Trustees & Staff

Trustee Board & Management Team

Riz Awan
Chief Officer

Riz has been at Citizens Advice Southend since 2014 and was an Advice Service Manager before she became a Chief Officer in November 2019.

Prior to this Riz worked as a Legal Adviser to a number of firms in the City covering Civil Litigation, Insolvency and working with the Public Sector.

Riz represents us at various consortiums in the Southend area and is involved with a number of local groups and partnerships. Riz enjoys travelling, spending time with her family and friends and is a Director on the Multi Academy Trust at local Schools in her area.

Paula White
Chair of Trustees

B.Ed MA MBA FRSA

Paula retired as a College Chief Executive at the end of 2013 to become an Education and Leadership Consultant. She has broad experience of governance in a range of contexts and acted as consultant to a national group. She joined Citizens Advice in 2015 as a volunteer for social research and campaigns. In addition to her work at CA she is Chair of Governors at a Primary school, Governor of a London College and Vice Chair of an education charity. She was also Chair of a large national charity until 2017. She has wide experience of fund raising and donor management in both national and local contexts.

Phil Stepney
Trustee

I have been involved with Citizens Advice Southend for over 12 years and spent 10 years as Chair.

Prior to retirement I was Director of Social Care at Southend on Sea Borough Council, now City Council and also held posts of Chief Auditor, Assistant Director of Finance and Senior Assistant Director of Social Care. I am a qualified Accountant and a retired member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Linked to that qualification I became a Senior Examiner for the Institute and formed and led an examination centre for the final part of the qualification in Northern Ireland.

Since retiring from work, in addition to being a Trustee for Citizens Advice, I am a Trustee for Shields and Southend YMCA, and have also served as a non Executive Director of the former South East Essex PCT. I am also an active Rotarian. I am married and have 2 children and 4 grandchildren. Hobbies include photography, walking, and travel.

Julie Cushion
Trustee & CAB FaIr Representative

Julie has been involved with Southend Citizens Advice as a trustee for over twenty years, initially during her time as a Local Councillor. She has as been in health, but in recent years worked for the late Sir David Amess MP and now for current MP Anna Firth.

Have strong links to charity, community and education, along with Southend Citizens Advice am currently trustee for Prost8, Southend YMCA, Aspirations Southend, Southend Choirs, Music Man Project and Dame Vera Lynn Memorial Fund. Re education am governor for Fairways Primary and Chair of Members for SEN Trust Southend (MAT for special needs schools). Member of Leigh British Legion and serve on the committee for Southend’s Mayoral Charity.

My trustee roles for Southend Citizens Advice are Fundraising, Health & Safety and as a member of CABFair.

Graham Robinson
Trustee

Graham is a Chartered Accountant and joined the Trustee Board in January 2007. He has been Treasurer since May 2007.

Graham spent many years as CEO of a manufacturing Charity, employing a majority of disabled people in three factories producing a range of cosmetic and cleaning products.

At the same time Graham was a Director of a West End advertising agency. Currently he is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of a large final salary pension scheme. Best ever job was as a volunteer in an animal sanctuary for rescued wildlife!

David Barnes
Trustee

I have lived all my life in Southend. When I was gainfully employed, I made my living in the insurance industry. Prior to my retirement at the end of April 2021, I used to commute each week day to the City of London. 

My wife Dorothy used to be a Clerical Assistant at Citizen’s Advice Southend, so I have always felt a connection to the charity.

As a trustee, I take a particular interest in financial and personnel matters.

I currently enjoy voluntary roles with Havens Hospice and the NHS, as well as being a volunteer with Citizen’s Advice Southend, in addition to my trustee role. 

Miles Richardson MBE
Solicitor

Miles is a qualified housing solicitor who joined us in 1996 from local firm, Jervis Jerman. His post is funded through the contract which we have with the Legal Aid Agency (previously the Legal Services Commission). Miles was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2006 for services to Legal Aid work, much deserved recognition of his work.

Ben Arpenteng
Training & Recruitment Manager

Ben joined Citizens Advice Southend in November 2011, after briefly working with Citizens Advice Rochford & Rayleigh, as Advice Session Supervisor. Ben previously worked with the WorkBank (Opera Group) as Contracts Manager for University of East London (UEL) for a period of six years. Ben has a passion in career development and in 2007, with a grant from the British Council, went to train Career Consultants at the University of Ghana.

