Trustees

Tracey Holland

Tracey is a born-and-bred Sheffielder with a strong commitment to the city and the people who live in it. She runs her own change consultancy, working primarily with universities and public sector organisations to help them navigate complex change, strengthen governance and deliver improvement in a practical, people-centred way.

Earlier in her career, Tracey work in higher education, banking and the private sector and was an active trade union rep, including serving as a UNISON branch treasurer. She brings expertise in governance, financial oversight, risk management, data protection and regulatory compliance, alongside a strong understanding of the challenges facing public and voluntary sector organisations.

Tracey has studied social policy at undergraduate and postgraduate level and also brings lived experience of growing up in a low-income household and of being a lone parent, which inform her values and commitment to accessible, fair advice services.

She is proud to support Citizens Advice Sheffield and to contribute her skills and experience to an organisation that makes such a tangible difference across the city.

Ahmed Mohamed

Ahmed Mohamed is the CEO of Infinite Skills CIC, a Sheffield-based non-profit organisation that empowers disadvantaged and underrepresented communities through innovative education, training, and employability programmes. His work focuses on increasing social mobility, tackling inequality, and creating long-term opportunities for people who face systemic barriers to progress.

In addition to his leadership at Infinite Skills, Ahmed is also a Director at First Support Care, an organisation providing high-quality, person-centred care services. Through this role, he supports the delivery of care that respects dignity, independence, and cultural understanding—values that are central to his wider work in community wellbeing.

Ahmed also serves as a trustee at Voluntary Action Sheffield (VAS), contributing to governance and strategic direction for the voluntary sector in the city. Across his roles, Ahmed brings deep insight into the lived experiences of marginalised communities, particularly young people, refugees, and ethnic minority groups.

Having grown up in Sheffield, Ahmed brings local insight and a deep commitment to inclusive, community-based approaches. On the Citizens Advice Sheffield board, he works alongside fellow trustees to champion access to fair and equitable services for all.

Mohammad Rajjaque

Vice Chair & Board Consumer Duty Lead

Mohammad has worked in the banking sector dealing with commodities markets for half a decade before joining a career in academia. Prior to this he has also worked in the Microfinance industry where he worked with a number of NGOs and marginalised communities.

He has a Bachelors in Economics, an MBA and a Master’s Degree in Accounting and Finance. He is also a qualified Financial Advisor and a member of London Institute of Banking and Finance.

Mohammad works at The University of Sheffield (Full time) and the University of York (As an associate) where he teaches courses on Financial Management. He also Chairs the Staff Race Equality Network and Acts as the Director of Student Experience at the Management School at the University of Sheffield.

Mohammad is very passionate about working towards livelihood based support systems that are designed to help marginalized individuals and communities, enabling them to join the mainstream economic and social institutions and have an inclusive lifestyle.

Lynsey Golland

Lynsey has over 20 years’ experience in the welfare to work, employment and skills industry, and is a member of Institute of Employability Professionals.

She is currently employed full time as a Senior Manager for Zest in the voluntary and community sector utilising her expertise, managing projects, staff, volunteers and building partnerships.

Passionate about helping others to get the best out of life, Lynsey’s work focuses on tackling poverty, improving social justice and having a positive impact on people’s mental wellbeing.

Lynsey has lived in Sheffield all her life, is a family person and when she gets the chance enjoys, holidays, fishing and is an avid koi keeper.

Neal Southwick

Neal is the Head of Financial Inclusion Programmes at the Trussell Trust, leading the charity’s work to ensure that people in crisis are able to access timely and high-quality advice to maximise their income and address the underlying cause of crisis.

Neal has extensive experience of leading national strategic partnerships, service development and influencing work, delivering significant impact for vulnerable groups.

Neal’s career has been focused on the third sector, working in advice and community development for a decade, before leading Macmillan Cancer Support’s Financial Support Programme from inception for over 12 years. Neal joined the Trussell Trust in November 2019.

Karen Escott

Up until recently Karen worked for Sheffield Hallam University, teaching urban planning and researching social and economic inequality, local labour markets and women’s employment.

Prior to that she worked for the Centre for Public Services providing advice and support to public bodies, trade unions and community organisations across the UK and as a researcher for Sheffield City Council’s Department of Employment and Economic Development.

She has lived in Sheffield since 1982 and is very pleased to be able to contribute to supporting the vital work of Citizens Advice to diverse communities across the city

Greg Watts

Greg is a Reader in Construction Management and the Department Employability Lead at Manchester Metropolitan University.

With over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry and academia Greg has worked for small, medium and large organisations as well as having involvement in wider construction industry initiatives and research projects around procurement methods, AI, and social value. Born in Sheffield, Greg has previously volunteered as a school governor, enjoys walking in the Peaks when he can, and is happy to be able to support the great work of Citizens Advice Sheffield.

Sheila Robinson

Chair of HR & People Committee

Way back in 1981 Sheila was a volunteer adviser at Pitsmoor CAB and was the Deputy Chair of the management committee for a while. Since then she worked for Sheffield Council for 15 years, in a variety of roles.  She has always been a trade union activist (since the mid 1970s) and this led her to working as a Full Time Officer for UNISON for a number of years.  She completed her MA at the University of Warwick, in Industrial relations and Personnel Management. She then worked, up to her retirement, as a tutor at Northern College, teaching adults with no formal qualifications, from the start of their adult learning up to post-graduate level.  She still works as a non-legal (lay) member of the Employment Tribunals, a role she has had for 10 years.

Through her work, her aim has been to empower and support people who are excluded and disadvantaged by society and is proud to have played a part in all these lives.  She is committed to continuing this by putting her skills and time into her work as a CAS Trustee.

Hilary Dawson

Chair of Finance, Audit and Risk Committee

Hilary’s working life was spent in the Special Needs sector of the Education Service and she found while there that the inequalities of life were a daily factor.  How decision making processes were influenced and challenged became a significant feature of her job.

Some of Hilary’s other roles included managing the school budget and fundraising.  She has also served as a School Governor.

Hilary’s association with Hillsborough & Area Advice Service began in 1998 and she trained as a volunteer advice worker. She subsequently became a trustee and served some time as the Treasurer.

In her free time, Hilary enjoys researching Family History.

Alistair Griggs

Alistair was previously the national Operations Director for eight years at the Refugee Council and then the governance director at Sheffield City Council, as well as a trustee (and briefly the chair) at Pitsmoor CAB.

He has a track record in social care, health, housing, advice work, volunteering, and work with refugees.

Alistair is currently a non-executive director for Spectrum Community Health (a social enterprise), a lay tribunal member for the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, a part-time walking holiday leader for HF Holidays and sings with Purple Cats Community Choir.

He is committed to excellence, strong customer care and engagement, and is values-driven.

Debbie Mathews

Chair

Debbie has spent the last 21 years working in the voluntary and community sector, championing community development and challenging social injustice and inequalities.

Debbie recently stepped down as the CEO of Manor and Castle Development Trust after 18 years and is now taking on voluntary work and giving back to a sector she loves and admires. Debbie has also worked in the NHS as a Health Promotion development worker and was an elected councillor for 4 years.

Debbie is also a trustee for Hope, S2 Food Poverty Network, Victoria Community Enterprise and is a steering group member on the Sheffield Poverty Truth Commission.

Mark Gamsu

Chair of Client Experience Committee

Mark spent most of his working life in the voluntary and statutory sector – collaborating with others to tackle inequality.

He is interested in how we, as citizens, influence the way decisions are made locally and he writes about this on his blog www.localdemocracyandhealth.com