Paul Roberts: Chief Executive Officer Expand Paul is a Director of Aspire’s trading company as well as the Chief Executive Officer of Aspire, reporting directly to the Charity’s board of trustees. Paul joined Aspire in 2012 and has been at the forefront of significant organisational growth. He is also co-Chair of Oxfordshire’s multi-agency Housing & Homelessness Group, a co-founder of the Oxford Homeless Movement, a Director of Makespace Oxford (Community Interest Company), a Director of the Oxfordshire Social Entrepreneurship Partnership (OSEP CIC), and a Trustee of ‘Flo’s the Place in the Park’ (a charitable Community Benefit Society). Prior to joining Aspire, Paul was a British Diplomat for six years. Paul previously volunteered at Asylum Welcome in Oxford and as a Generalist Adviser for the Citizens’ Advice Bureaux. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy.
Ian Adshead: Chief Operating Officer (Enterprises) Expand Ian is responsible for the operational management of Aspire's enterprise businesses. Prior to joining Aspire in 2011, Ian has 22 years experience working in the armed forces and 3 years in human resources and recruitment. Contact Ian for further information about enterprise contracts for grounds and property maintenance, new business or social enterprise consultancy.
Paul Reid: Head of Homelessness Programmes Expand Paul has over 16 years' experience of frontline activity in housing, homelessness, direct access day centres, residential treatment and employment support. Paul leads on Aspire's housing and homelessness projects in partnership with other agencies to tackle our community's growing homeless crisis, including the Trailblazer homelessness prevention project and our new supported housing and city centre hub initiatives for rough sleepers.
Dominique Cadiou: Head of Fundraising and Communications Expand Dominique is responsible for all fundraising, communications and marketing activity at Aspire. This includes fundraising from trusts, foundations, companies and individuals as well as events and appeals.
Nikki Aitchison: Head of Employment Development Projects Expand Nikki leads on Aspire's ETE projects and our sport & activity project, 'STRIVE'. Nikki has years of frontline experience working within the homelessness sector, drug & alcohol rehabilitation and using strengths-based approaches to help people overcome barriers and reintegrate back into the community. Nikki believes strongly in bringing people with lived experience to the heart of decision making within the sector. Contact Nikki for anything related to ETE (education, training & employment) projects, or our sports and social inclusion activities.
Christina Rofique: Head of Youth Services Expand Christina has been at Aspire for 5 years and has over 20 years frontline experience of supporting teenagers and young adults. Christina leads on the Unlocking Potential project in partnership with other local young people's organisations. She also leads on the Our House supported housing project in Witney, providing affordable housing and employment opportunities. Christina is continually working to improve the opportunities and outcomes for young people in our community. Most recently Christina is working closely with Aspire's recruitment team to deliver the Kickstart initiative to provide a wide range of employment opportunities to the young people we support.
Sophie Kilmister: Head of Aspire Enterprise Services Expand Sophie joined Aspire part time in May 2019 to set up the Enterprise Development Programme. She joined the Aspire SMT in April 2021 as Head of Aspire Enterprise Services – Aspire Oxford’s trading subsidiary. The role brings together her experiences to date in the commercial, public and not for profit sector. She qualified as a solicitor in 1990 and after a period practising law left to set up a grant making foundation for an entrepreneur which was endowed with £30 million. She later retained as a secondary school teacher and taught Business studies for 10 years ending up as Assistant Head. Following this she joined a commercial engineering business as Operations Director having senior responsibility in several areas. She volunteered for several years for Crisis and is passionate about commercially viable businesses operating with social value at their core.
Justin Bevan: Head of Finance & Resources Expand Justin, who joined Aspire in 2021 to lead finance, human resources, information technology and facilities, loves using his skills and experience to bring value and continuous improvement into the third sector. He is a Chartered Management Accountant, holds a Masters in Business Administration and has over twenty years experience working in both commercial and non commercial environments, including ten years in one of the UK's leading international charities and an extended period volunteering outside the UK, with a Christian charity, focussed on supporting breaking the cycle of poverty caused by leprosy through the provision of healthcare and schooling.