Nigel Milner
Trustee

My name is Nigel Milner and I was born in Leigh on Sea in 1961. I initially went to Westleigh Infant & Junior School and then attended Shoeburyness High School between 1972 and 1980.

The majority of my early working career was spent in the financial services industry and worked for Nationwide Building Society between 1994 and 2012. In November 2012, I joined Ormiston Rivers Academy as a Finance Officer. In March 2021 I joined Rettendon Primary School as Finance Manager having previously worked as a School Business Manager at a special needs school in Stratford.

I have a particular passion for sport and have supported Southend United since 1968 when I attended my first game with my late father. To this day I remember the fact that Southend won the game 10 - 1 and I asked my father whether it was the same each week – little did I know that this was not the case.

I am particularly passionate about the local community and believe that everyone should have access to the same opportunities and facilities whatever their background. I am looking forward to being a member of the Trustee Board.

Emma Ruffian
Trustee

I was born in Canada and spent my childhood in Africa and the Middle East. I then met an Essex boy and moved to Southend about 30 years ago. We have 3 children who have all now left home.

I have been a volunteer general advisor at Citizens Advice for several years now. I am a solicitor by qualification. Although I no longer hold a practising certificate I am still able to use my will preparation; lasting powers of attorney and general legal knowledge for the benefit of clients.

I also volunteer for Youth Referral Panels and a charity that supports struggling families with children on the child protection register.

It is a joy to work with so many interesting people and who so freely share their knowledge. Every day is definitely a school day. Being able to help people is a great privilege and I thoroughly enjoy every minute of it

Alan Gershlick
Trustee

Alan Gershlick is married to Louise (for over 50 years) and has two sons
and eight grandchildren. Alan qualified as a solicitor in 1967 and was
senior partner of Jefferies Solicitors from 1986 to 2012. Alan was a
working consultant with Jefferies from 2012 until 2019, after which he
joined Citizens Advice Southend and still holds a practicing
certificate. Alan had a wide area of practice but in last years he
specialised in commercial property. Alan has had many years volunteering
in the public sector. From 1979 to 2012 he served as a Board member of
Southend & Westcliff Hebrew Congregation, including nine years as Hon
Treasurer, six year as Vice President and finally as President from 2006
to 2012. Alan was Chairman of the trustees of the Herzilia Day School
for six years. Alan served as a Board Member of Estuary Housing
Association from 2005 to 2014. Alan was chair of EHA subsidiary
Accession Homes Limited from 2006 until 2019. Alan enjoys playing bridge
and the piano, gardening, travel and (above all) spending time with his
grandchildren.

Sue Abrahams
Trustee

I am a relatively new trustee and am still learning about the amazing work Citizens Advice does, it’s truly remarkable and I am so proud to be part of it.

I have worked in the financial services industry as an accountant since 1975,  growing and leading a team in a very specialised area of this industry. In July last year I decided to retire but the company has  kept me on as a consultant. I can honestly say I enjoy the work I do and sharing my knowledge with my many colleagues.

Not being one to sit around I wanted to put something back into the community I have lived in all my life.  As well as Citizens Advice I am also a trustee of the Essex South and Southend branch of the RSPCA and I am also a Rotarian.

Cindy Sayer
Office Services Manager

Cindy has been with Citizens Advice Southend since 2010 as Office Services Manager.

Prior to working at Citizens Advice Southend, Cindy has worked in the corporate sector in London in a variety of positions from banking, shipping, exports and promotions. Cindy worked locally for a building society and accountant and just prior to coming to Citizens Advice worked for a local private hospital.

Cindy has strong links with local charities and has over the years been involved in organising charity events. As Office Manager her duties include Health and Safety, HR, interviewing potential volunteers, building and maintenance, banking, salaries – no two days are ever the same. Cindy thoroughly enjoys working at Citizens Advice and finds every day offers a new challenge.

Carla Purkiss
Advice Services Manager

I joined Citizens Advice in 2016, as an adviser and worked on the NatWest Project. The project was set up for the Bank and Citizens advice to work in partnership together dealing with vulnerable clients in Financial Hardship.

I moved into my current role as Advice Service Manager during 2020. Prior to working for Citizens Advice, I worked within the Banking Sector in a Management Role specialising in financial hardship and vulnerability.

I have also worked within the Travel & Tourism Industry. When I am not working, I love spending my time with my children & family I also enjoy socialising with friends.