Committee Members

Committee Members

• Richard Williams

  Chairman

  Richard is a 30 year veteran in Financial Services, working in many diverse countries. He is currently a Business Mentor & Consultant to SME Business Owners in Sussex. His interests are Sports & rugby in particular as he is a Harlequins supporter. He has also travelled across the various Six Nations Countries to support the England National Team. He is also a supporting Charity leader, through Charity Mentors Sussex.

  07703 270 485 richard@sanzmansolutions.com www.sanzmansolutions.com
• Julian Wates

  Business Support & Development - Charities & Community Liaison

  Julian runs his own local website design & marketing company, Sokada, based in Heathfield High Street, alongside his Wife Jude. His primary task with the Chamber is Digital Media (website), Social Media & Membership as well as organising the breakfast meetings which are held every couple of weeks. He enjoys skiing, is a keen rugby fan and supports Liverpool FC.

  01435 817 226 julian@sokada.co.uk www.sokada.co.uk
• Kirsty Powell

  Vice-Chair - Business Support & Development

  Kirsty joined the committee in 2024. A commercially savvy and dynamic Senior Executive, she brings over 20 years of multi-sector leadership. Her experience includes driving business transformation, strategic growth, launching start-ups and managing operational turnarounds. She works closely with private equity-backed ventures, corporate leaders and business owners to guide organisations through change and deliver sustainable growth. Kirsty launched Simply Wellness, her own e-commerce business offering nutritional supplements for women’s health to support women struggling with the symptoms of menopause. She also supports Richard Ridley with advertising sales and the production of the official Le Marché programme. Outside of work, Kirsty enjoys attending West End shows and live music events, swimming, and taking walks with her mischievous Beagle, Honey.

  07813 076256 kirsty@simply-wellness.co.uk www.simply-wellness.co.uk
• Mark Alger

  Admin & Coordination

  Mark is a retired Metropolitan Police Sergeant, where he served for 26yrs. Apart from his work with the Chamber, he is also a Parish Councillor for Heathfield & Waldron. In his retirement, Mark has launched The Vault Community Cinema and has plans to find a permanent premises in Heathfield. His passion is in the growth & promotion of the High Street & Town Centre. In his spare time you'll find him helping his Wife Julie organising the Monthly Heathfield Artisan Markets or in her homeware & gift shop, Jolie Maison on Station Road.

  secretary@heathfieldchamber.co.uk www.thevaultcommunitycinema.co.uk
• Colin Gilham

  Event Planning & Marketing

  Colin enjoyed a 30-year career in the commercial printing industry, rising to the ranks of Production Manager, leading teams and managing complex operations. In 2017, he made the decision to transfer his skills into the IT sector, bringing his experience in organisation, project delivery and people management to a new industry, and is currently working as a Project Manager for a multi-award-winning IT Managed Service Provider. Following a move to Heathfield in 2022, Colin and his wife Deena developed a strong connection with the town and its community, leading them to create Two Tails Taproom — a welcoming 'pop-up' micropub focused on bringing people together and contributing to the high street and Heathfield's evening economy. That story is set to continue with the planned opening of Heathfield's - and Wealden's - very first permanent Micropub...

  colingilham1969@gmail.com
• Melanie Essex

  Treasurer

  Melanie has over 20 years’ experience in finance and runs a bookkeeping and accountancy business supporting small businesses and individuals. Specialising in financial and management accounting, she helps clients gain clarity over their finances, improve decision-making, and build efficient, reliable systems. Alongside her professional work, she also runs a small home-based cattery, reflecting her values of responsibility, attention to detail, and high standards of care. Outside of work, Melanie enjoys crochet, gardening, and film.

  contact@manleybookkeeping.co.uk www.poppiescattery.co.uk
• Lucy Atabey

  Event Planning & Marketing

  Lucy had a 30-year marketing career and changed it all up in 2020 by retraining and opening her own funeral home White Feather Funerals in Heathfield. Resident of Heathfield since 2002, Lucy has brought her family up in Heathfield and has always been interested in giving back to the community - previously running a local village magazine, the Horam & Vines Cross Village Diary; been a representative for residents on planning groups; chair of pre-school and committee member on school PTA’s. As a business owner in the town, she is keen to support a lively, thriving town centre that benefits both the business owners and it’s local residents. In her spare time, she enjoys church (attends Union Church), paddle boarding, the gym, reformer pilates, the cinema, eating out and a pint of Harveys with a bag of pork scratchings on a Friday night.

  lucy@whitefeatherfunerals.com www.whitefeatherfunerals.com
• John Savill

  Charities & Community Liaison

  John is a glazing specialist and director of Cherished Glass Ltd, a Heathfield-based company established in 2021. With a longstanding passion for stained and decorative glass, John has built a reputation for careful restoration, heritage glazing and bespoke glasswork for traditional properties and period interiors. John has a particular interest in heritage buildings, church glass repair and the preservation of traditional craftsmanship. Through Cherished Glass Ltd, John combines practical glazing expertise with an appreciation for architectural history, helping clients maintain and restore distinctive glass features while supporting the continuation of specialist artisan skills within the British glazing trade. John is a keen Community Volunteer and regularly attends services at Union Church, Heathfield.

  johnkamausavill@gmail.com
• Abi Westcott

  Event Planning & Marketing

  Abi is best known as the founder of Gemini Web Designs, a modern web design agency serving businesses across Sussex, Kent, the wider UK and Ireland. Based near Heathfield in East Sussex, Abi specialises in bespoke website creation, WordPress development, SEO enhancement and web hosting for small and medium-sized businesses. In her spare time, Abi can often be found in one of the local cafes enjoying a Hot Chocolate and she is a keen follower of Arsenal FC and the Seattle Seahawks NFL team.

  geminidesigns.web@gmail.com www.geminiwebdesigns.co.uk