The IBS Network appoints new trustee
13th August 2019

The IBS Network has appointed a new trustee.

Jenny Brown has worked at professional services firm, Grant Thornton UK LLP, for almost 20 years specialising in working with not for profit organisations in the role of audit director for the last 10 years. Jenny is now developing a more varied career as a consultant, coach, board member and volunteer.

Having initially graduated from Durham University with a degree in economics, followed by accountancy qualifications, Jenny undertook a degree in psychology with The Open University and is now one year into a master’s in psychology.

Jenny is also a qualified coach and neurolinguistics programming (NLP) practitioner and works with a variety of people seeking to get the best from their career, including supporting people on an MBA programme. In her spare time, Jenny enjoys gardening, reading, running and volunteering at her local parkrun where she’s a run director for the Gedling junior and 5k parkruns.

Jenny said: “Many people in my family have been diagnosed with IBS, we used to call it the ‘Brown family stomach’. So it’s something I have been very familiar with for many years. In more recent years my own IBS became much worse as a result of some other medical issues and general life stress. I’ve made lots of changes over the years and am really aware of how it’s a really personal experience, one where many people can contribute suggestions as to how to make it better, but where only you can work out what will be most effective.

“I am really pleased to be supporting the work of The IBS Network so that this condition and the impact it can have on people’s lives is more widely recognised and people can have access to properly tailored support.”

The IBS Network helps people to live well with irritable bowel syndrome, a long-term condition which affects around 12 million people in the UK. Symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea. IBS is different for each individual and can be triggered by food, stress and anxiety.

Alison Reid, chief executive of The IBS Network, said: “I am delighted to welcome Jenny to the team. Jenny comes with a vast amount of senior management experience and we are very lucky that she has agreed to join the board.”

The charity is recruiting trustees with senior level leadership skills, business development skills and enthusiasm to work alongside people with the condition and with healthcare professionals.

Alison added: “We are looking for leading professionals with the time and commitment to work with us to drive the charity forward. If you believe you have the skills and experience the charity needs in reaching its goals please get in touch.”

The charity welcomes applicants who have worked at a senior management level in the third sector, public services or commercial organisations. Some knowledge of healthcare and IBS would be useful but is not essential.

Trustee meetings are held bi-monthly in Sheffield. This is a voluntary position but expenses will be fully reimbursed.

For more information and an application pack email info@theibsnetwork.org. The closing date for applications is Monday 9 September at midday.