Meet the trustees: Vickie Clark Brown
SYCF’s treasurer Vickie Clarke Brown has more than 20 years’ experience in various global manufacturing organisations. She’s an expert in corporate governance and risk management and currently holds the position of chief financial officer for local manufacturing company, Special Melted Products Limited.
Vickie is also a member of the Company of Cutlers, chair of the South Yorkshire Institute of Directors, independent chair of the HLM Employee Ownership Trust and trustee of the Herbert Hughes Memorial Foundation.
Previously Vickie sat as non-executive director for the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the audit and risk committee for Sheffield Hallam University.
She lives in Barnsley with her husband, four ex-racing greyhounds and eight ex-commercial hens.
SYCF’s treasurer Vickie Clarke Brown
I have a degree in Geology, but post-university I trained as an accountant. I’ve always worked in industry and focussed on manufacturing businesses.
I’m a huge proponent of life-long learning so when I became a finance director, I took my chartered director qualification, which led me into corporate governance and non-exec and trustee roles.
I joined SYCF in August 2021 - inspired to do so by the ethos and values of the Community Foundation and the calibre of the Board of Trustees. I am working alongside people that I have a huge amount of respect and admiration for and I am still learning with every meeting.
As treasurer I am the Finance Lead for the Trustees. I work closely with the finance team to ensure the financial records and procedures are maintained and that the financial viability of the charity is safeguarded. I report the financial performance of the charity to the board, and I am involved in the year end financial audit.
As well as the full trustees meeting, I also attend the executive committee and the investment committee and meet with the auditors on a regular basis to keep them updated.
The most rewarding aspect of my role is to see the Community Foundation fulfilling its purpose of building strong resilient communities by providing support and resources.
I am in awe of the resilience and responsiveness to change of the SYCF team, from the pandemic to the floods, it adapts and overcomes in every situation. I am immensely proud to be a small part of the organisation.
There are so many wonderful things about living and working in South Yorkshire - the countryside and the cultural landscape are both outstanding, but my absolute favourite thing about South Yorkshire is the people. We are a diverse population, but warm, generous and accepting. I love living here and being part of our community.
In my spare time, I love spending time with my family, and Sunday lunches with the wider family around are a special time for me. My dogs get me out of the house for walks in all weathers, and my peaceful place is sat with the chickens whilst they free range.