and then on to Locala as a Business Development Manager for 2 years – learning about NHS community services and contracts. In 2017, Laura was the Corporate Enabler Award Winner in 2017 for her outstanding contribution to the organisation. She successfully retained two large contracts, and gained new business. She also grew an existing part of the business, becoming the 2nd largest provider in Kirklees, by 75% – generating an income of £8.75m. Laura left Locala in March 2018 and went to South Yorkshire Housing Association, developing her leadership skills.

Join Us at Be Caring

Do you want to play a part in shaping the future of social care?

We’re looking for passionate people who genuinely care, with a will to make a difference. We offer excellent support, training and exciting career opportunities.

We’re employee-owned, meaning profits don’t come first – people do.

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