Ines Kretzschmar (Co – Chair)
Ines has lived and worked locally for nearly 25 years. She has been closely involved with the Leys CDI since 2008, spending ten years as a line manager overseeing different CDI projects, and became a trustee in 2015. She has many years of experience in the housing sector and is a qualified coach, teacher, trainer, and facilitator. She is passionate about people’s development, capacity building within a community, as well as access to inspiring and joyful learning for all throughout life. Ines loves the arts and any water sports, including adrenaline-inducing wild swimming in the winter.
Melissa Donna Latchman (Co – Chair)
Originally from Oxford, Melissa attended the Leys CDI youth project in the early days over 25 years ago. Melissa has continued to support the charity as a volunteer and parent ever since, joining the Leys CDI Board of Trustees in 2021.
Melissa has raised 5 children on the Leys who have all grown up being involved in the Leys CDI projects. She has also been an active member of the Leys community working with many families and organisations such as Home-start Oxford and African Families in the UK. She continues to support families and advocate for children and young people’s rights through her other legal and charity work including roles with organisations such as Flo’s, in Florence Park.
Penelope Wood
Now retired, Penny worked in the Civil Service for 20 years. In 1994 she was seconded to a Business in the Community Partnership in Blackbird Leys, and ended up doing community development work there for 15 years. She has been involved with the CDI from the beginning and has particularly focused on fundraising and administration. She now works part-time at a Herb Farm in the North Oxfordshire village where she lives and is a licensed Lay Minister in the local Benefice of Shelswell.
Lekh Raj
Lekh Raj has lived in Blackbird Ley since 1990 and has seen Blackbird Leys go through some really good changes over the last 20 years. He worked in the Civil Service for 6 years. He worked for Carillion Services Ltd for nearly 11 years in their finance department until their liquidation in January 2018. He currently works for Bouygues E & S UK Ltd in their finance and procurement departments. Lekh loves going for long runs, burning calories in the gym, and playing badminton. He joined CDI as a Trustee recently and is hoping to assist with matters relating to finance.
Deborah MciIveen