The Poppy Factory has welcomed Amanda Shepard into the leadership role as she steps up after more than four years’ service as Director of Fundraising and Communications.
Amanda moves into the position of interim Chief Executive at a time of exciting expansion, as we prepare to launch new services to support the ex-Forces community and build on the success of recent partnership work.
As Director of Fundraising and Communications, she ensured our charity was able to overcome the challenges of Covid and the UK’s difficult economic landscape to remain in a strong financial position, in order to continue delivering transformational employment support to veterans with health conditions.
Amanda has also led the development and successful launch of our new visitor centre in Richmond-upon-Thames, telling the 100-year-story of our factory community and bringing in vital funds to support modern-day veteran services.
She steps to the leadership role following the departure of Deirdre Mills, who has moved to take the helm at Greenwich Hospital, the crown body charged with providing support to serving and retired members of the Royal Navy and their families.
Amanda brings a wealth of previous experience as a director in the not-for-profit sector, including with The Prince’s Trust and the Institute of Fundraising, and leading a grant programme and charity network for The VTCT Foundation.
Amanda said: “I am delighted and honoured to be appointed to the role of interim Chief Executive at what is a pivotal time for The Poppy Factory. Recent partnership work with the NHS and many others has proven the value of collaboration in delivering ever more effective employment support for the ex-Forces community across England and Wales, so it’s exciting to be developing new services that will expand our ability to help veterans with health conditions and their families.
“I would like to thank Deirdre for her hard work and for all that she achieved as Chief Executive. She leaves The Poppy Factory in excellent shape, ready to help the ex-Forces community overcome the many challenges of today’s world and move forward towards employment.”