New LionHeart board appointments announced
Three new volunteer trustees have been officially appointed to the LionHeart board at its most recent meeting in London today.
Following a recruitment and interview process earlier in the year, the board formally ratified the appointments of Nina Young, Sam Palmes and David Balme.
Welcoming the trio of new faces, LionHeart chair Philippa Sampson-Bancroft FRICS said: “We are delighted to welcome three new trustees to the LionHeart board, after a competitive selection process. It has been great to get to know them and I'm confident they will bring their extensive professional and governance experience to the workings of the board.”
Nina Young FCA is the founder of Surveyors UK and a fellow chartered accountant, bringing a background in audit, risk management, and governance across both public and private sectors to the Board, as well as experience in digital marketing, and community building.
She said: “I wanted to join the LionHeart board because I believe its work is vital, providing real support when people need it most. I’ve seen the challenges surveyors face across their careers, and I want to use my experience to help future-proof the charity so it can reach more people, earlier, and with even greater impact.”
Sam Palmes is a Chartered Building Surveyor and Head of Building at Workspace Group, where he leads an in-house team of building surveyors and project managers delivering complex refurbishment and planned maintenance projects.
He said: "What I admire most about LionHeart is the breadth of support it offers; whether someone is just starting out on their APC journey or navigating challenges later in their career, it’s a genuine safety net and a source of encouragement. I hope to bring my own personal and professional experiences, both the wins and the lessons learned, to help support and champion the incredible work LionHeart does for our profession."
David Balme joined the University of the Built Environment (then UCEM) in 2024 as its Chief Operating Officer. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA) and has extensive business leadership experience gained in the further and higher education sectors.
He said: “I was drawn to the LionHeart role as it provides a real opportunity to be part of an organisation that not only supports individuals when they need it, but also enables people to take action to better their lives and prospects.”
The new board members were recently welcomed to LionHeart’s office in Birmingham for an induction with some of the staff team, along with Nigel Pickup, a surveyor and investment manager running his own consultancy, and retired actuary Cliff Speed, who will both sit on a newly formed finance and resources committee as co-opted members.
Find out more:
