Our Company Board

Karen

Karen joined Adnams in 1988 as a part-time cleaner. Today, as Chief Operating Officer, she is responsible for over 400 employees, ensuring the smooth running of all day-to-day operations at Adnams Brewery, hotels, pubs and Cellar & Kitchen Stores. 

Karen won East of England Business Woman of the Year in 2008 and First Women Business of the Year in 2013. Most recently, Karen became the first woman to be appointed to the Adnams Board as an Executive Director. 

In 2009 Karen became a magistrate and in her spare time enjoys spending time with her family and is regularly found on the terraces at Ipswich Town Football Club.

Sarah

As Managing Director of Independence Matters, Sarah has a key role on the Company Board. She has delegated leadership and accountability for the day to day governance of the organisation, setting both the strategic direction and the company culture. 

A qualified accountant with a wealth of management experience in both the corporate and charity sectors, Zaliha has overall responsibility for finance across Independence Matters Group, with a drive to ensure the Group can sustain the services it delivers.

Zaliha has led a number of organisations through challenging financial environments and delighted in setting then on a sustainable path. She loves to support and develop the people she works with and takes pride in ensuring colleagues understand their departmental finances.

Home Support Matters joined the Independence Matters Group in 2018 and is represented on the Board by Care Delivery Director, Su Carver.

Su has over 30 years’ management experience in the Care Sector and has worked with both Suffolk and Norfolk local governments for many years, providing commissioned community care packages. She is responsible for the day today running of Home Support Matters and has been with the company since its inception in 1991. 

Titus joined the Independence Matters board in 2021. A CIPFA accountant, he has a background in local government finance and has worked for Hertfordshire County Council and the Broads Authority prior to joining Norfolk County Council in 2015.

His current role focuses on the council’s overall budget setting and financial strategy, projects and governance. Titus has also previously served as Treasurer and director of a Citizen’s Advice Bureau in Hertfordshire. 

Tom 

Tom joined the Independence Matters Board in September 2022, assisting in a number of areas including Audit and Risk. He has a mainly commercial, engineering and technology background having worked across a number of sectors including tourism, software, construction and management consultancy. Tom is currently the Managing Director of Pauls Cycles, a UK specialist in online and instore bicycle and ebike retail.

Sylvia

Sylvia has been involved with Independence Matters since its infancy and is also a family carer to her mother-in-law who attends our Harford Hill service. She trained and qualified as a Registered Nurse in the 1970s and her career spanned the NHS and private sector. Roles have included senior lecturer in higher education, researcher and working in strategic services at a County Council. Sylvia has acted in an advisory role to a number of organisations/individuals and had the opportunity to travel to locations around the world carrying out research. She brings to the Board a wealth of knowledge and skills regarding learning disabilities, mental health, neurological and brain injury, older people and dementia.

Louise

Operations Manager Louise leads our service operations in the east of the county.