Our Trustees

The majority of our Board of Directors live in the local community and many are active in other community organisations in the area.

Michael Hills is the current Chair of Hessle Road Network.  Michael grew up in Scotland and had an early career in the construction industry in site management across the UK and abroad.  He has also been a probation officer and social worker. 

Michael has recently retired from ministry in the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church of England.  With over 25 years living and working in Hull Michael has experience of budgets within the community and voluntary sector and has chaired two organisations in major capital build projects (£3.5m new healthy Living Centre and a £1m new youth centre).  He has served on the boards of several organisations dealing with strategic and large scale regeneration projects.  Michael is a director of two Community Interest Companies (CIC’s) and a not-for-profit company.  As well as his commitment to Hull and its people Michael maintains links with his homeland and is an enthusiastic supporter of Independence for Scotland.

Claire Donnelly is currently the organisations Vice-Chair as well as having joined the Board. 
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Claire is from Hull and is currently an Assistant Head Teacher at Maybury Primary School; member of the Humber Education Trust. Previously, Claire had spent many years within the charitable sector: Claire worked for several years in the Youth Services before moving on to managing the Hull and East Yorkshire regions Cash for Kids charity.

Claire holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Financial Management,  as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Studies (Youth and Community Work).  As well as her professional qualifications Claire has undertaken additional professional development to support her roles.

Claire is particularly passionate about working to improve the lives and aspirations of Children and Young People from across the City and thoroughly enjoys working alongside organisations that share that passion.  Claire says that, "As the Vice-Chair of the HRN’s Directors, I feel that I bring an array of grassroots knowledge and experience to the Board."

Mark Hogben has lived and worked in and around West Hull all his life. Born on Hessle Road, he attended West Dock Avenue Primary School, Francis Askew Junior School and finally Riley High Senior School. 

Mark previously worked in the private sector, but for the last 27 years he has worked for Hull City Council, the last 10+ years as the Neighbourhood Co-ordinator for the St Andrews ward as part of the Riverside Area Team.  Mark was a grade 1 football referee for twenty years, and officiated at a semi-professional level in the North of England. He is now a solo vocalist who performs regularly at community and charitable events. 

Mark joined Hessle Roadnetwork's Board of Directors in March 2015 after many years of working closely with us as part of his role with the local authority.

Tony Cotson was born and brought up in the Hessle Road community and previously served that community as the Parish Priest (Church of England).  He recently retired in 2022 and now volunteers at the West Hull Rugby Club. In addition, Tony is chaplain of Trinity House, STAND the fishermen’s memorial group and Hull FC; the city's professional rugby league club. 

These local and city wide contacts can at times prove valuable when working as part of a small team of directors. Tony has been a Director at the Hessle Road Network since 2010.  He has over 30 years’ experience working as a manager in Hull’s fishing industry and then Homebase before being ordained. 

Tony also has 10 years’ experience of working as a Part Time Youth Worker for the Local Authority, an insight that he finds helpful in his role at the Network.  Tony has been happily married for 40 years to Jan and has two children, and five grandchildren. 

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​​Roger Elliot has been a Director of the Hessle Road Network since January 2014. Roger was educated in Hull and at the age of 18 attended Sheffield Polytechnic where he successfully completed a four year sandwich course in Housing Administration. Following a 12 month period of employment at Leeds City Council's Housing Department in 1974 he subsequently began employment with the Hull City Council as a Housing Officer. He remained with the city council for a period of nearly 20 years. For the last five years of employment with the city council he was the Assistant Director of Housing for the Central and West Hull areas of the city.

In 1994 Roger was successful in his application to become the Director/Chief Executive of the local housing charity, "Pickering and Ferens Homes". Roger retired in December 2012 after a very successful period of in excess of 18 years. Roger has a great deal of knowledge and experience of governance matters, finance, employment, housing policies, development, charity law, housing maintenance and the overall management of organisations .

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​Tracy Hemming-Tayler was appointed as a Director of Hessle Road Network in March 2019. 
 
Tracy was born in Scarborough, but has lived in Hull since the age of 4. 
 
She is currently Human Resources Manager at McCain Foods, Hull and has previously held Human Resources roles at Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare where she was employed for 8 years. With over 10 years’ experience in Human Resources and business and an accreditation in performance coaching she hopes to be able to provide advice and support to Hessle Road Network.
 
"I have a real passion for helping and developing people and helping them recognise and realise their potential." 
 
Tracy is married to Duncan and has 2 children, in her spare time she likes to spend time with family and friends and has studied a Masters’ degree at Hull University. 

Linda Tock has worked in the voluntary and community sector for more than 25 years and has experience of senior management at a community development company. 

Linda is actively involved in a number of well-established organisations.  Linda has been the Coordinator of a project for adults with disabilities, a Coordinator for Homestart and is a Trustee of Hull Community Voluntary Services.  Linda has also managed a team working around race equality in BME mental health.  Linda has managed youth initiatives and diversionary projects and has been a mentor for children leaving care. 

As well as Linda’s extensive experience in the voluntary and community sector she is also an independent consultant on participation and engagement with experience working across the UK, as well as in Germany, Mongolia and Zimbabwe.

​David Hamilton is the most recent addition to the Board joining us in September 2019 but this follows a long association with HRN.

A 45 year career in the corporate insurance sector working with clients of all sizes and from a wide spectrum of business has equipped him with financial acumen and problem solving skills extending beyond his professional sphere.

Although a native of Leeds, David has taken the City of Hull to his heart and is keen to support the local community and play a part in improving life experiences for them. 

​With seven children, twelve grandchildren and two great grandchildren, David and his wife Cris have generations of work with children!