Our Trustees
Julie Dent
Chair of Trustees
Julie brings a wealth of experience, having chaired Devon Partnership NHS Trust, London Probation, User Voice, and Libraries Unlimited. After an exciting executive career in the NHS, she retired to enjoy life in Devon while continuing to support CoLab's mission. With great insight into CoLab’s areas of focus, Julie supports staff and the Board of Trustees as they continue to evolve and grow. She is passionate about raising the profile of the issues faced by the most vulnerable in Exeter and Devon. Working with partners, Julie is focused on finding solutions that empower people to live their best lives, while offering support through their most challenging times.
Jonathan Alder
Jonathan is the founder and Managing Director of a branding agency, Alder and Alder, based in Exeter. He works with senior leaders in commercial businesses, social enterprises, charities and local authorities, helping them to understand how brand can drive their success. At the heart of this approach is understanding how brand can change what people think, believe or understand about an organisation.
Jonathan’s approach is to adopt the role of “trusted advisor”, someone who can offer practical, impartial advice. The key to building this kind of relationship is establishing trust. He believes it’s important to take the time to understand an organisation, by asking the right questions and listening carefully to the answers. It is this approach that he hopes to bring to his role as a Trustee, helping to drive the success of CoLab.
Anthony Farnsworth
Vice Chair of Trustees
Anthony became a Trustee in June 2021. He previously worked for Devon County Council as a Social Worker before joining the NHS in 1995. After several years of work in Exeter, he moved to Torbay Care Trust in 2006, becoming Chief Executive in 2009. Since retiring from the NHS in 2015, Anthony has worked for himself in various senior roles across the NHS and social care. He has a longstanding interest in mental health services, particularly in relation to the criminal justice system. Anthony brings extensive experience in building effective partnerships between organisations and wants to support CoLab in making a positive impact.
Julie McLaren
Julie is a freelance Innovation Practitioner and Senior Honorary Research Fellow at The Bartlett School, University College London. Her research and practice focus on inclusive social change and building the infrastructures needed to enable collaboration and create healthy, sustainable cities. She has worked with a wide range of organisations, including universities, government departments and agencies, local government administrations, and arts & cultural organisations. Previously, she was Deputy Director of Research at the University of Exeter until 2019 and Associate Director of Research and Innovation Programmes at the UK Research Councils.
In her role as a CoLab Trustee, she advocates for the most vulnerable in our community, promoting strong community involvement in shaping Exeter as a city.
Hugh Groves
Treasurer
Hugh is a former Director of Finance with extensive experience across a wide range of NHS settings, both as a commissioner and provider of services, including mental health and wellbeing support. His roles have covered health and care services in Bristol, Somerset, and Devon, and included work on the NHS England’s personalised care programme. Hugh has also served as a Trustee for various charities and is pleased to take on the role of Treasurer Trustee at CoLab, where his professional expertise and personal values align well.
Sebastian Stevens
Dr. Sebastian Stevens holds a PhD in Medical Education and Regulation and brings experience from his leadership roles in healthcare. As Managing Director of Apollo Health Innovations, he drives advancements in the field of digital health, integrating new technologies to improve care and patient outcomes. Sebastian also serves as a Non-Executive Director at Livewell Southwest, where he focuses on healthcare quality improvement and policy reform, particularly in addressing health inequalities. Sebastian’s strategic thinking, expertise in health disparities, and commitment to innovation make him a valuable addition to the CoLab trustee board.
Lisa Vanstone
Lisa is the Managing Director of Exeter-based communications consultancy One Voice, specialists in PR, marketing, content creation, events management, and media buying. Leading a team of 11, Lisa now owns the business and, after successfully navigating it through the pandemic, is shifting her focus to business strategy, company culture, employee wellbeing, and social impact.
“CoLab plays a vital role in Exeter, supporting individuals and the community to improve their immediate circumstances, build aspirations, and ultimately transform lives. I’d like to play my own small part in that by bringing my skills, time, and experience to support CoLab, so I’m really pleased to be a trustee.”