Our Board of Non-Executive Directors

Don hails originally from Dundee but has lived in Norfolk for more than 25 years. He has a strong personal sense of social purpose and as a result, has spent the majority of his career working within the voluntary and statutory sectors with children and families, in roles across social care and housing.

He is currently the CEO of Boudica Schools Trust which operates 10 schools within Norfolk. Don describes himself as a ‘late bloomer’ in terms of academic achievement meaning he has had to combine studying and work across his career.

In addition to the Masters in Therapeutic Child Care he was awarded by the University of Reading, he has achieved further Postgraduate qualifications at LSBU and UEA and is a Member of the Association for Project Management.

Away from work Don enjoys walking his dogs and is a keen motorcyclist and cyclist.

Lauren is from Norfolk and after completing her studies at Hellesdon High School and Sixth Form, went straight into the world of work, eventually falling into HR and discovering her strong interest in working with people as individuals and supporting them to reach their full potential.

Having previously worked in HR roles across a variety of industries including social housing, transport and legal, Lauren now works as the HR Manager of Sapientia Education Trust, working with 6 high schools and 11 primaries across Norfolk and Suffolk. Having completed her MA in Human Resources Management, Lauren is a Chartered Member of the CIPD and an accredited mediator.

Outside of work Lauren enjoys spending time outside or on the water, having recently learnt to sail.

Mia grew up in Oxfordshire but moved to Norfolk in 2004 where she had visited family during the holidays.

After studying economics at university, she spent her 20s living and working in London and then worked for an adventure travel company in India, West Africa and the Middle East.

She is now a professional services marketing and business development specialist at a leading national law firm; providing advice to various legal teams including the charities and social enterprise lawyers.

Outside of work, Mia enjoys the outdoors including dog walking, tennis, gardening and paddle boarding.

Warren previously worked for both national and regional contractors providing housing maintenance services to homes across the East of England. He joined the Flagship Group in 2018. 

He now leads Flagship Services in providing repairs, maintenance and cyclical works to the Flagship Group homes, more than 31,000 properties across East Anglia.  With Flagship Services currently and in prior roles he has worked with Your Own Place to provide opportunities and support individuals entering the work-place and has witnessed first-hand the positive impact that Your Own Place can bring to the lives of its trainees. 

Warren says ‘so I am very happy to join the Your Own Place Board with the aim to continue, and improve on, the fantastic work delivered by Rebecca and the Your Own Place team’.