Pen Profiles

Andrew Kirton - Chair

Andrew is a lecturer in Sociology at the University of Liverpool where he teaches Social Research Methods and Social Theory. He has been involved in the supervision of Interchange projects for a number of years, and has completed evaluative research of the Interchange initiative on behalf of the Higher Education Academy. Before coming to the University Andrew spent some time working in the third sector, particularly with organisations providing services for young people.

Howard Hunt – Treasurer

Following five years as a teacher working in Huyton, Howard pursued a career in IT and Project Management specialising in logistics installations in the UK and Europe. Since retirement from his profession, Howard has concentrated on working with young people in Merseyside, particularly children in care. As chair of the board of trustees at Litherland Youth Centre, he has been involved in a number of Interchange projects at the centre, before joining the Interchange board in April 2012.

Marie Wheldon

Marie graduated in 1992 with a BSc in Social Sciences from University of Bradford and has worked for a variety of voluntary sector services in Liverpool since this date. Marie has managed both local independent charities and branches of national organisations delivering services with a focus on witness and victim care, gender and sexual health. Marie has overseen Interchange students delivering projects for over 15 years and provides a third sector hosting perspective to the board of trustees. Marie currently works as practise manager for NHS Primary Care Services.

David Whyte

David is Reader in Sociology at the University of Liverpool where he teaches sociology and criminology, and conducts research on corporate and state power.  He has been teaching on Interchange programmes for 5 years.  David's research is conducted in close collaboration with a number of research partner organisations in the NGO and charity sectors.  His previous and current research partners include Corporate Watch, the Centre for Corporate Accountability, the Institute of Employment Rights, Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers, the Hazards Campaign and Families against Corporate Killers.

Mike Hogan

Mike is an independent systems psychodynamic consultant and trainer. He used to work in the NHS in development and commissioning posts for people with learning disabilities, for offender health services and finally as a mental health service commissioner.  He also worked in Social Housing and in 3rd sector homelessness, care and offender provider agencies. He is committed to action research and values Interchange’s ability to set up unique symbiotic opportunities for students and local VCOs. Mike graduated from Cambridge University and also at Masters level from London University.

Lindsey Metcalf

Lindsey is a lecturer and researcher at Liverpool John Moores University.  She is interested in social policy relating to welfare, social justice, health and social care - and the implications for voluntary organisations, volunteers and service users.  Her PhD at the University of Liverpool focused on the experiences of local charity trustees and the implications of government policies to ‘contract out’ public service delivery to voluntary organisations. Lindsey was previously a senior manager in the public sector and has been a trustee of charities working with the LGBT community, young people and women experiencing domestic violence.  She is currently on the board of Sahir House, a local charity supporting people living with HIV.

Louise Hardwick 

Louise Hardwick is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Liverpool. Early practice experiences influenced Louise’s interest in voluntary sector welfare, as well as critical pedagogy and community-based learning. She presently coordinates modules that support collaborative student – community projects organised through Interchange. Amongst her research interests are differing types of volunteering and the place of theses in the present neoliberal welfare regime.  

Gemma Simpson-Tasker

Gemma works as part of the business development team at Career Connect – a regional charity supporting young people and vulnerable adults to overcome barriers to education, training and employment.  Her role involves carrying out research, identifying need, project development, sourcing funding and managing the internal Beneficiary Fund (a fund available to clients the charity is working with, to enable them to access opportunities). Gemma returned to education at 25 to study a BSc Business Management whilst working at a social enterprise, which enabled her to apply the theory she studied. Based on her own personal and professional experience, Gemma feels hands-on experience is tremendously beneficial to learning and personal development and she looks forward to being an Interchange trustee.