Our structure

We’re divided into several areas, with each covering a specific part of our overall strategy. Find out about the work of these groups.

Chief Executive

The work of our Chief Executive is to:

lead on our work to make every day better for everyone affected by sight loss
take an ambassadorial role
champions change, both internally and externally.

Eliot Lyne, Interim Chief Executive, RNIB

Before joining RNIB in 2016 first as Interim Finance Director, Eliot has worked in roles with Amnesty International UK, Community Action Suffolk, Scope, Greenpeace, Essex Cares Ltd, Livability, SeeAbility, BBC World Service Trust, HelpAge International, Merlin, Samaritans, TK Maxx, Georgica Plc House of and Deloitte & Touche.

Relationships

Our Relationships teams work with people in the outside world to make sure we can raise money and have our voice heard. The teams deliver our campaigning, marketing, fundraising, partnership development and Connect Community, working supporters, raising money we need to continue our vital work, and making sure people know about our work and what we stand for. Our Relationships work is led by Sophie Castell.

Sophie Castell, Director of Relationships

Prior to joining RNIB in 2017, Sophie previously undertook executive, interim and consulting roles across the commercial, voluntary and public sectors in both the UK and USA, working with a diverse range of organisations including Canal & River Trust, Coca-Cola, Unilever Ventures, Save the Children, the NHS and the University of London.

Services

Our Services team delivers a comprehensive omni-channel UK-wide service every day. This includes our Sight Loss Advice Service delivered through digital, telephone and face-to-face channels. The Sight Loss Advice Service also includes our Eye Clinic Liaison Officers embedded within eye clinics across the UK and our specialist support services covering employment, technology for life, eye health, confidence building and legal rights. Additionally, the team provides services to our consumer and commercial customers ensuring that content, products, services and environments are useable and accessible.

Our Services team is committed to providing a superior customer experience to every customer, every time regardless of how they choose to access our services.

David Clarke, Director Services

David was previously Head of Customer Banking for London and the South East at Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank, and brings a wealth of customer focused experience to lead RNIB’s services.

Keith Valentine, Director of Development

Keith Valentine is RNIB’s Director of Development. Keith has a background in leading urban renewal programmes but, as his own vision deteriorated, he turned his energies to the sight loss sector. He has spent the last five years holding senior and board positions at Vision UK, Thomas Pocklington Trust, RNIB and RP Fighting Blindness.

As RNIB’s Director of Development, Keith will put the experience of blind and partially sighted people at the heart of the charity’s work. He will act as an advocate and ambassador for RNIB working with partners, Government and other key stakeholders to create a world where there are no barriers to people with sight loss.

Nick Apetroaie, Interim Director of Care, Education and Safeguarding

Nick started his career as a care worker and rose through the ranks to become Care Director, then Property Director, Deputy and CEO of a housing association. He is also a Board Member of Guinness Care and Ungureni Trust. Nick is accountable for all of RNIB’s care and education services as well as safeguarding processes and practice across the organisation.

Corporate Services

Our Corporate Services teams ensure we've the right support we need to deliver our strategy for people affected by sight loss. These include strategic planning and performance, management of our facilities, IT systems and phone networks and our workforce of staff and volunteers. Our Corporate Services teams are led by Corinne Mills.

Corinne Mills, Director of Corporate Services

Before joining RNIB in 2012, Corinne was Deputy Director of Finance and Human Resources at The Learning Trust, and previously undertook senior human resources roles at London Borough of Brent, Ofsted and Marks and Spencer.

Finance

Our Finance teams makes sure we plan and make best use of money we use to help create a world where there are no barriers to people with sight loss. Our Finance teams are led by Gemma Wadsley.

Gemma Wadsley, Finance Director

Before joining RNIB in 2018, Gemma held a range of roles at Macmillan Cancer Support including most recently Director of Finance, Director of Planning and Financial Control and Financial Controller.