Ambassadors

The role of an Ambassador is voluntary, fulfilled by a highly respected subject matter expert who is able to lend their support and advocacy to Heart of Bucks. An ambassador takes on an occasional, visible role representing our Foundation and Buckinghamshire.

They know what’s important locally
They are experts in their field and experienced in their ‘impact category’ as a professional

They have a passion for the county
They are connected to Buckinghamshire and care deeply about the local area

They are advocates for our work
They all understand and value the role of the Community Foundation within Buckinghamshire

Ambassadors may represent Heart of Bucks in the media or at events, advocate for important issues to the Foundation, advise on national/local policy changes, support our research and reporting, or generally promote the work of the Foundation in their specific impact category.

If you are interested in becoming an Ambassador for one of our impact categories, please get in touch with our CEO Henry Allmand via henry@heartofbucks.org

DAVID HALL
Ambassador for Education & Employment

David Hall is Managing Director of the Cloudy Group, a technology company based in North Buckinghamshire.

David has run the Cloudy Group for eighteen years, with a focus of digitally transforming councils and the organisation in the legal sector. As well as working in technology, David has previously run companies in the music and events sector.

As a tech entrepreneur, David is a strong advocate for training and working with young people. His Cloudy Enterprise Academy works with a number of national and international organisations to run technology-focused events in schools in Buckinghamshire. He is currently an Enterprise Advisor to the Aylesbury Vale Academy, working closely with the Careers and Enterprise Company who coordinate a national strategy of business and education engagement.

David is a keen sportsman, involved in triathlons, regularly competing in events while raising money for charitable causes. He is Dad to Joseph and Charlotte and enjoys family outings with them.

JULIUS WEINBERG
Ambassador for the Arts, Culture & Heritage

Julius Weinberg is the Chair of Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills which is responsible for inspecting a range of educational institutions to ensure high educational standards.

With degrees in Physiology, Medicine, Education and Humanities with Art History, Julius is broadly educated with a keen interest in the arts and the positive impact it can have on communities.

In November 2019, Julius was announced as co-chair for ‘Buckinghamshire Culture’, a partnership set up to drive forward a cultural strategy for the county. The main aim of the partnership is to use culture to make the county a creative and exciting place to live, study, visit and do business.

Julius’ previous roles include being a healthcare worker and educator in complex environments, from universities and hospitals to developing countries and war zones. In his spare time he enjoys pottery and photography – he’s even been shortlisted in photography competitions.

LIZ BARTER
Ambassador for Isolation, disadvantage & poverty

Liz has experience of leading and developing services for a range of vulnerable and socially excluded people, including ten years in London drug and alcohol treatment and time as a senior manager and programme lead for Public Health England. More recently, she has managed large contracts delivering support services to homeless people, people with learning disabilities, and women fleeing domestic violence. Between 2017 and 2021 worked for the Care Quality Commission in the mental health hospitals team, and as an independent visitor to local registered children’s homes.

Liz is currently Head of Quality for a large CAMHS in-patient service, which cares for young people with severe mental health problems, and is a qualified social worker registered with Social Work England.

Previously, she has been a trustee of Oxford Homeless Pathways, and a listening volunteer with the Samaritans.

Liz’s brother James lives in a specialist care home near Aylesbury for people with learning disabilities, and having been both a service provider, support worker and a close family carer, she has a particular love for this part of the sector.

As an active trustee of Bucks charity, the Oasis Partnership, Liz is closely connected to the reality of unmet need in the local area, in particular rough sleeping, and sees the work of small charities as vital to changing lives in a real and immediate way. Liz is a huge believer in the power and importance of the voluntary sector as a vehicle for social justice and a catalyst for change, and keen to explore ways that charities can find new ways to work with the private and public sector to make things better.

Liz lives in Wendover and is mum to two mischievous little boys, who keep her extremely busy.

Ambassador for Physical & Mental Health, Wellbeing & Safety

We are currently looking for an Ambassador for Physical & Mental Health, Wellbeing & Safety. Please contact us on info@heartofbucks.org if you’d like to take on this role.

DANIEL COPE
Ambassador for the Environment

Daniel is the Programme Manager of Low Carbon Workspaces, providing grants to businesses to help reduce energy bills and carbon footprints. The scheme has resulted in more than 2,500 tonnes of CO2e saved annually within Buckinghamshire and the surrounding areas. Beginning his career in waste management, he has consulted for private companies on waste strategy and carbon mitigation.

With a first-class degree in Environmental Studies and International Business from the University of Keele, Dan spent a month in Shanghai as the UK delegate to The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 2015 Environmental Conference. Living in California for 18 months, he also volunteered for the charity Citizens Climate Lobby, lobbying Members of the US Congress to enact a Carbon Fee & Dividend.

Dan has deep-rooted passions for sustainability, animals and nature. He grows his own vegetables (with varying success), and loves to adventure off the beaten path.

MIMI HARKER OBE
Ambassador for Community Cohesion

Mimi is passionate about people, communities, local charities and the voluntary sector, helping to raise their profiles and increase their influence. She has been a local Councillor since 1999 and is recognised for her service to the community. For this work and her contribution to the Equalities Act 2010, she received the OBE from Her Majesty, The Queen.

Mimi founded the Buckinghamshire Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Network in August 2020, which has created a platform for BAME communities to raise issues, debate policy affecting their specific communities, and to form partnerships to resolve those issues.

Currently in her 23rd year as an elected Member, Mimi serves as the Armed Forces Champion for Buckinghamshire, as well as serving on the Communities and Localism Select Committee, where the latest enquiry studied the use of emergency funding during the pandemic from the Councillors Emergency Fund.