Our trustees are responsible for controlling the management and administration of the charity. They act strictly within the charity’s interests only without regards to private interests.
The YAA’s trustees all have different skill sets and expertise to bring to the charity. These range from financial expertise, marketing skills, and various commercial backgrounds.
The trustees are led by the Chairman who is overall responsible for the running of the charity. He is then supported by the Vice-Chairman and the other Trustees of the charity.
Chairman
Peter Sunderland DL
Peter first joined the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) as a Trustee back in 2003 after retiring as a UK director from a major PLC in the construction products industry.
His varied career included 28 years with RMC Group PLC, an international building materials manufacturing company operating in 27 countries which had an annual turnover of 5bn. For 5 years prior to retirement, (Nov 03) Peter acted as their UK Customer Focus Director.
Peter brings to the YAA a wealth of experience in senior management, monitoring & delivering of business targets, workshops, strategic development, financial & budgetary control and project implementation as well as being one of the most IT literate people we have ever met!
In January 2007, Peter was appointed to the prestigious role of a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire. He is also a member of the Wakefield Cathedral Council, the Subscribers Secretary for The Huddersfield Choral Society (of which he was President of between 1994 & 1996).
Peter took the helm as Chairman of the charity in 2006 and over the last 3 years has overseen major landmarks for the charity such as the purchase of our helicopters G-SASH an G-CEMS and the installation and implementation of our first of a kind Dedicated Air Desk.
In 2007 Peter also took over the overseeing role for Fund Raising & PR and Media activities
Vice Chairman
Bruce Burns
Bruce joined the YAA in 2004 as a Trustee.
He has a background in manufacturing management which spans 28 years. He joined his current company Openhouse as a Director some 13 years ago. Here he is involved in developing a range of services and products that are used within the emergency services sector and his knowledge of this sector has proved invaluable to the YAA.
Bruce has been involved for 18 years with the Princes Trust as a business mentor and Chair of panels. The business mentoring is still an activity that Bruce undertakes as and when required.
Back in 2006, Bruce took the role of Vice-Chairman of the YAA. Heavily involved in the day to day running, Bruce oversees the Operational side of the charity and is responsible for the general maintenance of both helicopters as well as both Air Support Units.
Bruce also sits on the panel of the Air Ambulance Association (AAA) which is the representative board for Air Ambulances in the UK and promotes the cooperation between them all. He has visited many Air Ambulances, not only in the UK, but globally too extending the YAAs working relationship with other Air Ambulances across the world.
Trustees
Harry Smith
Dr Peter Smith
Kevin Hynes
Catherine Selby
Sandra Rhodes
Brian Chapman
Sarah Moore
Armajit Singh
Sue Constantine
